Formulas · Tonify Qi 補氣 · Seui Deukhyobang (世醫得效方)

Astragalus Decoction (Constipation in the Old)

Hwanggi-tang

한글 황기탕 (노인비결) · Pinyin Huang Qi Tang

黃芪湯

A different 黃芪湯 from those registered for wasting thirst and for spontaneous sweating.

Composition 構成

Hwanggi Huang Qi
黃芪 황기 · Astragalus

20 g
Chief 君
Jinpi Chen Pi
陳皮 진피 · Aged Tangerine Peel

20 g
Deputy 臣

white pith removed
Majain Huo Ma Ren
麻子仁 마자인 · Hemp Seed

—
Deputy 臣

a cupful of hemp-seed juice, decocted in a silver or earthen vessel until it rises in a froth
Bongmil Feng Mi
蜂蜜 봉밀 · Honey

—
Envoy 使

a large spoonful of white honey

Total 40 g per packet (첩) · representative dosage — verify against source texts. Excludes 2 ingredients measured by count or used as a vehicle, shown as —.

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

Treats the stool bound and inhibited in the old
and taken regularly removes the trouble of inhibition altogether

Indications 主治

Pattern-based

Qi vacuity constipation in the aged

Biomedical correlates

Habitual constipation in the elderly

Source text 原文

Donguibogam 東醫寶鑑

治老人大便秘澁. 黃芪ㆍ陳皮(去白) 各五錢. 右爲末, 另取麻子仁汁一盞, 於銀石器煎, 候有乳起, 卽入白蜜一大匙, 再煎令沸, 調前藥末三錢, 空心服之. 不過兩服效, 常服卽無秘澁之患. 《得效》

Translation

Treats the stool bound and inhibited in the old. Astragalus and tangerine peel with the white pith removed, 5 don each. Powder them; separately take a cupful of hemp-seed juice and decoct it in a silver or earthen vessel until it rises in a froth, then put in a large spoonful of white honey and bring it to the boil again; stir 3 don of the powder into it and take on an empty stomach. Not more than two doses are needed for effect, and taken regularly it removes the trouble of inhibition altogether. — Seui Deukhyobang 得效 (Donguibogam · Daebyeon)

Clinical commentary 臨床

Two drugs in the powder and the real medicine in the vehicle: hemp-seed juice boiled until it froths, with honey. That is an emulsion of seed oil in sugar syrup, which lubricates and draws water into the bowel, and the astragalus and tangerine peel stirred into it address the weak qi behind the complaint. For an old patient this is as good a prescription as the chapter contains, and the Deukhyo's claim that two doses suffice is not implausible. — Eui Young (Justin) Chung, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M.