Aconite is a kind of Chinese medicinal material, derived from the tuber root of the Aconitum plant, which is pungent in nature, hot in taste, and has a strong warming and yang effect. In traditional Chinese medicine, aconite has been used as an important medicine for the treatment of yang deficiency and cold syndrome since ancient times. However, aconite is highly toxic when unprocessed, and improper use may cause serious toxic side effects. Therefore, since ancient times, Chinese medicine practitioners have emphasized the processing process of aconite to ensure its safety and efficacy.
Zhang Xichun was a famous physician in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, and he recorded in detail his use of aconite in the "Records of Medical Hearts and References to the West". He had strict principles for the use of aconite, the most important of which were as follows:
1. Mainly concoct aconite, avoid the use of raw aconite
Zhang Xichun advocated that aconite must be processed, and the "black aconite" he commonly used was black aconite made by a variety of excipients and water and fire, which had the characteristics of warm and low toxicity. Raw aconite is highly toxic, and Zhang Xichun's book does not use actual cases of raw aconite, which shows that he attaches great importance to the safety of the drug.
2. Control the dose carefully
Zhang Xichun was very cautious in dose control when using aconite, with the maximum dosage being 24 grams and the minimum being only 0.6 grams. He is personalized to the specific condition of the patient, and the medication is flexible and secure, which reflects his highly responsible attitude in the clinic.
3. Compatibility with other warm and yang drugs
Aconite is often used in combination with ginseng, licorice, dried ginger, yam, atractylodes and other drugs, which can not only enhance the warming and yang qi replenishment effect of aconite, but also help alleviate the toxicity of aconite. This combination can be used to treat a variety of cold syndromes and asthenia, especially in cases where Yuan Yang is insufficient.
The four major effects of aconite
Aconite is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to warm yang and replenish qi, and Zhang Xichun is especially good at using the following four effects of aconite:
1. Benefit the fire and support the sun
Aconite is good at warming yang and dissipating cold, especially suitable for patients with yang deficiency and cold. Zhang Xichun pointed out that aconite can not only warm the inside of the body, but also have a certain astringent effect, so it can be used for severe symptoms of deficiency and cold, and help patients restore yang energy. For example, in some cold syndromes with less sun and yin syndrome, aconite is often used to relieve the surface and dispel cold.
2. Return to the sun to rescue
In terms of Huiyang rescue, aconite is known as a life-saving drug of "Yuanyang Jiangtuo", which is suitable for critical situations such as yang qi failure and body temperature drop. Zhang Xichun often combines aconite with drugs such as dogwood and ginseng to help restore the body's vitality. This compatibility is particularly important in the treatment of patients with a descriptive syndrome.
3. Warm and yang paralysis
For joint pain and limb numbness caused by the invasion of cold evil into the meridians, Zhang Xichun often uses aconite to be compatible with drugs such as oxknee and psoralen to warm and yang and relieve pain. Aconite can effectively improve blood circulation, reach the whole body, and help relieve the pain symptoms caused by cold condensation and qi stagnation.
4. Ignition to the origin
In some diseases where the yang energy rises and the yin and yang are out of balance, aconite is used to bring the fire back to the source, helping to redirect the floating yang energy back to the lower focus and restore the balance of yin and yang in the body. Zhang Xichun has used the unique effect of aconite in many prescriptions, making it an important medicine for regulating Yuanyang.
Representative formulas
Zhang Xichun often uses aconite in clinical formulas, combined with other warm tonic herbs. Here are a few representative formulas containing aconite:
1. Dunfu soup
Composition: Codonopsis, black aconite, yam, psoralen, walnut kernel, dogwood, Poria cocos, chicken gold.
Efficacy: It is used for the deficiency of vitality in the lower focus, and is suitable for the treatment of symptoms of insufficient yang qi such as waist and knee pain, deficiency and cold diarrhea.
2. Soup
Composition: Rehmannia rehmannia, cornus officinalis, yam, raw keel, raw oyster, Poria cocos, white peony, aconite.
Efficacy: Treat the deficiency of yin and yang after a serious illness, especially the symptoms of upper heat and lower cold, imbalance of qi and blood, and return to yang and solidify it.
3. Warm soup
Composition: Yam, angelica, aconite, cinnamon, psoralen, cumin, walnut kernel, purple quartz, staghorn gum.
Efficacy: It is used for women's deficiency and infertility, warming and supplementing coke, regulating qi and blood.
4. Leg pain prescription
Composition: Codonopsis, Angelica, Hyssop, Walnut, Aconite, Psoralen, Frankincense, Myrrh, Clematis.
Efficacy: Treat leg pain caused by the invasion of cold evil, help warm meridians and relieve pain.
5. Add flavored Ling Guishu sweet soup
Composition: Atractylodes, cinnamon branch, Poria cocos, licorice, dried ginger, ginseng, aconite, clematis.
Efficacy: edema and urination are not good, the pulse is sluggish and weak, and the person feels cold.
6. Urinate due to cold occlusion
Codonopsis, pepper, hyssop, aconite, cinnamon, angelica, ginger, cumin, myrrh, clematis, licorice.
Efficacy: Urine is blocked due to cold.
The use of aconite is contraindicated
Although aconite is effective, caution must be exercised when using it. Zhang Xichun emphasized that aconite should not be used in conjunction with drugs such as banxia, melon, and fritillary, which stems from the "eighteen anti" theory of traditional Chinese medicine. In addition, aconite should not be used in large doses for a long time, especially when using it for the first time, and should be carried out under the guidance of a physician.
As an important warm-yang drug, aconite has a wide range of application value in traditional Chinese medicine. Through Zhang Xichun's clinical experience, we can see the key to the strong efficacy and safe use of aconite. Rational use of aconite can effectively treat diseases such as yang deficiency and cold syndrome, and return to yang to save people. However, due to its toxicity, the use of aconite must be strictly followed by medical advice to avoid the risks caused by improper use. Today, with the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine, the research on aconite continues, and it is expected that more scientific explorations can reveal the full potential of this traditional medicine.
State:
1. Reference: Analysis of Zhang Xichun's aconite medication - Journal of Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Volume 44, July 2024
2. This platform aims to disseminate the cultural knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine and respect knowledge and labor. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me to negotiate.
3. All treatment plans need to be treated with syndrome differentiation, if you need to use drugs, please consult a professional TCM physician for syndrome differentiation plus or minus, and do not self-medicate.