Formulas · Calm the Spirit 安神 · Bonsa (本事)

Pubescent Angelica Decoction (Dreams chapter)

Dokhwal-tang

한글 독활탕 · Pinyin Du Huo Tang

獨活湯

Cut and made into one packet with 3 slices of ginger and one dark plum, decocted in water and taken. Paired with Jinjumo-hwan in the case history recorded in this chapter.

Composition 構成

Dokhwal Du Huo
獨活 독활 · Aralia

2.8 g
Chief 君
Ganghwal Qiang Huo
羌活 강활 · Notopterygium

2.8 g
Chief 君
Insam Ren Shen
人蔘 인삼 · Ginseng

2.8 g
Deputy 臣
Jeonho Qian Hu
前胡 전호 · Peucedanum

2.8 g
Deputy 臣
Banha Ban Xia
半夏 반하 · Pinellia

2.8 g
Deputy 臣
Sesin Xi Xin
細辛 세신 · Asarum

2.8 g
Assistant 佐
Sasam Sha Shen
沙參 사삼 · Adenophora

2.8 g
Assistant 佐
Omija Wu Wei Zi
五味子 오미자 · Schisandra

2.8 g
Assistant 佐
Baekbokryeong Fu Ling
白茯苓 백복령 · Poria (white)

2.8 g
Assistant 佐
Sanjoin Suan Zao Ren
酸棗仁 산조인 · Sour Jujube Seed

2.8 g
Assistant 佐 dry-fried
Saenggang Sheng Jiang
生薑 생강 · Fresh Ginger

6 g
Envoy 使 3 slices
Gamcho Gan Cao
甘草 감초 · Licorice

2.8 g
Envoy 使
Omae Wu Mei
烏梅 오매 · Mume Plum

2 g
Envoy 使 1 piece

Total 38.8 g per packet (첩) · representative dosage — verify against source texts.

Received this formula from your practitioner? Amounts shown here are classical reference values — granule and prepared products differ. Always follow your prescribed dosage and directions.

Actions 效能

Settles an ethereal soul that will not return to the Liver at night
Courses out the evil that keeps it from lodging

Indications 主治

Pattern-based

Spirit and ethereal soul unquiet
palpitations with inability to sleep (神魂不寧驚悸不得睡)
The ethereal soul flying up so that one feels the spirit leave the body on lying down
Insomnia with a sense of dissociation at sleep onset

Biomedical correlates

Sleep-onset insomnia with dissociative sensations
Hypnagogic disturbances
Anxiety-related sleep disturbance

Source text 原文

Donguibogam 東醫寶鑑

治同上. 獨活ㆍ羌活ㆍ人參ㆍ前胡ㆍ細辛ㆍ半夏ㆍ沙參ㆍ五味子ㆍ白茯苓ㆍ酸棗仁(炒)ㆍ甘草各七分. 右剉, 作一貼, 薑三片ㆍ烏梅一箇, 水煎服. 《本事》

Translation

Treats the same as the above. Pubescent angelica, notopterygium, ginseng, hogfennel, asarum, pinellia, adenophora, schisandra, white poria, dry-fried sour jujube seed, and licorice, 7 fun each. Cut the above, make one packet, add 3 slices of ginger and one dark plum, decoct in water and take. — Bonsa 本事 (Donguibogam · Mong)

Clinical commentary 臨床

Eleven herbs at one flat dose, and the surprising members are the wind medicinals — pubescent angelica and notopterygium at the head of an insomnia formula. The reasoning comes from the case this formula belongs to: the Liver has been invaded, so the ethereal soul cannot return to it at night, and the evil must be coursed out before anything will settle. Schisandra and dark plum gather inward at the same time, which is why this does not simply scatter a depleted patient. — Eui Young (Justin) Chung, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M.