Fragrant Passage

Fragrant Passage

This formula is for the treatment of a liverspleenstomach disharmony with depressive heat resulting in chronic sinusitis.

Harmonizes the liver and spleen, clears heat and resolves toxins, frees the flow of the nasal orifices and stops pain

Chronic sinusitis typically presents as a combination on lingering external evils and a liverspleenstomach disharmony. Because of spleen vacuity, the defensive qi is vacuous and is not securing the exterior. Therefore, external evils are not outthrust and new evils are allowed to enter. Also because of spleen vacuity, there is a tendency to phlegm dampness. This is based on the saying, “The spleen is the root of phlegm engenderment.” Because of liver depression transforming heat, heat is transferred to the stomach and gallbladder channels. This heat follows these channels upward to the head where it becomes stagnant and is trapped in the bony boxes of the sinuses. There it steams and brews, transforming toxins and creating pus. Because there is no free flow, there is pain. If this toxic heat damages the network vessels, there may be blood mixed in with the nasal mucus. Therefore, most cases of chronic sinusitis are due to a mixture of repletion and vacuity. The root is a liverspleenstomach disharmony, while the presence of any external evils as well as any heat toxins are the branches or tips.

Therefore, within this formula, Huang Qi (Radix Astragali), Dang Shen (Radix Codonopsis), Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), Fu Ling (Poria), and Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae) fortify the spleen and boost the qi. The combination of Huang Qi, Bai Zhu, and Wu Wei Zi also specifically supplements and secures the defensive qi. Xin Yi Hua (Flos Magnoliae), Cang Er Zi (Fructus Xanthii), Bai Zhi (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae), Bo He (Herba Menthae Haplocalycis), and Niu Bang Zi (Fructus Arctii) aromatically penetrate and free the flow of the orifices. Chan Tui (Periostracum Cicadae), Jing Jie Sui (Herba Schizonepetae), and Jie Geng (Radix Platycodi) resolves the exterior as well as lead the other medicinals to move upward to the face and head. Yu Xing Cao (Herba Hedyotis Diffusae) and Ren Dong Teng (Caulis Lonicerae) clear heat and resolve toxins. Dang Gui and Bai Ji (Rhizoma Bletillae) quicken the blood and disperse swelling. When combined with Huang Qi, Dang Shen, and Bai Zhu, they also support the righteous and secure the root. Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) moderates and harmonizes all the other medicinals in the formula.

THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LIVER DEPRESSION/DEPPRESIVE HEAT INCLUDE

• Irritability, vexation and agitation
• Abdominal, breast, and/or ribside distention and pain
• Burping, belching, a tendency to hiccup
• Menstrual irregularity, dysmenorrhea and/or PMS
• A bitter taste in the mouth
• A red tongue tip and/or edges or a dark red tongue overall with yellow fur
• A bowstring, rapid pulse

THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF STOMACH HEAT INCLUDE

• Frontal and/or facial pain
• Red eyes
• Acne around the mouth and chin
• A tendency to constipation and/or dry stools
• Epigastric and/or esophageal burning pain
• Acid regurgitation
• Clamoring stomach
• A dry mouth with a predilection for chilled drinks
• A large appetite and/or rapid hungering

THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SPLEEN VACUITY INCLUDE

• Fatigue, lack of strength
• Abdominal distention, especially after meals
• “Sugar blues,” a craving for sweets
• A fat, distended tongue with teethmarks on its edges
• Orthostatic hypotension