Yanghe Tang is a prescription that I particularly admire. I have extensively used it to treat various diseases such as cancer, benign tumors, asthma, rhinitis, physical weakness, purpura, osteoproliferation, cervical spondylosis, and lumbar disc herniation that belong to Yin syndromes.
Yanghe Tang is derived from the book "Wai Ke Zheng Zhi Quan Sheng Ji" written by Wang Hongxu, a famous physician from the Qing Dynasty, and is a secret formula passed down in the Wang family. The original dosage of Yanghe Tang that I often use is: 40g of cooked Rehmannia, 12g of deer antler glue (melted), 8-12g of white mustard seed, 4g of licorice, 4g of cinnamon (added later), 2g of baked ginger, and 2g of ephedra.
Currently, the best two cases of cancer patients I have treated have been patients treated with Yanghe Tang. Both of these cancer patients belong to Yin syndromes. The tumors of these patients can be observed on the surface of their bodies and tend to enlarge significantly in cold and humid weather. With the application of Yanghe Tang, one patient has been treated for over a year and the other for eight months. So far, both patients have good physical strength, stable tumors, and well-controlled CA markers. They can lead normal lives and have a healthy complexion and strong body, just like ordinary people.
When treating a patient with breast nodules, I also use Yanghe Tang as the main prescription and make adjustments based on the patient's condition, achieving remarkable results. By diagnosing the patient through the four examinations and combining them with other factors, I can determine if the patient has a Yin and cold constitution. Regardless of the specific disease they have, I prescribe Yanghe Tang with some modifications based on their symptoms. The clinical application of Yanghe Tang has gradually become more proficient and effective.
Yanghe Tang tends to tonify Yang, but without using large doses of herbs such as Guizhi, Fuzi, and Cinnamon that can cause excessive heat. Cooked Rehmannia and deer antler glue in Yanghe Tang are both excellent blood tonics. With these two herbs, the Yin and blood of the patient will not be depleted due to the warming and drying properties of Yanghe Tang. However, when using Yanghe Tang in spring and summer or for some patients with Yin deficiency and excessive fire, there may be excessive warming, leading to symptoms such as dry mouth and thirst. In such cases, it is not necessary to abandon Yanghe Tang, but rather adjust the herbal ingredients to avoid these side effects.
For patients with excessive lung fire, I have derived "Sang Mai Yanghe Tang" to prevent the dry mouth and thirst caused by excessive warming of Yanghe Tang. This modification adds 6-12g of mulberry bark and 6-12g of Ophiopogon root to Yanghe Tang. Mulberry bark clears lung heat, while Ophiopogon nourishes lung Yin, effectively counteracting the drying effect of Yanghe Tang.
During the spring and summer seasons, when taking Yanghe Tang, I also consider the idea of supplementing the center and purging excess, similar to the formulation of Shenqi Wan. To clear the turbidness in the kidneys and subdue liver Yang, I have derived "Ze Ling Yanghe Tang" by adding 8g of Ze Xie, 8g of Fu Ling, 8g of Zhu Ling, 8g of Moutan bark, and 12g of white peony root to the original Yanghe Tang. Ze Xie, Fu Ling, and Zhu Ling clear turbidness in the kidneys, Moutan bark clears kidney heat, and white peony root softens the liver and subdues liver Yang, effectively counteracting the excessive Yang and fire caused by Yanghe Tang.
For patients with phlegm-dampness, if the dampness is located in the upper body, Yanghe Er Chen Tang can be used by adding Chen Pi (tangerine peel) and Ban Xia (Pinellia). If the dampness is located in the lower body, Yihai Yanghe Tang can be used by adding Yi Yi Ren (coix seed), Niu Xi (achyranthes root), Che Qian Zi (plantago seed), and other herbs to the original Yanghe Tang.
For patients with long-standing wind-cold lodged in the body, resulting in stubborn blood stasis and phlegm, Yanghe Tang alone may not be strong enough. I have derived "Er Huo Yanghe Tang" by adding 6g of Qiang Huo and 6g of Du Huo to Yanghe Tang. This modification expels wind, dispels cold, eliminates stubborn phlegm, and resolves blood stasis, providing faster results than Yanghe Tang alone. If the cold pathogen is in the patient's Taiyang meridian, and the patient experiences symptoms such as back pain, waist pain, and neck pain, further modifications with herbs such as Ge Gen, Guizhi, and Chi Shao can enhance the efficacy.
The clinical application of Yanghe Tang should not be rigid or restricted to the "do not add or subtract a single herb" as described by Wang Hongxu in his book. Nor should one blindly believe in Ma Pei's criticism that Yanghe Tang can cause serious adverse effects. In clinical practice, the prescription should be adjusted according to the specific conditions of the patient. As long as it is used properly, Yanghe Tang's therapeutic effects are very reliable.
