Formulas · Purge Downward 瀉下 · Seonmyeongnon (宣明論)

Four Engenderings Pill

Sasaeng-hwan

한글 사생환 · Pinyin Si Sheng Wan

四生丸

Composition 構成

Heukchuk Hei Chou
黑丑 흑축 · Black Morning Glory Seed

80 g
Chief 君

黑丑頭末
Daehwang Da Huang
大黃 대황 · Rhubarb

80 g
Deputy 臣
Jogak Zao Jiao
皂角 조각 · Gleditsia Pod

80 g
Deputy 臣
Bakcho Pu Xiao
朴硝 박초 · Crude Mirabilite

20 g
Assistant 佐

Total 260 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 all accumulated heat and phlegm heat

Indications 主治

Pattern-based

Accumulated heat
phlegm heat

Biomedical correlates

Constipation with heat signs

Source text 原文

Donguibogam 東醫寶鑑

治一切積熱及痰熱. 黑丑<span class='sochu'>頭末</span>ㆍ大黃ㆍ皂角各二兩, 朴硝五錢. 右末, 水丸梧子大. 白湯下三十丸. 《宣明》

Translation

Treats all accumulated heat and phlegm heat. Black morning glory seed <span class='sochu'>first powder</span>, rhubarb and gleditsia 2 nyang each; crude mirabilite 5 don. Powder them and make water pills the size of a firmiana seed. Take thirty down with plain hot water. — Seonmyeongnon 宣明 (Donguibogam · Ha)

Clinical commentary 臨床

Four medicinals and no euphorbias — this is the section's formula for heat and phlegm rather than for standing water, and it is correspondingly milder. Gleditsia is the distinguishing ingredient. It is acrid and dispersing and cuts thick phlegm, which is why it appears where the accumulation is phlegm rather than fluid. **Contains two purgatives. Contraindicated in pregnancy.** — Eui Young (Justin) Chung, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M.