Qianyang Dan

About

The unique design of Qianyang Dan appeared relatively recently in the 19th century scholar-physician Zheng Qin’an’s book, True Transmission of the Fundamental Principles of Medicine (Yili zhenchuan). Due to the recent popularity of the Sichuan Fire Spirit School of Chinese Herbal Medicine (Huoshen Pai), however, the formula has become the standard bearer of the lineage’s “Aconite Method” (sini fa). In contrast to the more moving and dispersing “Cinnamon Method” (guizhi fa) adapted from the classical Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Decoction), the Aconite Method not only vitalizes Spleen and Kidney yang, but enhances the down-drawing capacity of the cardinal herb Fuzi by pairing it with Xi Sharen, a rare type of wild cardamon that is now mostly found in Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. In the original Qianyang Dan recipe, a small amount of turtle plastron is added for the highly specific purpose of opening the Conception Vessel (renmai), the pathway where the Kidney’s downward drawing function manifests itself. A relatively high amount of licorice, moreover, fortifies the center and neutralizes the potential intensity of aconite.