镇肝熄风汤

3. Tongue and pulse

• Tongue: Red tongue body, with scanty coating or a bare, peeled tongue with no coating.
• Pulse: Wiry, long, and forceful pulse, or excess above and deficient below.

4. Granule conversion and dose

Calculation of the total raw herb weight of the original formula:

Huai Niu Xi (achyranthes root) 30 g + Dai Zhe Shi (hematite) 30 g + Sheng Long Gu (raw fossilized bone) 15 g + Sheng Mu Li (raw oyster shell) 15 g + Sheng Gui Ban (raw tortoise plastron) 15 g + Sheng Hang Shao (raw white peony root) 15 g + Xuan Shen (scrophularia root) 15 g + Tian Dong (asparagus root) 15 g + Chuan Lian Zi (toosendan fruit) 6 g + Sheng Mai Ya (raw germinated barley) 6 g + Yin Chen (virgate wormwood) 6 g = 168 g.

Conversion to 5:1 granules:

168 g raw herbs ÷ 5 = 33.6 g granules.

Granule dose: Take in 2-3 doses daily, dissolved in warm water, about 11-17 g per dose. (The original formula's effects are strong and fast-acting; use strictly under a practitioner's guidance.)

5. Cautions and clinical notes

[Contraindications]:

1. Absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy, because Niu Xi, Dai Zhe Shi, Chuan Lian Zi, and other herbs in the formula have blood-moving, heavily descending, or toxic properties.
2. Contraindicated in wind-stroke due to qi and blood deficiency (presenting with a pale complexion, flaccid limbs, and a weak, faint pulse).
3. Use with caution in Spleen-Stomach cold deficiency with loose stools.

[Safety warnings]:

1. Dai Zhe Shi in the formula is a mineral substance, and Chuan Lian Zi is slightly toxic. ProCare Herbs granules have undergone standardized processing and strict quality control during preparation, but caution is still warranted.
2. This formula is intended for acute and severe conditions; its action is strong and fast-acting. It should be discontinued once the condition resolves and should not be taken long term. Once the condition has stabilized, the formula should be adjusted to consolidate the therapeutic effect.

Modern applications: Mainly used for hypertension, hypertensive encephalopathy, cerebrovascular accident, and vascular headache, in patterns identified as Liver-Kidney yin deficiency with Liver yang rising in excess and internal stirring of Liver wind.

Duration of use: Used to control symptoms during the acute phase, generally for 1-2 weeks. Once blood pressure has decreased and symptoms such as dizziness have eased, the formula should be adjusted or discontinued, and treatment should shift to a milder formula for long-term regulation.