Xian Fang Huo Ming Yin 仙方活命飲
Immortals’ Formula for Sustaining Life

Tradition:

TCM

Source / Author:

Jiao Zhu Fu Ren Liang Fang (Revised Fine Formulas for Women) by Chen Zi Ming during the Southern Song dynasty and was later revised by the Jue Ji in the Ming dynasty

* Gleditsia is stir-fried
** Pangolin scales are prepared (fried in liquid)

Preparation:

Decoction (which can be prepared from the coarsely ground powder)
Traditionally boiled in a bowl of rice wine (300 mls.) for 5–7 minutes, then strained and taken warm.
Today, it is either decocted in water, or a mix of equal parts of water and rice wine (500–600 mls), and decocted for 20–30 minutes, then strained and taken as a dose.

Function:

Clears Heat and Toxin, Resolves Hardness, Eases Pain

Use:

1. Toxic Sores, Boils, Abscesses, Carbuncles (especially early stages)
2. Acne
3. Eczema
4. Psoriasis
5. Suppurative Dermatitis
6. Tonsillitis
7. Conjunctivitis, Styes
8. Purulent Otitis Media
9. Mastitis
10. Breast Abscess

Dose:

The above is decocted to be taken as a dose.
Then strained herbs can be beaten as applied topically.

Cautions:

1. Used with caution in digestive weakness
2. Used with caution in Qi or Blood deficiency

Modifications:

1. Strong Heat-Toxins, or with Constipation, add Rhubarb (Da Huang)
2. Heat-Toxin with redness, swelling and pain, add Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying), Violet (Di Hua Di Ding), Forsythia Lian Qiao,
3. With Blood heat, with dark red coloured sores, add Paeonia Mu Dan Pi.
4. Severe Inflammation, add Coptis Huang Lian and Philodendron Huang Bai.
5. If with Fever, restlessness and thirst, add Rehmannia Sheng Di Huang and Gypsum (Shi Gao)
6. Qi deficiency, or with slow-healing sores, add Astragalus Huang Qi.
7. Blood deficiency, change Dag Gui rootlets to Dang Gui root, and increase the dosage.
8. Sores, Eczema or Abscess of the Head or Face, add Ligusticum Chuan Xiong.
9. Stye, add Rhubarb (Da Huang) and Self Heal (Xia Ku Cao)

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