Dà Chéng Qì Tāng 大承气汤
Major Order The Qi Decoction; Drastic Purgative Formula
Ingredients
Dosages:
- Jun: Da Huang (12g)
- Chen: Mang Xiao (9-12g)
- Zuo: Hou Po (24g)
- Zuo: Zhi Shi (12-15g)
Actions:
1. Vigorously purge heat accumulation
Indications:
- Severe constipation/abdominal pain, Fever but no chill (interior), delirium, constipation, mass in the abdomen, sweat, dry mouth. Tidal fever, gassy, blurry vision,
- Diarrhea (blue-green watery stools) and dry hard stools (abdomen palpated hard), constipation and diarrhea at the same time. Damp Heat intestines, Hot and cold not harmonizing. Painful. Mass in abdomen, sweat,
- For mania (acute syndrome), Heat stagnation spasm, Mental disorders from internal Heat, Makes crazy! Need to reduce excess. With Heat stasis, too much Heat in intestines, must force Heat through the Heat, syncope, seizures.
Pattern:
Yang Ming Organ Disorder With Desicated Stool In The Intestines (Middle And Lower Jiao)
Tongue:
Dry, yellow or dry, black tongue coating with prickles
Pulse:
Submerged, Excessive
Abdomen:
Notes:
- Severe thirst as a result of dryness and heat, add Zhi Mu and Shi Gao
- Severe abdominal distention, add Lai Fu Zi
- Signs of blood stasis, add Tao Ren and Chi Shao
- When there is qi and blood stagnation, add Chi Shao and Tao Ren
- If accompanied by qi deficiency, add Ren Shen
- For yin or body fluid deficiencies, add Xuan Shen and Sheng Di Huang
- Feeling of fullness, distention, and oppression in the abdomen, add Lai Fu Zi and Mu Xiang
- Dry stools and pain, increase the dose of Mang Xiao and add Gua Lou Zi
- Hemorrhoids, constipation, and painful defecation, add Huang Qin and Ru Xiang
- For Ascites, add Gan Sui and Yuan Hua
- Contraindicated during pregnancy
- Patients with weak constitution
Acute pancreatitis, appendicitis, cholecystitis, early-stage dysentery, pneumonia (especially in children), postoperative constipation and distension, roundworm in the bile duct, and uncomplicated intestinal obstruction
Discussion of Cold Damage: C.220
Title and Author: Shāng hán lùn Zhāng Jī / Zhāng Zhòng-Jǐng
Primary Source: Bensky
Preparation:
Source Text - Cook Zhi Shi and Hou Po in 10 cups of water until 5 cups remain, then add Da Huang and continue cooking until 2 cups remain. Mang Xiao is added to the strained decoction, which is brought to a boil for a few seconds and removed from the heat.
Modern Text - Prepared as a decoction. Recommended dosages are 6-12g of Da Huang and 12-15g of Hou Po.
This is a very strong formula which may cause vomiting or severe diarrhea.