Qingwen Baidu Yin

Qingwen Baidu Yin

From “Yizheng Yi De”

[Composition] Coptis chinensis: 6 grams; Scutellaria root: 6 grams; Gardenia: 10 grams; Paeonia bark: 6 grams; Black-rooted rehmannia: 10 grams; Forsythia fruit: 15 grams; Licorice root: 6 grams; Rehmannia root: 12 grams; Rhinoceros horn: 6 grams; Red peony root: 6 grams; Anemarrhena root: 6 grams; Platycodon root: 10 grams; Gypsum: 30 grams; Bamboo leaf: 6 grams

[Administration] First boil the gypsum until it reaches a boiling point, then add the other herbs and mix the juices together before taking.

[Indication] Heat trapped in the Qi level, both Qi and blood being burned.

[Indications] Severe fever and thirst, profuse sweating and delirium, agitation and delirium, red spots on the skin due to poison, vomiting, nosebleeds, bloody stools, red tongue without coating, and a fine, rapid pulse.

[Function] Clear heat and eliminate fire, nourish yin and cool the blood.

[Explanation] When heat enters the Qi level, the patient experiences severe fever and thirst, profuse sweating, and a rapid pulse. When heat enters the blood vessels, the patient experiences agitation and delirium, red spots on the skin, vomiting, nosebleeds, bloody stools, and a red tongue without coating. The root cause of this condition is heat entering the Qi level; in this formula, gypsum clears heat and eliminates fire in the Qi level, while rhinoceros horn and Rehmannia root cool the blood and nourish yin in the blood vessels—both working together to clear heat and eliminate fire while nourishing yin. Rehmannia root is sweet and cold, cooling the blood and stopping bleeding, while also serving as a supporting agent to clear heat and nourish yin. Peony root nourishes yin and disperses blood stasis, allowing blood to be cleared and stopped from moving excessively. Licorice root harmonizes the herbs, acting as a guiding agent.

[Clinical Additions and Subtractions]

① If the rash appears bluish-purple and tightly bound, indicating extreme stomach heat and stagnation of Qi and blood, add Purple Herb, Red Flower, and Angelica Root to promote blood circulation and clear heat.

② If the heat is severe and the rash breaks out, combine with An Gong Niu Huang Wan and Zixue Dan to open the channels and release heat.

③ If the rash appears quickly and does not improve, accompanied by abdominal distension and constipation, this indicates internal congestion and blockage of Qi flow; in such cases, combine with the Tiaogui Chengqi Decoction.

④ If heat damages the tendons and muscles, causing twitching, remove Platycodon root and add Chrysanthemum and Gentian to clear heat and cool the liver.

[References]

① “These twelve herbs are used to clear heat from the meridians… The gypsum is used extensively, directly entering the stomach meridians to spread heat throughout the twelve meridians, thereby reducing the excess heat; alongside Coptis chinensis, rhinoceros horn, and Scutellaria root, the fire in the heart and lungs is released in the upper burner; Peony root, Gardenia, and Red Peony root clear the fire in the liver meridian, saving the water that is about to run dry; Platycodon root and Bamboo leaf carry the herbs upward; and Licorice root harmonizes the herbs, making this a great cold-clearing and detoxifying formula. When gypsum is used extensively, the most severe cases are first calmed, and the fire in all meridians is no longer unsettled!” (Wenre Jingwei)

② This formula, with additions and modifications, was used for epidemic type B encephalitis, primarily characterized by both Qi and blood being burned. The formula included: one to four taels of raw gypsum ground finely and decocted first, five to ten taels of fresh Rehmannia root, three to six taels of rhinoceros horn, one to two taels of fresh Green Leaf, six to ten taels of Forsythia fruit, one to two taels of Anemarrhena root, three to five taels of Coptis chinensis, six taels of Peony root, one to three taels of fresh Licorice root, one to three taels of Honeysuckle flower, and one to three taels of Reed Root. If the patient experiences convulsions or spasms, add rhinoceros horn, antelope horn, or cold stone; if the patient’s jaw is locked or experiencing spasms that are not properly controlled, add Full Scorpion, Centipede, and Earth Dragon; if the patient’s limbs are cold and clammy, indicating deep heat and severe convulsions, use large amounts of gypsum and fresh Rehmannia root, choosing Shen Xi Dan, An Gong Niu Huang Wan, or Zhi Bao Dan; if the patient has nasal flaring or phlegm, add Bamboo Juice, Pinellia, Gallstone, Tian Zhu Huang, Monkey Date Powder, or Cow Horn Ball. (Zhejiang Chinese Medicine Magazine, 1965.8)

[Commentary] This formula is often used for severe influenza, meningitis, Japanese encephalitis, toxic dysentery, epidemic hemorrhagic fever, septicemia, and other conditions.

IV. Clearing Heat and Detoxifying

Heat easily turns into toxicity, and the clinical manifestations of toxicity include boils, abscesses, sores, gangrene, mumps, and parotitis. These conditions arise from the accumulation of heat; as the ancient saying goes, “Dispersion leads to fire, accumulation leads to toxicity,” meaning that while heat accumulates, it can still be scattered throughout the body, manifesting as severe fever, thirst, agitation, and vomiting. The method of clearing heat and detoxifying is specifically designed for these conditions. When heat becomes toxic, it can affect both the Qi level and the blood vessels; for those with heat in the Qi level, use herbs to clear fire, while for those with heat in the blood vessels, use herbs to cool the blood. Commonly used herbs include Coptis chinensis, Scutellaria root, Phellodendron amurense, gypsum, Forsythia fruit, Indigofera tinctoria, Plumbago indica, Black-rooted rehmannia, Rehmannia root, Dandelion, and other detoxifying herbs. Representative formulas include Puji Disinfection Drink and Coptis Chinensis Detoxification Soup.