Dang Gui Si Ni Tang, from the Shang Hun Lun, is a deputy formula that treats blood deficiency cold reversal syndromes. The formula composes of gui zhi, bai shao, xi xin, zhi gan cao, tong cao, and da zao.  It has the ability to scatter cold evil, regulate ying and wei, and open yang qi.   Dang Gui Si Ni Tang is often used for low back, thigh, leg and foot pain due to cold in the channel and blood stasis. The author in this article uses this formula, with excellent results, to treat many kinds of stubborn natured diseases such as chronic heart dysfunction, chronic gastritis, chronic nephritic edema, and stubborn headaches.

            Chronic Heart Dysfunction

A 73 year old female presents with repeated palpitations, shortness of breath, lower limb edema accompanied with fear of cold, cold hands and feet, scanty and short urination, a bland taste in her mouth, ashy black face, pale tongue, thin white tongue coat and a sunken, weak pulse.  Five years prior, she was diagnosed with wind damp-natured heart-zang disease, a narrowed mitral valve and third degree heart dysfunction. 

Chinese Diagnosis:  Palpitations due to insufficient qi and blood, and cold rheum internally obstructing. 

Treatment Principle:  Tonify qi, nourish blood, scatter cold and transform the rheum. 

Chronic Gastritis

A 56 year old female presents with stomach duct distending pain for 1 year accompanied with nausea, belching, fear of cold, cold hands and feet, pale face, pale tongue, thin white tongue coat and a sunken thin wiry pulse. 

Chinese Diagnosis:  Stomach duct pain due to Spleen and Stomach deficiency cold. 

Treatment Principle:  Build the Spleen, harmonize the Stomach, warm the channels and stop pain.

Chronic Nephritic Edema

A 77 year old female presents with edema around the eyes, eyelids and lower limbs for 10 years accompanied with fear of cold, cold hands and feet, bland taste in mouth, nausea and abdominal distention, thin and sloppy bowel movements, short urination, pale and swollen tongue, thin white tongue coat and a soggy, sunken pulse. Diagnosed with glomerular nephritis and chronic nephritic edema.

Chinese Diagnosis:  Yin Water due to Spleen and Kidney yang deficiency.

Treatment Principle:  Warm and tonify the Spleen and Kidney, open the channels and drain the water.

Stubborn Headaches

A 67 year old male presents with headache and neck pain for 3 months accompanied with insomnia, lots of dreams, forgetfulness, fear of cold, cold in the 4 limbs, poor appetite, bland taste, pale tongue, thin white tongue coat, thin choppy pulse.  CT scan and EAG tests were normal.

Chinese Diagnosis:  Headache due to blood stagnation

Treatment Principle:  Warm the channels and open the collaterals

Formula:  Dang Gui Si Ni Tang + Tong Qiao Huo Xue Tang