There may have been situations when the patient goes to the Chinese Medicine doctor and is diagnosed with having a liver problem. He then goes to his Western doctor, and does tests that show nothing abnormal with his liver. To understand why the Chinese Medicine doctor said what he said, we have to clarify the […]
It makes its appearance:
粳米 is often use with licorice to 和胃、养胃气. It appears in the following formulae (to name a few):
白虎汤
竹叶石膏汤
泻白散
粳米 is 大米？
Often, people say that 大米 (aka the rice we eat) is what 粳米 is. Fine.
No, it isn’t…
However, if we look at 白虎汤, it is used to treat excess heat damaging fluids（热盛伤津）. But 粳米 […]
Some people say that with Han dynasty’s 1liang, we can use 1qian. They say that it’s due to constitutional differences that they use such large quantities in the first place.
1liang = 15g (approx.)
1qian = 3g (approx.)
粳米：1sheng = 200ml = 180g
半夏：1/2sheng = 100ml = 50g
五味子：1/2sheng = 100ml = 30g
厚朴（as in 麻子仁丸）：1尺 = 23cm, but …. = 15g
五苓散 uses a powder form, which you drink in rice water, which makes it easier. But how much? It says “方寸匕” which means 5g at one go, 3x a day. You recover when you perspire.
杏仁：100 […]
The original formula (using 1liang = 15g)
cinnamon twig 45g
white peony 45g
fresh ginger 45g
licorice 30g
red date 12 pieces
Why so much herbs being used?
We, let’s just see the preparation instructions:
Break cinnamon twig, white peony and licorice into small pieces. Use 7sheng (1400ml) of water. Boil over mild flame to get 3sheng (600ml) and remove dregs. Use 1sheng […]