Purgative Prescriptions Composed of Drugs Cold in Nature
Da Cheng Qi Tang (大承气汤): Classic TCM Formula
Name
Potent Purgative Decoction
The Prescription of 大承气汤
Source
The book Shang Han Lun
Ingredients
Da Huang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei) 12 g,Hou Po (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis) 15 g,Zhi Shi (Fructus Aurantii Immaturus) 15 g,Mang Xiao (Natrii Sulfas) 9 g.Explanation
Da Huang: The principal drug, being bitter in flavor and cold in nature, purging heat to relax the bowels, removing stagnancy in the stomach and intestines.
Mang Xiao: Being salty in flavor and cold in nature, purging heat, softening hard masses, moistening dryness.
Hou Po and Zhi Shi: Promoting the circulation of Qi to resolve masses, relieving fullness and distention, assisting Mang Xiao and Da Huang in eliminating stagnancy to remove accumulation of heat.
The Effect of 大承气汤
Effect
Drastically eliminating heat accumulation and relieving constipation.
Indications
Excess syndrome due to interior heat, marked by constipation, frequent farting, fullness and distention in the gastric and abdominal region, tenderness with hard sensation in the abdomen, or even tidal fever, delirium, persistent sweating in the soles and palms, dry and yellowish tongue coating with prickles or dry black fissure tongue coating, and deep forceful pulse, or marked by green watery stools, pain in the abdomen or around the umbilicus, palpable masses in the abdomen, dry mouth and tongue, and slippery forceful pulse; including such diseases with the above symptoms as acute simple intestinal obstruction, cohesive intestinal obstruction, ascaris intestinal obstruction, acute cholecystitis, acute appendicitis, acute bacillary dysentery, toxic dysentery, schizophrenia, etc.
Administrations
Decocted in water for oral dose to be taken twice, Da Huang and Mang Xiao should be decocted for a shorter time in order to keep their purgative action.
Contraindication
Because of its drastic action, this prescription should not be prescribed for pregnant women. The administration of it should be stopped once its effectiveness appears.
Sources and further reading
We cite classical materia medica and modern reference works. This article is health education, not medical advice.
- Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Han dynasty.
- Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen, 1578.
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia, current edition — identity, quality and safety monographs.
- NCCIH and WHO reference material on traditional medicine safety.
Spotted an error or a better source? Tell us — corrections are logged on our editorial policy page.
Did this article help you?
Your answer shapes what gets rewritten next.
Keep readingRelated entries
Something this article did not cover?
Ask us directly. We reply within two days, and good questions become public articles.
Ask a question →