BLACK PEARL BP003 BA ZHEN WAN GINSENG & DANG GUI EIGHT

BA ZHEN WAN
八珍丸
Ginseng & Dang-gui Eight Combination
Product Code: BP003

TCM Actions
Tonifies the Qi and nourishes the Blood.

Indications
Anaemia, general debility due to chronic illness, amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, irregular menstruation, postpartum weakness, chronic non-healing ulcers.

Dosage & Course Of Treatment
8 pills, 3 times daily, half to one hour away from food.

Course of treatment: 2 – 6 months

Signs and Syndromes
Qi-Blood dual deficiency

Fatigue

Muscular weakness

Pale or sallow complexion

Dry and lacklustre skin

Shortness of breath (dyspnoea)

Reluctance to speak

Sweating on mild or no exertion

Palpitations

Insomnia

Postural dizziness or light-headedness

Poor appetite

Loose stools

Anxiety

Forgetfulness, poor concentration, mental fatigue

Tingling (paraesthesia) or numbness of the extremities

Pale tongue with a thin white coat

Weak and thready pulse that may also be wiry or weak and large pulse

Cautions & Contraindications
Caution for those on anti-coagulant medications (i.e. heparin, warfarin or aspirin).

If taking antibiotics, allow at least 90 minutes before taking this formula.

Do not take during an episode of the common cold or ‘flu.

Comments
This formula was devised by Bi Li-zhai and recorded in the ‘Experiential Formulas from the Rui Zhu Tang Pharmacy’ (rui zhu-tang jing yan fang), 1326. It may be regarded as a combination of Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Major Herbs Formula) and Si Wu Tang (Dang Gui Four Combination), or alternatively as a simplified version of Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (Ginseng and Dang-gui Ten Formula). It is interesting to note that these three formulas appear in the ‘Formulary of the Tai Ping Welfare Dispensary Bureau’ (tai ping hui min he ji ju fang), 1151 CE, whereas Ba Zheng Tang (Ginseng & Dang-gui Eight) does not. The formula name means ‘the eight precious (herbs) formula’ because it contains the eight most effective tonifying herbs for the Qi and the Blood. It has become a very popular tonic in China and, in recent years, also in the West, with a strong reputation as a women’s formula. However, it may also be used efficaciously by men with the appropriate clinical presentation. It is common to see disorders of both the Qi and the Blood in clinic because the Qi and the Blood are complementary, the former belonging to Yang and the latter belonging to Yin. Thus, impairment of the one readily affects the other. Thus Qi- Blood dual deficiency is a very common presentation that may arise due to: Spleen Qi deficiency with diminished Blood production; Blood loss (e.g. due to hemorrhage) or Blood deficiency leading to depletion of the Qi; or a chronic illness that impairs the Qi and Blood. The clinical picture is one of both Qi deficiency and Blood deficiency combined. On the one hand, because Blood deficiency primarily affects the Heart and the Liver, some of the main clinical features are associated with these organs; while on the other hand, as Qi deficiency is primarily associated with the Spleen and Lung, some of the main clinical features are associated with these organs. The synergistic actions of the ingredients are as follows:

• Codonopsis root (dang shen), Atractylodes rhiz. (bai zu), Wolfiporia cocos (fu ling), Glycyrrhiza root (gan cao): tonify the Qi and strengthen the Spleen

Ingredients
PAEONIA LACTIFLORA, ROOT (bai shao) – 白芍 – 67.0mg
REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA, ROOT (shu di huang) – 熟地黃 – 67.0mg
WOLFIPORIA COCOS, FRUIT. BODY (fu ling) – 茯苓 – 67.0mg
ANGELICA POLYMORPHA, ROOT (dang-gui) – 當歸 – 40.2mg
CODONOPSIS PILOSULA, ROOT (dang shen) – 黨參 – 40.2mg
ATRACTYLODES MACROCEPHALA, RHIZ. (bai zu) – 白術 – 40.2mg
LIGUSTICUM STRIATUM, ROOT (chuan xiong) – 川芎 – 26.8mg
GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS, ROOT (gan cao) – 甘草 – 26.8mg