Licorice Decoction for Treating Coronary Heart Disease as of May 30, 2001

Licorice Decoction for Treating Coronary Heart Disease as of May 30, 2001

The "Shanghan Lun" states in Article 177: "When the pulse becomes irregular and the heart palpitates, Zhi Gancao Tang is the principal prescription." This formula is renowned for its ability to unblock yang and restore the pulse, nourish yin, and replenish blood. Ancient practitioners recognized the characteristics of the pulse: slow and intermittent beats are called "irregular," while regular, fixed beats are called "alternating," yet most people with such pulses experience chest tightness and pain in the precordial region. Nowadays, the incidence of coronary heart disease is steadily rising, and most adults with irregular pulses suffer from coronary heart disease. In early spring, I treated two patients: ① Ms. Qi Zhongdi, 54, with coronary heart disease, experiencing chest tightness, palpitations, shortness of breath, and complete intraventricular conduction block on the electrocardiogram. I prescribed the following formula: 10 g of Trichosanthes kirilowii, 20 g of Allium macrostemon, 10 g of Pinellia ternata, 10 g of red peony root, 10 g of Ligusticum chuanxiong, 6 g of safflower, 10 g of agarwood, 30 g of Salvia miltiorrhiza, 3 g of Panax notoginseng (to be decocted separately), 10 g of Cinnamomum cassia, 10 g of Codonopsis pilosula, 10 g of donkey-hide gelatin (melted), 20 g of Ophiopogon japonicus, 20 g of Rehmannia glutinosa, 30 g of Sophora flavescens, 10 g of Cannabis sativa, 6 g of fresh ginger, 4 jujubes, and 20 g of Zhi Gancao. After 40 doses, all symptoms subsided, and the electrocardiogram returned to normal. ② Ms. Wang, 54, with coronary heart disease, experiencing chest tightness, palpitations, shortness of breath, and back pain radiating to the chest, with no arrhythmia detected. I still prescribed the above formula, and noticeable improvement was seen after only three doses. Zhi Gancao Tang is effective in treating coronary heart disease, particularly in alleviating precordial pain—this is my clinical experience.

There is another formula that is also effective in treating coronary heart disease, composed as follows: hawthorn, Rehmannia glutinosa, angelica sinensis, Codonopsis pilosula, Melia azedarach, longan flesh, raw dragon bone, oyster shell, sweet flag, polygala, and Cinnamomum cassia. The Rehmannia, Codonopsis, and Cinnamomum cassia in this formula are the same as those in Zhi Gancao Tang. Another formula includes: Cinnamomum cassia, Ligusticum chuanxiong, Pueraria lobata, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Rehmannia glutinosa, amethyst, Zhi Gancao, Codonopsis pilosula, Ophiopogon japonicus, and Schisandra chinensis. The Cinnamomum cassia, Rehmannia glutinosa, Codonopsis pilosula, Zhi Gancao, and Ophiopogon japonicus in this formula are also the same as those in Zhi Gancao Tang. Yet another formula comprises: amethyst, Rehmannia glutinosa, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Codonopsis pilosula, Ophiopogon japonicus, Zhi Gancao, Coptis chinensis, Ligusticum chuanxiong, and Cinnamomum cassia. The Rehmannia, Ophiopogon japonicus, Codonopsis pilosula, Zhi Gancao, and Ophiopogon japonicus in these formulas are also the same as those in Zhi Gancao Tang. In summary, the common ingredients in the aforementioned three formulas are: 20 g of Rehmannia glutinosa, 20 g of Ophiopogon japonicus, 20 g of Zhi Gancao, 10 g of Codonopsis pilosula, 20 g of Ligusticum chuanxiong, 20 g of Pueraria lobata, 10 g of Cinnamomum cassia, 30 g of Salvia miltiorrhiza, and 30 g of Sophora flavescens—these constitute a specialized formula for treating coronary heart disease. Mnemonic: Cinnamomum cassia, Pueraria lobata, Codonopsis pilosula, amethyst, Ophiopogon japonicus, Zhi Gancao.