🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Yiguanyin Decoction comprises raw Rehmannia, Lycium fruit, Adenophora, Ophiopogon, Angelica, and Chaenomeles. Raw Rehmannia primarily nourishes liver and kidney yin-blood; Ophiopogon, Adenophora, Lycium fruit, and Angelica support yin nourishment, blood tonification, and fluid generation to soften the liver; a small amount of Chaenomeles relieves stagnation and clears heat as an adjuvant. Combined, the formula has functions of nourishing yin, soothing liver, relieving depression, and unblocking collaterals. Modern pharmacological studies reveal that Yiguanyin has analgesic, sedative, heat-clearing, cough-suppressing, and expectorant effects, making it applicable to various diseases. Examples include:
1. Chronic Hepatitis
Applicable to yin deficiency with liver stagnation type: characterized by rib pain, dizziness, red tongue lacking moisture, scanty coating, fine rapid pulse. If blood stasis exists, replace Angelica with Angelica caudata, add Sanqi powder (dissolved), Frankincense, Myrrha; for gingival bleeding, add White Reed Root, Cypress Leaf; for epigastric distension, add sprouted barley, fried Three Shen, stir-fried Citrus aurantium; for severe insomnia, add stir-fried Ziziphus seed, raw oyster shell; for bitter mouth and dryness, add wine-processed Coptis, Dendrobium; for elevated transaminases or persistent elevation, add Northern Schisandra, Gentiana; for splenomegaly, add Softshell Turtle Shell, Salvia.
Also applicable in late-stage liver cirrhosis and other liver diseases with liver yin deficiency.
2. Gastric Diseases
For gastric ulcers due to gastric yin deficiency: presenting with burning epigastric pain, hunger-like discomfort, restlessness, insomnia, smooth red tongue with little coating, stringy fine pulse. Treatment involves nourishing yin and strengthening the stomach. Use this formula with modifications. For excessive gastric acid, add Sepia, Calcined Oyster Shell; if blood stasis is present, replace Angelica with Angelica caudata, add Peach Kernel, Safflower; for epigastric distension, add sprouted barley, stir-fried Citrus aurantium, Sandalwood; for bitter mouth, add wine-processed Coptis; for upward qi reversal, add Hematite, Pinellia, Inula.
Adding Prunus mume and Hedyotis Diffusa also treats chronic atrophic gastritis.
3. Neurosis
Patients with neurosis exhibiting yin deficiency and liver stagnation can use this formula to nourish yin and relieve stagnation. For insomnia, add Salvia, Ziziphus seed, Platycladus seed; with palpitations, add Coptis, Cinnamon; for nocturnal emission or seminal leakage, add raw Dragon Bone, raw Oyster Shell; for irritability and anger, add Mimosa Flower, Calamus; for globus hystericus, add Magnolia Bark, Pinellia.
4. Menstrual Disorders
Women with blood deficiency and internal heat often experience irregular menstruation, delayed or missed periods, accompanied by hot hands and feet, bitter mouth, dryness, irritability, rib and abdominal distension, red tongue with little coating, stringy fine pulse. This formula can be used. If there are ecchymoses on the tongue or a choppy pulse, add Peach Kernel, Safflower, Salvia; for severe cases, add Water Leech; for hot hands and feet and night sweats, add Cortex Lycii, Cortex Moutan; for epigastric distension, add Barley, Processed Cyperus; for severe insomnia, add stir-fried Ziziphus seed, Salvia.
5. Hypertension
In a certain stage, hypertension may manifest as yin deficiency with liver stagnation: presenting with dizziness, blurred vision, dry mouth and bitter taste, irritability, tinnitus, insomnia, red tongue with little coating, stringy fine rapid pulse. This formula can be used. For severe dizziness, add Uncaria, Concha Strombus; for kidney deficiency and lower back pain with weak pulse, add Eucommia, Taxillus; for dry, red eyes, add Cassia Seed, Prunella Vulgaris, Chrysanthemum; for dry mouth and bitterness, add Scutellaria, wine-processed Coptis, Dendrobium; for severe insomnia, add Mimosa Flower, stir-fried Ziziphus seed.
6. Tuberculosis
For pulmonary tuberculosis with cough without phlegm, minimal phlegm, or blood-tinged sputum, chest and rib distension, tidal fever, night sweats, dry throat, dry mouth, insomnia, vivid dreams, red tongue with little coating, stringy fine rapid pulse—this indicates lung-kidney yin deficiency with liver stagnation. Use this formula with modifications. For scanty, dry, yellow phlegm, reduce Lycium fruit, add Fritillary Bulb, Bile-Processed Star of Bethlehem, Bamboo Juice; for poor appetite and abdominal distension, add Barley, Chicken Internal Gold, Fried Rice Sprouts; for blood-tinged sputum or hemoptysis, add Bletilla, Donkey-hide Gelatin, Sanqi powder; for fever and thirst, add Raw Gypsum (discontinue when fever subsides), Tianhua Powder; for severe night sweats, add Ephedra Root, Floating Wheat; for lung cavities, add Bletilla, Cordyceps, Lily.
7. Central Retinal Vasculitis
For cases involving yin deficiency and liver stagnation, use this formula with additions of Honey-Moonflower, White Peony Root, Cassia Seed, Curcuma. Generally, improvement occurs after 10–15 doses, and treatment should continue for 1–2 months.
8. Dryness Syndrome Post-Gynecological Cancer Radiotherapy
After radiotherapy for cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, endometrial cancer, or ovarian malignancy, women may experience vaginal dryness and pain. This formula can be modified with Cornus, Hedyotis Diffusa, Half-Branch Lotus, Salvia. It also shows efficacy for dryness, insomnia, poor appetite, and other yin-deficiency symptoms following radiation therapy for other cancers.