08.27.08
The Herbal Recipe for the Treatment of Thromboangiitis: Decoction of Four Excellent Herbs for Quick Health Recovery (Simiao Yongan Tang)
Thromboangiitis obliterans, also called Buerger’s disease, is a condition with inflammation and obstruction of blood vessels in the hands and feet. In traditional Chinese medicine, this disease can be treated with a useful herbal recipe, The Decoction of Four Excellent Herbs for Quick Health Recovery (“Si Miao Yong An Tang” in Chinese).
This herbal recipe is used for gangrene of the extremities with slow blood circulation and excessive fire, usually shown as dark redness at the affected area, slight swelling with burning feelings, purulent abscess, sharp pain, thirst, fever, red tongue, and rapid pulse.
The recipe of The Decoction of Four Excellent Herbs for Quick Health Recovery (Simiao Yongan Tang) can help clear heat and remove toxins and toxic materials, energize the blood circulation, and relieve pain. As it states in the name of the recipe, it contains four herbs:
Lonicera Flower (Honeysuckle Flower, Jinyinhua) 90 g, Scrophularia Root (Xuanshen) 90 g, Chinese Angelica Root (Danggui) 30 g, Licorice (Gancao) 15 g.
In this recipe, Lonicera Flower (Jinyinhua) is used to clear heat and remove toxic materials. Licorice (Gancao) and Scrophularia (Xuanshen) can help clear heat, replenish the blood and nourish Yin. Chinese Angelica (Danggui) is used to improve blood circulation and alleviate pain.
Current studies have shown that this recipe can reduce fever, relieve inflammation, and remove toxic materials. It has antibiotic effects. To use the recipe, cook the herbs with water to make a decoction. Note that this herbal formula should not be used in the cold or deficient types of gangrene, which are usually with cold feelings and no swelling at the affected areas.
