*Four-Substance Decoction (si wu tang)

Shu Di Huang, Bai Shao, Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong       

Pattern: Liver Blood Deficiency

Indications: Dizziness, blurred vision, lusterless complexion and nails, generalized muscle tension, irregular menstruation with little flow or amenorrhea, periumbilical and lower abdominal pain, a pale tongue, and a thin and wiry or thin and choppy pulse.  Also used for menorrhagia, hard abdominal masses with recurrent pain, restless fetus, or lochioschesis with a firm and painful abdomen and sporadic fever and chills.

Cautions and contraindications: This formula is appropriate for chronic conditions which are not too severe. It should not be used in treating acute, severe blood loss or other problems of blood deficiency which include severe weakness and labored breathing. In such cases one should heed the adage, For exhaustion of blood, tonify the Qi; a formula such as Tangkuei Decoction to Tonify the blood (dang gui bu xue tang) should be used instead.

Furthermore, if this formula is used in treating patients who have a constitutional deficiency of Spleen Yang with a poor appetite and loose stools, it should be modified to include herbs which strengthen the middle burner. 

ACUPUNTURA Y MASAJE TERAPÉUTICO