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Fang Feng Tong Sheng San: a classic prescription for dispelling wind and relieving exterior symptoms, purging heat and relieving constipation

Writer's picture: Hongji MedicalHongji Medical

Fang Feng Tong Sheng San comes from Huangdi Suwen Xuanming Lunfang, and is a complex prescription made up of 18 Chinese herbs. These herbs include Nephrite, Saposhnikovia, Ephedra, Menthus, Scutellaria, Platycodon, Gypsum, Fructus Ligustici, Talc, Sodium Sulfate, Rhubarb, Ligusticum chuanxiong, Angelica, White Peony, Lianshao, Liquorice, Atractylodes macrocephala, and ginger is added for decoction. This prescription is designed to treat the symptoms of "external wind evil and internal heat", and is particularly suitable for those who have a strong temper due to a wind-heat cold.


Fangfengtongshengsan
防風通聖散

Historical Background of Fang Feng Tong Sheng San


Liu Wansu, the founder of Fang Feng Tong Sheng San, was the founder of the Hejian School. His main academic thought was the theory of fire and heat. He believed that "all six qi can transform fire", so when treating febrile diseases, he used the method of pungent and cool, sweet and cold to resolve the exterior symptoms, and used the methods of Chengqi to resolve the interior symptoms. Fang Feng Tong Sheng San is a representative prescription that resolves both the exterior and the interior .


During Liu Wansu's time, febrile diseases were widespread, which prompted him to conduct in-depth research on the pathogenesis of heat and fire, and to create a treatment method that focused on clearing away heat and purging fire . His theory of heat and fire had a profound impact on the development of Chinese medicine in later generations. Fang Feng Tong Sheng San, as one of its representative prescriptions, is still widely used today.


Fangfeng Tongsheng San
劉完素:防風通聖散

Prescription and Combination of Fang Feng Tong Sheng San


The formula of Fang Feng Tong Sheng San is mainly for relieving exterior symptoms, purging stools, and clearing away heat, aiming to achieve the effects of relieving both exterior and interior symptoms, eliminating the front and back, and regulating qi and blood. The 18 herbs in the formula each have their own functions and work together. The following are the functions of each of the main herbs:

  1. Antipyretic drugs :

    • Mint , Saposhnikovia divaricata , Nephrite , and Ephedra : These medicines are used to dispel wind and relieve exterior pathogens, so that the wind pathogens can be eliminated from the surface.

  2. Laxatives :

    • Rhubarb and Glauber's Salt : These medicines are used to relieve heat and laxatives, dissipate stagnation, and eliminate excess heat from below.

  3. Heat-clearing drugs :

    • Magnolia officinalis and talcum powder : These medicines are used to clear away heat and dampness, so that the heat in the body can be discharged through stool and urine.

    • Gypsum : pungent, sweet and very cold, it is an important Chinese medicine for clearing the lungs and stomach.

    • Lianxu and Huangqin : bitter and cold, important medicines for clearing away heat, detoxifying and purging fire.

    • Platycodon grandiflorum : bitter and pungent in nature, clears wind-heat from the lungs and clears the head.

  4. Blood nourishing and blood medicine :

    • Angelica , Paeonia lactiflora , and Ligusticum chuanxiong : These herbs are used to nourish and regulate blood, and prevent excessive diarrhea that damages vital energy.

  5. Spleen strengthening and Chinese medicine :

    • Atractylodes macrocephala : Strengthens the spleen and enhances digestion and absorption functions.

    • Licorice : Soothes the stomach and relieves urgency, harmonizes various medicines and prevents them from being too strong.

  6. Other adjuvant drugs :

    • Ginger : Add during decoction to enhance the absorption and effect of the medicine.


Fangfengtongshengsan
防風通聖散

The combination of Fang Feng Tong Sheng Sanis mainly for dispelling exterior pathogens, purging pathogens and clearing away heat, aiming to achieve the effects of dispelling both exterior and interior pathogens, eliminating the front and back pathogens, and regulating qi and blood.


The mint, fangfeng, jingjie, and ephedra in the prescription are used to dispel wind and relieve the exterior, rhubarb and mirabilite are used to relieve heat and laxative, yuzu and talcum are used to clear heat and promote diuresis, gypsum, liansuo, and scutellaria are used to clear heat and detoxify, and platycodon is used to clear wind-heat in the lungs. Angelica, peony, and chuanxiong are used to nourish and harmonize blood, white atractylodes is used to strengthen the spleen, and licorice is used to harmonize the middle and relieve urgency, and to coordinate the various medicines.




