Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan – Details of Ginseng and Zizyphus Formula
Yuan Zhi can be translated as Profound Will or Faraway Mind.
This formula treats what Chinese medicine describes as “Kidney and Heart not Communicating “. You probably didn’t know that your Kidney and Heart were even having a conversation! Well they are, but it isn’t so much words as much as providing balance for each other.
The Heart (capitalized to indicate the Chinese concept of the organ) radiates warmth through the body. The Kidneys provide the cooling influences in the body. So, these two organs have an effect on the thermal regulation in the body. What happens when the Kidneys are unable to cool the Heart is what this formula addresses.
You can think of the Heart as an engine and the Kidneys as the radiator. If the radiator fluid is low, the engine will overheat. The same thing applies to the Heart in the body. If the Kidneys are not generating enough cooling fluids, the Heart will overheat. Because the Heart “stores the spirit”, heat can cause insomnia, anxiety, restlessness and palpitations . Nourishing the body fluids via the Kidneys help to ensure internal calm and comfort .
Might be summarized as treating anxiety. To learn more visit: Heart and Kidney not communicating.
Alternative Names
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
tien wang pu hsin tan
Emperor of Heaven’s Special Pill to Tonify the Heart
Benefits
supports emotional stability
regulates the heartbeat
supports restful sleep
helps calm nocturnal emissions (with dream)
regualtes body’s natural cooling mechanisms
Ingredients
Sheng Di Huang 生地黃 Chinese foxglove root, rehmannia (fresh),Rehmannia root Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae
This deep cold root is thick and sticky to the touch. In the body it has a similar effect in that it generates thick nourishing fluids internally. It’s cold nature also cools the heart while it’s nourishing the body fluids or “yin” to calm the spirit .
Xuan Shen 玄參 ningpo figwort root, scrophularia Radix Scrophulariae Ningpoensis
Tian Men Dong 天門冬 asparagus tuber Asparagi Radix
Mai Men Dong 麥門冬 ophiopogon tuber Ophiopogonis Radix
These three herbs all promote more body fluids but their cooling natures also remove heat from the Heart which then promotes a calm heart when there’s insomnia, anxiety or restlessness .
Dan Shen 丹蔘 salvia root Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix [caution ]
Dang Gui 當歸 tangkuei, Chinese angelica root Radix Angelicae Sinensis [supports pregnancy ]
These two herbs have a particular affinity for the blood in the body, which is one form of body fluid. Blood is obviously very important to the functions of the Heart in both the cardiovascular sense as well as the mental functions that Chinese medicine addresses. Dan Shen is also cooling to remove heat from the Heart which causes restlessness, insomnia and anxiety .
Dang Shen 黨蔘 codonopsis root Codonopsis Radix
Fu Ling 茯苓 sclerotium of tuckahoe, China root, hoelen, Indian bread Poria Cocos
These two herbs help the digestion assimilate the heavy nourishing herbs in this formula to prevent side-effects such as bloating or gas. They both have a calming influence too.
Suan Zao Ren 酸棗仁 sour jujube seed; zizyphus Semen Zizyphi Spinosae [use caution if pregnant ]
Wu Wei Zi 五味子 schisandra fruit Schizandrae Fructus
These two herbs are sour, especially the wu wei zi. Sour has the ability to astringe sweating which is a common outcome of the yin deficiency that this formula addresses. When you’re already low on body fluids, sweating can aggravate that problem. These two herbs also have a calming influence , another reason they’re chosen for this formula.
Bai Zi Ren 柏子仁 arbor-vitae seed; biota seed Semen Biotae Orientalis
Yuan Zhi 遠志 Chinese senega root; polygala Radix Polygalae Tenuifoliae
Shi Chang Pu 石菖蒲 sweetflag rhizome; acorus Rhizoma Acori Graminei
These two herbs are focused on calming the spirit through removing “phlegm” . The yuan zhi and shi chang pu also address “phlegm misting the Heart orifices”. The more phlegm there is, the greater the separation from the here-and-now. Those with phlegm in the Heart tend to be lost in their thoughts . If it gets severe, it can become dementia . Clearing that phlegm from the Heart helps keep one present in the moment .
Jie Geng 桔梗 balloon flower root, platycodon root Radix Platycodi Grandifolii
This herb is used to guide the actions of this formula into the chest where the Heart is. The Heart “stores the shen” or spirit. This spirit isn’t a ghost, it isn’t your immortal soul, it’s more like your personality or your affect. This formula address that level of your spirit that manifests as a sense of unease, restlessness, or anxiety .
Gan Cao 甘草 licorice root Radix Glycyrrhizae [caution ]
As usual, gan cao is added to this formula to help the ingredients work together better. Even used alone, gan cao has a calming benefit .
>>>>>>Zhu Sha 朱砂 Cinnabar Cinnabaris (Not included in modern formulas )>>>>>>
