吴佩衡医案

The following is a case study by the late Wu Pei Heng (吴佩衡) (1886-1971) from Si Chuan province who was extremely proficient in using classical formulas and practiced in the style of the fire god school (火神派).  My initial fascination with Dr Wu’s cases are his use of extremely large doses of Fu Zi.  There are a number of cases in his book where he uses up to 300g a day, even with a few of his younger patients. Due to Dr. Wu’s prolific use of Fu Zi he attained the nickname ‘Wu Fu Zi’ (吴附子). 

Late miscarriage blood loss

 Mrs Fang, 35 years old, originally from Luo Ping county currently living in the city of Kun Ming in Yunnan province.

On May 12, 1923 she presented at the clinic after suffering a miscarriage in her fifth month of pregnancy.  Initially she felt painful sagging in her abdomen and low back which continued until she miscarried.  She had excessive menstrual bleeding (flooding) with clots, twisting abdominal pain, flusteredness, dizziness and shortness of breath.  Her pulse was scallion like, vacuous, weak and both inch positions were short.  Her lips were pale red, tongue coating was slippery white and the tongue body was bluish and dark.  According to her husband on that particular evening she had fainted twice.   Late miscarriages are usually due to major vacuity of kidney qi, qi vacuity sinking and unable to absorb blood, and yang qi descending with blood and escaping.   The qi is born within the kidneys and gathers in the lungs and here we have a lack of merger between the kidneys and lungs, therefore there is shortness of breath with desertion.  The plan is to administer Si Ni Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang with (Da) Zao and Ai (Ye).  Within the formula, Si Ni Tang supports Yang allowing it to rise.  The assistants (Huang) Qi and Dang Gui supplement the centre, boost qi and re-generate the excessively damaged blood.  Gan Jiang, Ai (Ye) and (Da) Zao blackened, can warm the blood, separate the cold and return blood back to the channels. 

Formula:

Hei Fu Pian 160g

Pao Hei Jiang 50g

Zhi Gan Cao 24g

Bei Kou Qi 60g

Dang Gui 26g

Qi Ai 6g (fried until blackened)

Da Zao 5 pieces (roasted until blackened)

After taking 13 days worth of formula, her menstrual flooding stopped, the shortness of breath was calmed and most of her symptoms were alleviated by days 6 or 7 and even her spirit was slightly improved.  In keeping with the original formula, another 14 days were given to complete the course, after which she successfully recovered.