The difference between Ermiao Pills and Simiao Pills

In traditional Chinese medicine, adding other Chinese herbs to a prescription can change the therapeutic effect. Many Chinese medicine practitioners will increase or decrease the number and dosage of Chinese herbs in the prescription according to the patient's actual situation. Simiao Pills are based on the recipe of Er Miao Pills with a few additional herbs, which enhance some of the effects of Er Miao Pills, such as regulating immunity. Below I will introduce to you in detail the differences between Er Miao Wan and Simiao Wan.

Er Miao Wan and Simiao Wan are both mainly used to dry dampness and clear heat, and are used for damp-heat diseases. Er Miao Wan is used to treat various symptoms of damp-heat syndrome in which dampness is more severe than heat, while Simiao Wan is based on Er Miao and is mainly used to treat damp-heat paralysis and arthritis. In terms of pharmacological effects, since Er Miao Wan has obvious immunosuppressive effects, it is quite effective for certain diseases caused by allergic reactions; and since the added Achyranthes bidentata and Coix seed in Simiao Wan can enhance immune function, it has obvious immunoregulatory effects and is not suitable for diseases with allergic reactions as the main cause.

1. Er Miao Wan

In the formula of Er Miao Wan, Atractylodes lancea is used to dry dampness and strengthen the spleen, while Phellodendron chinense is used to clear heat and dry dampness. Both medicines can dry dampness, so Er Miao Wan is mainly used when dampness is more serious than heat. To eliminate dampness, it is necessary not only to strengthen the spleen, but also to regulate Qi. The aromatic and moving characteristics of Atractylodes can promote the circulation of Qi and blood, accelerate the metabolic absorption of pathological products, relieve inflammatory symptoms, and promote the healing of skin lesions. In terms of skin diseases, Huangbo has the function of detoxifying and treating sores.

2. Si Miao Wan

Si Miao Wan is made by adding flavor to Er Miao Wan. In the formula, Phellodendron chinense is the main ingredient for clearing away heat and drying dampness, Atractylodes macrocephala is the secondary ingredient for drying dampness and strengthening the spleen, and Achyranthes bidentata is the auxiliary ingredient for nourishing the liver and kidneys, strengthening the tendons and bones, activating blood circulation and dredges the menstruation, and can also guide the medicine downward, and at the same time serves as an adjuvant and guiding drug. Coix seed can drain dampness and turbidity, and guide damp heat out through urine, so it is an adjuvant medicine. The combination of Atractylodes lancea and Coix seed can enhance the function of strengthening the spleen and eliminating dampness, and cut off the source of dampness and heat. The whole prescription works together to clear away heat, promote dampness and promote blood circulation. It is an effective prescription for treating lower limb weakness, redness and swelling of the feet and knees, pain in the tendons and bones, and difficulty in flexing and extending the joints. This prescription uses a large amount of coix seed, while the amount of Phellodendron chinense used is less than that of Ermiao Pills, and Phellodendron chinense is stir-fried with salt to enhance its effect of nourishing yin and reducing fire, thus greatly weakening the heat-clearing effect of the whole prescription. Therefore, Si Miao Wan focuses on promoting dampness and eliminating numbness, while Er Miao Wan focuses on clearing heat and drying dampness.

3. Comparison of functions and indications

1. The functions and indications of Er Miao Wan According to the functions and indications stated in the 2005 edition of the "Chinese Pharmacopoeia" and the "OTC Drug Instructions of Er Miao Wan", it is mainly used clinically to treat erysipelas of the lower limbs, leucorrhea, genital (scrotal) itching, and eczema.

2. Functions and indications of Simiao Pills: Redness, swelling, heat and pain in the feet and knees: these are typical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. For this disease, Er Miao Pills and Simiao Pills have similar therapeutic effects. However, since Simiao Pills contain Achyranthes bidentata and Coix seed, it is more targeted in treating damp-heat, redness, swelling of the feet and knees, and pain in the tendons and bones.

3. Comparison of the functions of the two prescriptions Based on the above analysis of the functions and indications, it is not difficult to see the difference between Er Miao Wan and Simiao Wan: Er Miao Wan is a basic prescription specifically for clearing heat and drying dampness, and its scope of application is damp-heat syndrome. Simiao Pills is a modified version of Ermiao Pills. It is a prescription specifically for treating damp-heat paralysis and arthritis caused by "damp-heat descending into the lower body, redness and swelling of the feet and knees, and pain in the tendons and bones." However, at present, Si Miao Wan is used in clinical practice to treat dermatitis, eczema and other diseases, which seems to be confused with Er Miao Wan, and attention should be paid.

Discussion

Modern pharmacology shows that Er Miao Wan has a significant immunosuppressive effect and is quite effective for certain diseases caused by allergic reactions. However, since Simiao Wan contains coix seed which enhances immunity, it should not be used for diseases with allergic reactions as the main cause. According to traditional Chinese medicine, Er Miao Wan has the effects of both attacking and replenishing, strengthening the spleen and drying dampness, clearing away heat and removing dampness. The effect of Simiao Pills is tonic, and it also has the functions of nourishing the kidney, activating blood circulation and relieving numbness. Therefore, Er Miao Pills are the first choice for diseases such as acute dermatitis, acute and chronic urinary tract infections, acute and chronic prostatitis, gynecological adnexitis, erosive cervicitis, erysipelas of the lower limbs, herpes zoster, and athlete's foot infections. For the chronic stage of the above diseases, when the dampness and heat are not severe, especially for the elderly, those with pain in the lower limb joints, and weakness, Si Miao Pills can be used.