Harmonizing formulas
Si ni san
Frigid Extremities Powder
- Chinese name
- 四逆散
- Group
- Harmonizing formulas
- English name
- Bupleurum and Zhi Shi Formula
- Basic formula
- ✓
Balances liver and spleen and releases trapped heat.
Indications
Heat trapped in liver, stomach and spleen makes the limbs feel cold. For a painful full feeling under the ribs and in the stomach, heartburn, belching, nausea and vomiting. The book also mentions chronic hepatitis, a nervous stomach, chest pain, hernia and inflammation of the pancreas or appendix.
Ingredients
| Ingredients | Amount |
|---|---|
| Chai hu (bupleurum) | 9–12 g |
| Immature bitter orange (zhi shi) | 6–9 g |
| White peony root (bai shao) | 9–12 g |
| Licorice root (gan cao) | 3–6 g |
- Tongue
- pale with a white (or thin yellowish) coating
- Pulse
- wiry
Note
The herbs act in opposite directions: chai hu rises, immature bitter orange descends, white peony works inwards and licorice harmonizes. This releases the trapped heat and the limbs become warm again.