2. Sini San-like Formulas

2. Sini San-like Formulas

The representative formula of this category, Sini San, is the primary prescription for harmonizing the liver and spleen and resolving internal and external conflicts. It consists of four herbs: Chaihu, Zhi Shi, Bai Shao, and Gancao. According to "Shanghan Lun," this formula is indicated for "Shaoyin disease, cold extremities, with symptoms such as coughing, palpitations, difficulty in urination, abdominal pain, or diarrhea." This indicates that the formula can treat cold extremities caused by diseases affecting various systems of the body. Later physicians, through clinical practice, believed that the above indications could be summarized as regulating the balance between internal and external factors, aiming to harmonize yin and yang within and outside the body, thereby alleviating cold extremities. From a modern medical perspective, this condition is often due to autonomic nervous system dysfunction causing cold hands and feet, which can be triggered by diseases affecting various systems of the body. In addition, Sini San can also harmonize the liver and spleen. Harmonizing the liver and spleen means treating disharmony between the liver and stomach. The essence of liver-stomach disharmony is that liver wood overcomes earth, clinically manifesting as bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, irritability, fullness and discomfort in the chest and hypochondria, loss of appetite, and bloating in the upper abdomen. From a modern medical perspective, this formula can treat chronic gastric diseases and chronic liver diseases. If Sini San is combined with Xiangfu and Chuanxiong, the resulting formula is called Chaihu Shu Gan San, which is the first-choice remedy for liver-qi stagnation and pain in the hypochondria, suitable for all types of liver-related pain. If Zhi Shi and Bai Shao are removed from this formula and Danggui, Tianhuafen, Honghua, Chuanshanjia, Da Huang, and Taoren are added, the resulting formula is called Fuyuan Huoxue Tang, an effective prescription for treating blood stasis and pain in the hypochondria, suitable for all types of traumatic chest and hypochondrial pain as well as costochondritis.