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Calm spirit...
Gan Mai Da Zao Wan
In Chinese medical psychiatry, one of the most commonly prescribed formulas for nonconstruction and malnourishment of the spirit resulting in disquietude is Gan Mai Da Zao Tang (Licorice, Wheat & Red Dates Decoction). This formula consists of mix-fried Radix Glycyrrhizae (Gan Cao), Fructus Tritici Aestivi (Xiao Mai), and Fructus Zizyphi Jujubae (Da Zao). According to most contemporary Chinese sources, this formula nourishes the heart and quiets the spirit, harmonizes the center and relaxes tension. It is indicated for a combination of heart qi, blood, and yin vacuity with liver depression and spleen vacuity, although the symptoms of heart vacuity are more prominent than the symptoms of spleen vacuity. Nonetheless, it is spleen vacuity associated with liver depression (i.e., liver repletion horizontally counterflowing and assailing spleen earth) that is responsible for the heart vacuity, and it is liver depression transforming heat that is responsible for any heat. In this case, there is essence spirit abstraction, alternating crying and laughing for no good reason, inability to control oneself, restless sleep, and, if severe, abnormal speech and behavior. Classically, frequent, repeated yawning and stretching are emphasized as symptoms as are fright and watchfulness (i.e., paranoia). The patient’s tongue is red with scanty fur or may even be peeled and have cracks and fissures, and their pulse is fine and rapid or bowstring and rapid. This constellation of signs and symptoms is often referred to as visceral agitation (zang zao).
Profs. Song and Yu of the Zhejiang College of Chinese Medicine describe the disease mechanisms of visceral agitation in A Handbook of Traditional Chinese Gynecology (Blue Poppy Press, 1995, p. 227):
The cause of this disease is mainly heart construction insufficiency and heart fire upward dazzling lung metal. the heart rules joy and the lungs rule sorrow. The heart produces smiles and the lungs produce crying. Therefore, there is distress due to sorrow and deep grief, crying and smiling with no constancy. The kidneys rule yawning. If heart yin is already vacuous, heart fire is hyperactive above and is not able to descend and join with the kidneys. Thus there is much yawning and stretching.
Within this formula, Gan Cao is sweet and, therefore, relaxes and harmonizes the center. In this case, harmonization of the center means harmonization of the liver and spleen. In the Nei Jing (Inner Classic), it says that, “[When there is] depression, use sweetness to relax it.” Gan Cao also supplements and nourishes the heart. Xiao Mai is slightly cold. It supplements and nourishes the heart qi and yin, clears heat evils from the heart, and therefore, quiets the spirit. Da Zao supplements and boost the spleen qi as well as relaxes liver tension. Hence, when all three of these sweet-flavored medicinals are used together, they sweetly relax, enrich, and supplement. They emolliate the liver and relax tension, calm the heart and quiet the spirit.
-Wan Mi-zhai’s Zhu Ru Tang (Caulis Bambusae Decoction) & Fear and Fright
*****
Pigmentation
"Vital Energy"
Oil on Canvas, 60"x48"
1986
Bernice Bing
Gan Mai Da Zao Wan
In Chinese medical psychiatry, one of the most commonly prescribed formulas for nonconstruction and malnourishment of the spirit resulting in disquietude is Gan Mai Da Zao Tang (Licorice, Wheat & Red Dates Decoction). This formula consists of mix-fried Radix Glycyrrhizae (Gan Cao), Fructus Tritici Aestivi (Xiao Mai), and Fructus Zizyphi Jujubae (Da Zao). According to most contemporary Chinese sources, this formula nourishes the heart and quiets the spirit, harmonizes the center and relaxes tension. It is indicated for a combination of heart qi, blood, and yin vacuity with liver depression and spleen vacuity, although the symptoms of heart vacuity are more prominent than the symptoms of spleen vacuity. Nonetheless, it is spleen vacuity associated with liver depression (i.e., liver repletion horizontally counterflowing and assailing spleen earth) that is responsible for the heart vacuity, and it is liver depression transforming heat that is responsible for any heat. In this case, there is essence spirit abstraction, alternating crying and laughing for no good reason, inability to control oneself, restless sleep, and, if severe, abnormal speech and behavior. Classically, frequent, repeated yawning and stretching are emphasized as symptoms as are fright and watchfulness (i.e., paranoia). The patient’s tongue is red with scanty fur or may even be peeled and have cracks and fissures, and their pulse is fine and rapid or bowstring and rapid. This constellation of signs and symptoms is often referred to as visceral agitation (zang zao).
Profs. Song and Yu of the Zhejiang College of Chinese Medicine describe the disease mechanisms of visceral agitation in A Handbook of Traditional Chinese Gynecology (Blue Poppy Press, 1995, p. 227):
The cause of this disease is mainly heart construction insufficiency and heart fire upward dazzling lung metal. the heart rules joy and the lungs rule sorrow. The heart produces smiles and the lungs produce crying. Therefore, there is distress due to sorrow and deep grief, crying and smiling with no constancy. The kidneys rule yawning. If heart yin is already vacuous, heart fire is hyperactive above and is not able to descend and join with the kidneys. Thus there is much yawning and stretching.
Within this formula, Gan Cao is sweet and, therefore, relaxes and harmonizes the center. In this case, harmonization of the center means harmonization of the liver and spleen. In the Nei Jing (Inner Classic), it says that, “[When there is] depression, use sweetness to relax it.” Gan Cao also supplements and nourishes the heart. Xiao Mai is slightly cold. It supplements and nourishes the heart qi and yin, clears heat evils from the heart, and therefore, quiets the spirit. Da Zao supplements and boost the spleen qi as well as relaxes liver tension. Hence, when all three of these sweet-flavored medicinals are used together, they sweetly relax, enrich, and supplement. They emolliate the liver and relax tension, calm the heart and quiet the spirit.
-Wan Mi-zhai’s Zhu Ru Tang (Caulis Bambusae Decoction) & Fear and Fright
*****
Pigmentation
"Vital Energy"
Oil on Canvas, 60"x48"
1986
Bernice Bing
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