On June 14, 1965, a 74-year-old female presented at the clinic suffering from angina pectoris. Her condition had lasted many years, and she commonly experienced severe pain in the anterior chest. Whenever the symptoms would arise, she was unable to lie down, and had difficulty breathing, for which she would take various medications including, nitro-glycerine, and sulphanilamide. In addition, she sweat copiously, had a dry mouth without a desire to drink, dry stools, a thick-white tongue coating, and a wiry-thin pulse.
This is a pattern of phlegm, and thin-fluids obstruction in the chest, with blood-stasis in the collaterals. Treatment should involve transforming phlegm, freeing yáng, eliminating stasis, and freeing the vessels, with a modified version of Guā Lóu Xiè Bái Bàn Xià Tāng (Trichosanthes, Chinese Chive, and Pinellia Decoction)
Guā Lóu 1.5 liǎng
Xiè Bái 9 qián
Bàn Xià 2.5 liǎng
Bái Jiǔ 2 liǎng
Guì Zhī 3 qián
Zhǐ Shí 3 qián
Táo Rén 3 qián
Chén Pí 1 liǎng
Bái Sháo 4 qián
Results: After taking three packages of the above formula, the pain had decreased, and pain was only felt after exertion. 4 qián of Fú Líng was added to the formula, and another six packages were administered. At this point the pain was quite sporadic, so the formula was continued. After one month, the chest pain had ceased, and there was no relapse.
Eran Even, Ph.D., Dr. TCM. 
A beautiful modification of a classical script!
Hi Eran, I wonder about the use of Bai Jiu. Is it decocted so that the alcoholic content is removed? Is it added at the end? I like how he modified for the blood stasis and the inclusion of Gui Zhi – I would guess to move and warm the Yang of the chest.
Hi Sharon,There is actually no mention of how the Bai Jiu is used in the book. I would assume though that it was added at the end, as the boiling would most certainly destroy and dissipate the alcohol, which I think would be wanted,no?