Chinese herbal formula Zhen Wu Tang is used to treat spleen and kidney yang deficiency. Zhen Wu Tang, the name of the formula, disperses cold and dampness, promotes water metabolism, and nourishes fire while promoting water circulation. Why does Traditional Chinese Medicine believe that Zhen Wu Tang is better for treating spleen and kidney yang deficiency than Xiao Qing Long Tang?
Introduction to Zhen Wu Tang:
Recipe: Fu Ling 9g, Ban Xia 9g, Bai Zhu 6g, Bai Shao 6g, Fu Pian 6g, Sheng Long Gu 12g, Sheng Mu Li 12g, Sheng Jiang 4.5g.
Function and Indications: Warms yang and promotes water metabolism, strengthens the spleen and transforms phlegm. Used for spleen and kidney yang deficiency, excessive phlegm-dampness, and upward reversal of water qi.
Dosage: Decoction, take 1 dose daily, 2 times a day.
Excerpt from "Prescriptions by Pu Fu Zhou"
Xiao Qing Long Tang treats exterior patterns with unresolved water-dampness, both internal and external are cold and excess conditions. Zhen Wu Tang treats exterior patterns with resolved water-dampness, both internal and external are cold and deficiency conditions. Zhen Wu, the Water God of the North, is named after the formula to signify its ability to suppress water. In the human body, the spleen governs water while the kidneys are the main source of water. If the kidneys lack yang, even if the spleen functions properly, the gate of the kidneys will not open, and water will overflow and move recklessly without control. By using the hot and pungent properties of Fu Zi to strengthen the original yang of the kidneys, water will have a master. The bitter and dry properties of Bai Zhu establish the center of the body, which can control water. The pungent and dispersing properties of Sheng Jiang assist Fu Zi in supplementing yang and also disperse water. The bland and seeping properties of Fu Ling assist Bai Zhu in strengthening the center and also promote water metabolism. The most wonderful part lies in the sour and astringent properties of Bai Shao, which can gather the yang qi and root it in the yin. If only hot and pungent substances are used to supplement yang without the addition of sour and astringent herbs, the true yang might escape. The use of Bai Shao is crucial to quickly gather the yang qi and root it in the yin. From this analysis, it can be understood that the reason Xiao Qing Long Tang can cause sweating and loss of yang is due to the absence of Bai Shao, which is necessary in yang-supplementing herbs. Removing Fu Ling in case of diarrhea is because its cold properties cannot stop water. Doubling the amount of Sheng Jiang and removing Fu Zi in case of vomiting is because the disease is not in the lower burner but water stagnation is in the stomach. In this case, it is not necessary to warm the kidneys to promote water circulation, but rather to warm the stomach to disperse water. Additionally, the function of Sheng Jiang is to stop vomiting.
