Chen Xiuyuan’s Modified Four Substances Decoction, July 20, 1977

Chen Xiuyuan’s Modified Four Substances Decoction, July 20, 1977

Chen Xiuyuan was a famous traditional Chinese medicine practitioner during the Qing Dynasty, with an extensive body of work that earned him nationwide acclaim. He authored 72 medical books totaling over three million characters, including “Medical Reality Made Easy,” “Collection of Common Medical Practices,” “Three-Character Classic of Medicine,” and “Eight Formulas of New Prescriptions.” Although Chen Xiuyuan’s approach tended toward conservatism, his clinical experience was unparalleled, and he spent his entire life practicing medicine, saving countless lives. The application of the Modified Four Substances Decoction (Dang Gui, Sheng Di Huang, Chuan Xiong, Bai Shao, Xiang Fu, Fu Shen, Ai Ye) is among the most outstanding examples of his lifelong clinical experience. Adjustments include: ① For early menstrual phase: add Zhi, Bai, Qin, Lian; ② For late menstrual phase: add Jiang, Gui, Ai; for severe cases: add Chen, Zhi; for very severe cases: add Xiao, Huang, Tao, Xi; for deficiency: add Shen, Shu, Si Jun; for extreme deficiency: add Gan Jiang, Fu Zi; ③ For retrograde menstruation: add Xi, Ze, Zhi, Yi; ④ For those with chronic fullness and distension: omit Sheng Di Huang and add Zhi, Ban; ⑤ For dark-colored menstruation: due to wind, add Jing, Fang, Zhi; ⑥ For red-colored menstruation: due to heat, add Qin, Lian, Di Gu Pi, Mu Dan Pi; ⑦ For pale-colored menstruation: due to deficiency, add Sheng, Shu, Chen, Ban; ⑧ For menstruation colored like smoke and dust: add Chen, Ban, Qin, Fang, Cang; ⑨ For menstruation colored like bean juice: add Qin, Lian; ⑩ For menstruation forming clumps or sheets: due to qi stagnation, add Zhi, Chen, Yan Hu Suo; for chills, fever, and headache: if sweating, add Gui, Jiang, Zao; if no sweat, add Ma Huang, Xi Xin.