Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang回阳救急汤
Restore and Revive the Yang Decoction
Ingredients10 herbs
Indications
Cold striking the three yin channels directly with the true yang in decline. The whole interior is cold and the qi is too depleted to hold the yang, so warming, tonifying and unblocking are done together.
Clinical Manifestations
- Cold limbs with a wish only to sleep after cold strikes directly inward
- Vomiting and diarrhoea with abdominal pain and no thirst
- Shivering with a body cold to the touch
- Blue-tinged lips and nail beds
- A deep faint pulse, or no palpable pulse at all
Health Categories
Modern Applications
Common adjustments
- Vomiting of thin saliva or lower abdominal pain — add Wu Zhu Yu 吴茱萸
- Diarrhoea unremitting — add Huang Qi 黄芪 and increase Bai Zhu 白术
- Pulse absent — increase Ren Shen 人参 and add Zhi Gan Cao 炙甘草
- Palpitations pronounced — add Fu Shen 茯神 and Yuan Zhi 远志
Contraindications
Not for true heat with false cold, and not to be continued once the yang has returned and the limbs are warm — the classical instruction is to stop rather than press on, because sustained hot dry herbs then injure the yin. Yang collapse requires emergency medical care.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.
Pregnancy
Contraindicated in pregnancy. Prepared Fu Zi is a toxic aconite root needing processed material and prolonged pre-decoction; Rou Gui and dried ginger are strongly hot; prepared Ban Xia is a processed toxic herb; and the aromatic opening substance in the classical formula (She Xiang) is a recognised abortifacient risk and is omitted in modern practice or replaced under practitioner direction. Never use in pregnancy or as self-medication.
References
Source Shang Han Liu Shu 《伤寒六书》 · Ming
- Classical source (pre-modern, public domain) as recorded in the standard formula literature.
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— pattern analysis cross-checked.
Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.