Yinhuo Guiyuan Decoction

"Guiding fire back to the origin" is an expansion of the treatment concept of "guiding yang from yin and yin from yang" in the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine. It is mainly used for those with internal injuries that are due to deficiency of original qi and increased root fire. The basic pathological process of guiding fire back to the origin depends on the increase and decrease of the five elements of the original qi (original qi) and the monarch and minister fire. Its treatment goal lies in "the monarch fire is bright, and the minister fire is in position", that is, the disorder of the original qi.

Definition of Mingmen acupoint, Yuanqi and Xianghuo

Mingmen acupoint is the origin of the original qi of the lower abdomen. The original Qi is generated by the innate lower Jiao and the acquired middle Jiao, and is transformed into the Zong Qi, the Ying Qi, and the Wei Qi, which nourish the whole body. Xianghuo is originally the dynamic change of original Qi, which is used to stop the loss of generating Qi.

Yuan Qi is the origin of the mutual relationship between True Water and Xiang Fire (dynamic Qi). At the same time, Yuan Qi and Xiang Fire (evil spirits) have a restraining relationship in terms of pathology. When the Original Qi is deficient or the Xiang Fire is hyperactive due to internal injuries or external wind-cold, it is necessary to restrain the Xiang Fire. This is the basis for the application of "leading the fire back to the origin". The "yuan" in guiding fire back to the origin does not simply refer to the definition of original qi, but means "the main fire for brightness, and the secondary fire for position", which makes the operation of the qi wheels in the body have a detectable degree of tension and relaxation, and the lifting and lowering machines complement each other.

Yinhuo Guiyuan Decoction Recipe

Deficiency of spleen and kidney, loss of nourishment of original qi

The spleen is the foundation of the acquired constitution, the kidney is the foundation of the innate constitution and the place where the original qi resides at the Mingmen acupoint. The two are used in order to support each other. Their deficiency can affect the balance of Yuan Qi and Xiang Fire. The stomach and intestines are also the nerve center for the circulation of Xiang Fire and True Water.

If the stomach and intestines are in a bad state, the first thing that will appear is that the original qi cannot be restrained and the Yin fire invades the spleen. Clinically, it is manifested as internal injury heat syndrome 500, characterized by exogenous wind-cold, weak constitution, and even muscle fever. The pathological essence of gastrointestinal deficiency is the disorder of the qi turbine elevators, the poor circulation of true water and phase fire, "stagnation leads to illness, and stagnation leads to death", and the disorder of the elevators is mainly caused by the failure of clear qi to rise and the foulness of grain qi. Therefore, we should adopt the method of sweet and warming to replenish the original qi, lift the clear yang, use the newborn's original qi to restrain the hyperactive phase fire, and then guide the fire back to the origin. The prescriptions Buzhong Yiqi Decoction and Shudi Pills both use sweet and warm herbs such as Scutellaria baicalensis, Radix Scutellariae, Chinese yam, and licorice to eliminate heat. Among them, Dioscorea Pills are more suitable for consolidating the original Qi, and can ward off evil spirits and remove blood stasis because of the consolidating effect of Chinese yam, so it has a wider range of applications.

There are many clinical medical applications of the clinical manifestations of kidney deficiency, represented by Liuwei Pills, Bawei Pills and similar prescriptions. "Yi Fang Ji Jie" explains: "Rehmannia glutinosa replenishes qi and blood, replenishes blood and produces essence; Cornus officinalis warms the liver and expels wind, astringes essence and traps qi; Peony flower drains the hidden fire of the monarch and minister, disperses blood and reduces steaming; Chinese yam clears the virtual fire in the lungs and spleen, strengthens the spleen and kidneys; Coix seed penetrates the cold and dampness in the spleen, and opens the deep connection of the kidneys; Alisma orientalis drains the water evil in the bladder, and improves hearing and eyesight. Only Lutein and cinnamon powder can enter the kidney and replenish it, so they are added to Liuwei Pills as a fire-replenishing agent." Kidney deficiency is often accompanied by mutual diseases of other internal organs, so Liuwei Pills and Bawei Pills have prescriptions that focus on other organs, such as Maiwei Dihuang Pills for both the lungs and Qiju Dihuang Pills for both the liver.

Because spleen and kidney deficiency often occur together, choosing the key points of nourishing is particularly important in clinical medicine. At this time, we should follow Xue Ji's idea of ​​treating both the spleen and kidney, that is, if the disease is acquired and affects the spleen and kidney, strengthening the kidney is not as good as strengthening the spleen; and if strengthening the spleen is not possible, the kidney should be treated, and the purpose is still to replenish fire and replenish earth. The spleen and kidney can support each other, so both the spleen and kidney should be paid attention to while giving priority to one, which is the practical approach.