Formulas · Purge Downward 瀉下 · Uihak Jeongjeon (醫學正傳)

Two Qi Powder

Igi-san

한글 이기산 · Pinyin Er Qi San

二氣散

Composition 構成

Baekchuk Bai Chou
白丑 백축 · White Morning Glory Seed

8 g
Chief 君

白丑頭末, the first powder of the white seed
Heukchuk Hei Chou
黑丑 흑축 · Black Morning Glory Seed

8 g
Chief 君

黑丑頭末, the first powder of the black seed
Daemaek Da Mai
大麥 대맥 · Barley

160 g
Envoy 使

大麥麪四兩, barley flour, made into a baked cake

Total 176 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

Treats water qi with gu distension
Drives water downward with the two morning glory seeds

Indications 主治

Pattern-based

Water qi with gu distension
Oedema with a drum-tight abdomen

Biomedical correlates

Historically used for ascites
Recorded for historical reference only

Source text 原文

Donguibogam 東醫寶鑑

牽牛子, 治水氣蠱脹. 白丑ㆍ黑丑(頭末) 各取二錢, 大麥麪四兩, 和作燒餠. 臨臥, 茶淸嚼下, 降氣爲驗, 名曰二氣散. 《正傳》

Translation

Morning glory seed treats water qi with gu distension. The first powder of the white and of the black seed, 2 don each, with 4 nyang of barley flour, mixed and made into a baked cake. At bedtime chew it down with clear tea; the Qi going down is the proof. It is called Igi-san. — Jeongjeon 正傳 (Donguibogam · Bujong)

Clinical commentary 臨床

**This is a drastic purgative and not for ordinary use.** 二氣, the two qi, are the white and the black morning glory seeds, which the tradition assigns to metal and to water and gives together so that the two phases work on the same complaint. 頭末, the first powder, means only the flour that passes the sieve first, which is the most active part of the seed, so the dose is concentrated deliberately. The barley cake is a vehicle and a disguise, and 降氣爲驗 — the Qi going down is the proof — means the purge itself was the endpoint. — Eui Young (Justin) Chung, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M.