Welcome everyone!  It's my pleasure to once again be working with TCMzone to share some of my clinical experience with fellow colleagues.  I have used TCMzone herbal products for over 4 years now and have been very pleased with patient results, not to mention that my patients enjoy taking the granules that TCMzone provides.  So, I have compiled a list of the most commonly used herbal formulas that I'm recommending in my practice during these fall months in Arizona. 

I'll start with a formula used quite often in our clinic, Yu Ping Feng San (T175).  I begin with this formula when there is an underlying Wei Qi deficiency and the patient presents with allergic symptoms*.  I administer this in the whole TCMzone box (42 packets, 3x/day) as I keep patients on it for a longer period of time.

The next formula I use often in Sept.-Nov. is Zhi Sou San (T177) which stops coughing, transforms phlegm, especially after the exterior releasing herbs have been given.  The symptoms of wind invasion will diminish, but there is still an underlying rebellious lung Qi.  At our clinic we give this in one week dosage and the patient usually takes 2 packets TID/QID depending on the severity of the rebellious Qi*.

Er Chen Tang (T81) is a formula that I give to those patients that are having an excess of phlegm.  I tend to use this formula when there is a transportation issue.  When the phlegm is not being transported by the Spleen and then it is being stored in the lung or upper jiao resulting in coughing, vertigo and sometimes nausea.  I give T81 on a short term basis, as it can damage yin and body fluids due to its acrid, warm and drying nature.  I dose it at 1 granule packet TID for 7 days and re-evaluate to see if there is need for an additional week or if the formula can be changed*. 

When I see a patient with half interior, half exterior heat-cold complex symptoms with an underlying stomach deficiency, I use the next formula, Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang (T14).  I feel that I must harmonize the stomach so that the simultaneous excess and deficiency is resolved and the proceeding focal distension in the epigastrium is resolved*.  I give this in one week dosages, 2 granule packets AM/Noon and 1 packet at night for a total of 5 packets/day.

Gui Zhi Tang (T45) is a formula that starts getting used around the change of seasons.  The air outside is a bit cooler, but the air conditioner at work is still going (at least in AZ).  Patients start to exhibit symptoms of wind cold invasion with neck & back stiffness and pain due to invasion.  I dose this one a little heavy in the beginning at 2 packets QID for 5 days and then if symptoms are resolving I'll decrease the dose to 2 packets TID.

The last formula I'll talk about today is Sha Shen Mai Men Dong Tang (T163), which I have found useful with the warm dry air damaging yin, but not the Qi.  I use it often with dryness, lung and stomach yin deficiency or dry cough with dry sticky sputum.  I tend to dose this heavily in the beginning, 2-3 packets QID then re-evaluate after 5 days and dose accordingly.

I hope you find these suggestions helpful and are able to use some of these ideas in your own practice.  Again, it's been a pleasure to share my clinical usage of these formulas with you and look forward to being a guest author with TCMzone again soon!  Contact me with questions or comments, www.azhealthsynergy.com.