Pǔ Jì Xiāo Dú Yǐn is a very eloquent and focused formula, but it rarely gets the recognition that it deserves. Originally created by Li Dong-Yuan in the 13th century, Pǔ Jì Xiāo Dú Yǐn was originally indicated for a disease called “massive head scourge” (da tou wen). It was originally created in response to disease epidemics, but in the modern day its use has expanded dramatically. It is particularly effective for disorders of the face and head that manifest with heat toxin and swelling, especially in cases where there are symptoms such as sore throat, swollen tonsils or swollen cervical lymph nodes.

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Pǔ Jì Xiāo Dú Yǐn (Universal Salvation Toxin-Dispersing Beverage)

Source: Dōng Yuán Shì Xiào Fāng (Dong-Yuan’s Tested Effective Formulas), by Li Dong-Yuan (Jin dynasty, 13th century).

Ingredients

Huáng qín (scutellaria, Scutellariae Radix) [wine-processed] 15 g

Huáng lián (coptis, Coptidis Rhizoma) [wine-processed] 15 g

Chén pí (tangerine peel, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) [white removed] 10 g

Gān cǎo (licorice, Glycyrrhizae Radix) [raw] 10 g

Xuán shēn (scrophularia, Scrophulariae Radix) 10 g

Chái hú (bupleurum, Bupleuri Radix) 10 g

Jié gěng (platycodon, Platycodonis Radix) 10 g

Lián qiáo (forsythia, Forsythiae Fructus) 5 g

Bǎn lán gēn (isatis root, Isatidis Radix) 5 g

Mǎ bó (puffball, Lasiosphaera seu Calvatia) 5 g

Niú bàng zǐ (arctium, Arctii Fructus) 5 g

Bò hé (mint, Menthae Herba) 5 g

Jiāng cán (silkworm, Bombyx Batryticatus) 3 g

Rén shēn (Ginseng Radix) 3 g [originally 11g]

Shēng má (cimicifuga, Cimicifugae Rhizoma) 3 g

Method: Powder the above ingredients, mix into a decoction, and take periodically. It can also be formed into pills with honey. The modern method is a simple water decoction.

Actions: Clears heat and resolves toxin, courses wind and dissipates evil.

Indications: “Massive head scourge.” This is a disease that results from invasion of the spleen and stomach channels by seasonal wind-warmth toxin and that is characterized by swelling and redness of the head, and sometimes by painful swelling of the throat, and, in severe cases, signs such as deafness, clenched jaw, clouded spirit, and delirious raving. In the presentation listed for this formula, there may be aversion to cold and heat effusion, red swollen face and burning pain, inability to open the eyes, inhibited throat, dry mouth and thirst, a red tongue with yellow fur, and a rapid, forceful pulse. The World Health Organization uses the term erysipelas fascialis for this condition, and describes it as an acute infection of the face marked by high fever and local redness, swelling, heat and pain.

Analysis

This formula is indicated for externally contracted wind-heat epidemic toxin that congests in the upper burner and erupts in the head and face. When wind-heat epidemic toxin depresses in the fleshy exterior, it produces aversion to cold and heat effusion. Because the head is the meeting of all yang, brewing epidemic toxin ascends to the upper body, producing the red swollen face and burning pain, inability to open the eyes, and inhibited throat. The thirst, dry mouth, and tongue and pulse presentation all show the exuberant heat toxin.

The key feature in this pattern is the pathomechanism of wind-heat epidemic toxin congesting in the head and face. It moves out to depress in the fleshy exterior. Thus, the disease location is said to be upper body, while the disease dynamic moves in an outward direction. To treat epidemic toxin, one must clear and resolve. To treat wind-heat, one must course and dissipate. This formula both clears heat and resolves toxin, and courses wind and dissipates evil.

Warning: This formula has many acrid-dissipating and bitter-cold medicinals, so it should be used with care in cases of yin vacuity or spleen vacuity with sloppy stool. Topical treatments can also be applied to the affected site to strengthen the effect of clearing heat and dispersing swelling.

Some versions of the formula use Ren Shen while other versions leave it out and increase the dose of Bo He.

While this formula can be hard to find in a prepared form, it is available from Blue Poppy in the Great Nature tablet line.