Herbology
About Formulas
Hierarchy of Ingredients
- Chief
- Directed against and has the greatest effect upon the principal pattern or disease
- Deputy
- Aids the Chief in treating the principal pattern or disease
- or, serves as main ingredient directed against a secondary pattern or disease
- Assistant – 3 types
- Helpful: reinforces Chief or Deputy or directly treats less important aspect of the pattern or disease
- Corrective: moderates or eliminates toxicity or harsh properties of Chief or Deputy
- Opposing: has effect opposite of Chief; used in serious and complex disorders
- Envoy
- Focuses formula on certain channel or body area
- or, harmonizes and integrates actions of the other ingredients
A Sample Formula
- Si Jun Zi Tang – four gentleman decoction
- Ren Shen (3-9g)
- Bai Zhu (6-9g)
- Fu Ling (6-9g)
- Zhi Gan Cao (3-6g)
- Actions: tonifies qi and strengthens the Spleen
- Indications: pallid complexion, low and soft voice, reduced appetite, loose stools, and weak limbs; tongue body – pale; pulse – thin, frail
Analysis of Formula
- Chief – Ren Shen
- Sweet, warm, and a powerful tonic for Spleen qi
- Deputy – Bai Zhu
- Bitter, warm, strengthens the Spleen and dries dampness
- Works with ren shen to improve the transportive and transformative functions of the Spleen
- Assistant – Fu Ling
- Sweet, bland, and leaches out dampness
- Assists Chief and Deputy in strengthening the Spleen
- Moderates cloying nature of Envoy
- Envoy – Zhi Gan Cao
- Warms and regulates the middle burner
- Moderates draining nature of Assistant
Construction of a Custom Formula
- Not all formulas contain all levels of the hierarchy
- Formulas from books / traditional formulas are referred to as base formulas
- Ingredients may be added to and / or taken away from base formulas
- Overall dosage and the ratio of dosage among ingredients may be changed