柏子养心丸

• Marked yin deficiency with effulgent fire (dry mouth, mental restlessness, red tongue): the dosage of Rou Gui (cinnamon bark) and Huang Qi (astragalus root) may be reduced, or Mai Dong (ophiopogon tuber) and Sheng Di (fresh rehmannia root) may be added.
• Severe Heart blood deficiency (lusterless complexion, dizziness): the dosage of Dang Gui (chinese angelica root) and Suan Zao Ren (spine date seed) may be increased, or Long Yan Rou (longan fruit) may be added.
• Concurrent phlegm turbidity (chest oppression, greasy coating): Shi Chang Pu (acorus rhizome) and Yu Jin (turmeric root tuber) may be added to transform phlegm and open the orifices.

5. Cautions and clinical notes

• Contraindications:
  • Not to be used by those with yin deficiency and effulgent fire, marked by heat in the palms and soles, dry mouth and throat, red tongue with scanty coating, and thin rapid pulse.
  • Not to be used by those with Liver yang rising, marked by dizziness and headache, red face and eyes, irritability and irascibility.
  • Coffee, strong tea, and other nerve-stimulating beverages should be avoided during the course of treatment.
  • To be used with caution in pregnant women.

6. Granule conversion and dose

• Calculation of the total raw herb weight of the original formula (excluding Zhu Sha [cinnabar]):
  • Bai Zi Ren (arborvitae seed) 15g + Huang Qi (astragalus root) 12g + Dang Shen (codonopsis root) 12g + Dang Gui (chinese angelica root) 12g + Chuan Xiong (sichuan lovage rhizome) 6g + Fu Ling (poria) 12g + Yuan Zhi (polygala root) 6g + Suan Zao Ren (spine date seed) 9g + Rou Gui (cinnamon bark) 3g + Wu Wei Zi (schisandra fruit) 6g + Ban Xia Qu (pinellia leaven) 6g + Zhi Gan Cao (honey-fried licorice root) 3g = 102 g.
• Conversion to 5:1 granules:
  • 102 g raw herbs ÷ 5 = 20.4 g granules.
• Recommended dose:
  • One dose daily, taken in two servings (morning and evening) dissolved in warm water, about 10 g per serving.