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Shi Liu Wei Liu Qi Yin十六味流氣飲

Sixteen Ingredient Drink for Qi Flow

Also known asSmooth Sixteen Combination · Dang Gui Sixteen Herbs Combination · Sixteen Ingredients Regulate Qi Special Formula

Medicinals
16

Composition

  • Dang GuiRx. Angelicae Sinensis3 g

    Tonifies, invigorates and harmonizes the Blood, disperses Cold, reduces swelling, expels pus, generates flesh and alleviates pain.

    for ulcerated abscesses with insufficient drainage or which drain a clear thin discharge.
    • Bai Shao
    regulates and harmonizes Qi and Blood.
  • Chuan XiongRz. Chuanxiong3 g

    Invigorates the Blood, promotes the movement of *Qi, expels Wind and alleviates pain.*

    harmonizes, nourishes and invigorates the Blood and disperses Blood Stasis.
    for irregular menstruation with Cold in the Blood.
  • Bai ShaoRx. Paeoniae Alba3 g

    Nourishes the Blood, regulates menstruation, astringes Yin, adjusts the Ying and *Wei, softens the Liver and relieves pain.*

    regulates the relationship between the Liver and Spleen.
    nourishes Yin and Blood.
    restrains sweating from Deficiency.
  • Huang QiRx. Astragali2 g

    Tonifies Qi and Blood, promotes the discharge of pus, generates flesh and expels toxins.

    • Ren Shen
    for Qi Deficiency.
    for flat sores that do not pustulate or ulcers that do not heal.
    • Ren Shen, Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, Bai Zhi
    Fang Feng,* for chronic sores with underlying Deficiency.
  • Ren ShenRx. Ginseng3 g

    Tonifies *Qi.*

    for External Wind-Cold with underlying Qi Deficiency.
  • Rou GuiCx. Cinnamomi3 g

    Disperses deep Cold, warms the channels, unblocks the channels and vessels and alleviates pain.

    for Yin-type boils due to Qi and Blood Deficiency especially those that form but do not ulcerate.
  • Hou PoCx. Magnoliae Officinalis2 g

    Promotes the movement of Qi in the Middle Jiao, resolves Stagnation, promotes the movement of Qi downward, dries Dampness and transforms Phlegm.

    • Zhi Ke
    for abdominal distention due to Qi and Food Stagnation.
  • Jie GengRx. Platycodi3 g

    Expels pus and opens and raises Lung Qi, directing the effects of other herbs to the upper body.

    disseminates Lung Qi, expels Phlegm, resolves toxicity, and expels pus.
  • Zhi KeFr. Aurantii2 g

    Promotes the movement of Qi, reduces distention and pressure and resolves hardenings.

  • Wu YaoRx. Linderae2 g

    Promotes movement of Qi, warms the Kidneys, disperses Cold and alleviates pain.

    for epigastric and abdominal pain and distention due to Cold Stagnation and Qi Obstruction.
    disperses Cold and stops pain, for abdominal pain due to External Cold..
  • Mu XiangRx. Aucklandiae2 g

    Promotes the movement of Qi, strengthens the Spleen, prevents Stagnation and alleviates pain.

  • Bai ZhiRx. Angelicae Dahuricae2 g

    Reduces swelling, eliminates toxins and expels pus.

    for ulcerated boils when pus has not been discharged.
  • Bing LangSm. Arecae2 g

    Regulates Qi, reduces accumulations, drains downward and unblocks the bowels.

  • Fang FengRx. Saposhnikoviae2 g

    Releases the Exterior and expels External Wind.

  • Zi Su YeFol. Perillae2 g

    Releases the Exterior, disperses Cold and promotes the movement of Spleen and Stomach *Qi.*

    eases the diaphragm and Intestines.
    harmonizes the Blood and disperses Blood Stasis.
  • Gan CaoRx. Glycyrrhizae2 g

    Clears Heat and relieves Fire toxicity and moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs.

Actions

  • Builds up Qi
  • Enriches the Blood
  • Encourages the free flow of Qi and Blood
  • Breaks up Stagnation
  • Discharges pus
  • Reduces swelling

Patterns treated

  • Stagnation involving Qi, Blood and Phlegm
  • Disharmony affecting both the External and the Internal

Manifestations

  • Toxic swellings
  • Suppurative lesions
  • Abscesses of the flat type
  • Facial redness
  • Pain in the chest
  • The tumor breaking down into an ulcer
  • Possibly a blood-tinged discharge
  • An offensive smell
  • Diminished urine volume
Tongue body
A hue of reddish purple
Coating
Sparse in amount, or Yellow in hue
Pulse
Wiry combined with rapid, or otherwise Flooding, or Tight, or Thin

Indications

  • Early-stage tumors of the neck
  • Abscesses of the breast
  • Long-standing conjunctivitis
  • Fibrocystic disease of the breast
  • Struma
  • Inflammation of the lymph nodes
  • Tumor of the cervical lymph nodes
  • Breast distention occurring before menstruation
  • Carcinoma of the breast
  • Tumors arising from pox-type disorders
  • Thyroid gland enlargement
  • Long-standing abscesses of the skin
  • Disease of the lymph nodes
  • Papillomas within the milk ducts
  • Pulmonary emphysema
  • Carcinoma of the thyroid

Modifications

Notes

  • The main External disharmony tends to be either Heat, or Stagnation of Qi and Blood.
  • The main Internal disharmony is generally one of Deficiency.
  • It is widely held that this formula is most suitably applied after a more assertive initial course of treatment.