Main Benefits


Fang Feng Tong Sheng San comes from Huangdi Suwen Xuanming Lunfang, which was created by Liu Wansu, a famous Chinese medicine expert in the Jin and Yuan Dynasties. Liu Wansu is the founder of the Hejian School, whose main academic thought is the theory of fire.


He believed that "the six qi can all transform into fire", that is, the six climate changes in nature (wind, cold, heat, humidity, dryness, and fire) can all transform into hot and fiery evil under certain conditions, leading to the occurrence of diseases. Therefore, when treating febrile diseases, he adopted the method of pungent and cool, sweet and cold to resolve the exterior symptoms, and used the various forces of Chengqi to resolve the interior symptoms. Fangfeng Tongsheng Powder is a representative prescription that resolves both the exterior and the interior.


Fangfengtongshengsan
防風通聖散

The main effect of Fang Feng Tong Sheng San is to "dispel wind and relieve the exterior symptoms, and relieve heat and relieve constipation". It is used to treat a range of symptoms caused by wind-heat, including fever, dizziness, red and painful eyes, bitter and dry mouth, sore throat, chest tightness and cough, asthma, bloating, vomiting, runny nose, phlegm, constipation, red and astringent urine, ulcers and swelling, intestinal wind and hemorrhoids, and eczema. These symptoms are usually accompanied by a yellow and greasy tongue coating and a rapid and strong pulse.


Modern Applications


Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Fangfeng Tongsheng San may cause weight loss by activating brown adipose tissue (BAT). In a study using rats as subjects, obese rats that were given a high-calorie diet for 7 consecutive weeks lost weight, had a significant decrease in urine volume, had no significant change in food intake, and had increased stool discharge after taking Fangfeng Tongsheng San. This suggests that the prescription may achieve a weight loss effect by promoting metabolism and excretion.




In modern Chinese medicine, Fang Feng Tong Sheng San is widely used to treat a variety of diseases, including colds, high blood pressure, migraines, obesity, hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, constipation, hemorrhoids, skin diseases, fatty liver, diabetes, erysipelas, rosacea, acne capitis, nasal abscesses, urticaria, eye diseases and drug poisoning. Its weight loss effect has received particular attention, especially in Japan, where it is called the "magic fat-reducing Chinese recipe."


In modern Chinese medicine, Fang Feng Tong Sheng San is widely used to treat a variety of diseases, especially showing significant effects in the following aspects:

  • Cold : Used to treat wind-heat colds, and relieve symptoms such as fever, headache, and sore throat.

  • Hypertension : It helps lower blood pressure and improve symptoms such as dizziness and headache caused by hypertension.

  • Migraine : Relieves severe headaches and nausea caused by migraines.

  • Obesity : Achieve weight loss by promoting metabolism and excretion.

  • Hyperlipidemia : It helps lower blood lipids and improve symptoms such as dizziness and chest tightness caused by hyperlipidemia.

  • Arteriosclerosis : Improve poor blood circulation caused by arteriosclerosis.

  • Constipation : Relieve constipation and promote bowel movements.

  • Hemorrhoids : Relieve the pain, swelling and blood in stool caused by hemorrhoids.




  • Skin diseases : Treat various skin diseases, such as eczema, hives, etc.

  • Fatty liver : Improve abnormal liver function caused by fatty liver.

  • Diabetes : Auxiliary treatment for diabetes and improve blood sugar control.

  • Erysipelas : Treats redness, swelling and pain in the skin caused by erysipelas.

  • Rosacea : Relieves nasal redness and rough skin caused by rosacea.

  • Acne capitis : Treats scalp itching and abscesses caused by acne capitis.

  • Nasal abscess : Relieve nasal congestion and headache caused by nasal abscess.

  • Eye diseases : Treat various eye diseases, such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, etc.

  • Drug poisoning : Auxiliary treatment of drug poisoning and promote the excretion of toxins.


Notes


Fang Feng Tong Sheng San has strong medicinal properties, so special care should be taken when using it. People with cold constitution and pregnant women should use it with caution, because it may damage the fetal Qi. People with spleen deficiency and loose stools should also not use it. In addition, due to its strong antipyretic and laxative effects, long-term use may damage the body's vital Qi and worsen the body's immune function.


Conclusion


Fang Feng Tong Sheng San is a traditional Chinese medicine with a long history and wide application. Its main effects are to dispel wind and relieve exterior symptoms, and to relieve heat and relieve constipation. In modern medicine, it is used to treat a variety of diseases, especially in weight loss. However, due to its strong medicinal properties, it should be used with caution, especially for people with cold constitution and pregnant women. Through modern pharmacological research, we have a deeper understanding of its mechanism of action, which provides a scientific basis for its application in modern medicine.

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