The Shang Han Lun

This text was published in 210 AD, and has been an important clinical handbook for every Chinese medicine practitioner ever since. Of course, in many areas Chinese medicine has progressed far beyond that time, but the formulas contained in this book remain remarkably precise and effective for today’s diseases.

Out of 113 formulas in the original text, we still use more than 100 of them! The four herbs pictured below make up one of them, a formula used for vertigo and palpitations when the tongue is pale and wet:

The formula is called Cinnamon, Licorice, Poria and Atractylodes Decoction (苓桂術甘湯).

Here is a link to the best English translation of the Shang Han Lun (just for reference – patients do not need to buy this book).

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