Sheng Tie Luo Yin生铁落饮
Iron Filings Decoction
Ingredients15 herbs
Indications
Phlegm-fire harassing the Heartpresenting as mania: fire drives the disturbance upward and phlegm clouds the orifices, so neither cooling nor settling alone would answer.
Clinical Manifestations
- Manic agitation with shouting and abusive speech
- Sleeplessness with restless, ceaseless activity
- Incoherent speech in phlegm-fire patterns
- Emotional outbursts with a slippery rapid pulse and greasy yellow coating
- Restlessness in seizure disorders, as one part of care
Health Categories
Modern Applications
Common adjustments
- Cinnabar in the classical text — omit it; the weight of the iron decoction and a mineral such as Ci Shi 磁石 provide the settling action
- Constipation with a full, forceful abdomen — add Da Huang 大黄 to lead the fire out below
- Thick phlegm predominant — add Zhu Ru 竹茹 or increase Dan Nan Xing 胆南星
- Fluids badly depleted after a long febrile course — increase Xuan Shen 玄参 and Mai Men Dong 麦门冬
Contraindications
Not for withdrawn, quiet presentations of phlegm-damp without fire, and not for deficiency patterns — the formula is cold, heavy and draining and will exhaust a weak patient quickly. It is a short-course prescription. Cinnabar in the classical version is toxic and is omitted. Above all, mania and acute psychosis require urgent conventional psychiatric assessment; this entry describes a traditional prescription, not a substitute for that care.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.
Pregnancy
Contraindicated in pregnancy. The formula is strongly cold and draining, contains phlegm-cutting herbs unsuited to pregnancy, and in its classical form contains cinnabar, which has no safe dose in pregnancy.
References
Source Yi Xue Xin Wu 《医学心悟》 · Qing
- 《医学心悟》 — public-domain classical source.
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）— chapter placement and 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.