Sakin Hiraki of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Concept Analysis and Clinical Application

Zuojin Pingmu is a treatment method in the Five Elements Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The core is to replenish Feijin (Zuojin) to suppress excessive liver wood (Pingmu). It is often used for liver fire invading the lungs or liver stagnation transforming into fire. This article will be developed from four aspects: theoretical origin, mechanism of action, classic prescriptions, and modern applications, and is accompanied by a table of relevant proprietary Chinese medicine information.

1. Origin of the Five Elements and the Treatment of Laws

This treatment method is derived from the theory of "controlling excessive harm" in the Huangdi Neijing. Lung metal is "invincible" to liver wood. When liver wood is excessive, restriction can be achieved by strengthening the function of lung metal. Zhang Jingyue, a physician in the Ming Dynasty, clearly proposed the treatment principle of "adding gold and flat wood" in "Jingyue Complete Book", which is suitable for symptoms of the same disease of the liver and lungs, such as cough and hypochondriac pain, flushed face and eyes, etc. It is similar to the "neuro-endocrine regulation" of modern medicine.

2. Mechanism of action and typical symptoms

When liver fire invades the lungs, coughing up blood, yellow phlegm, and distending pain in the chest and hypochondrium are common; when liver stagnation turns into fire, irritability, bitter mouth, and dry throat are common. A synergistic effect is achieved by combining lung-removing drugs (Zuojin) such as mulberry bark and almonds with liver-softening drugs (Pingmu) such as white peony root and Uncaria. The "Dai Ha Powder" (Indigo Naturalis, Clam Shell) recorded in the "Yi Zong Jin Jian" of the Qing Dynasty is a classic combination. Indigo Naturalis clears the liver fire, and the clam shell nourishes lung yin.

3. Classic prescriptions and modern evolution

Traditional prescriptions such asXiebai powder(digupi, mulberry bark),Danzhi Xiaoyao PowderAll contain this idea. Modern Chinese patent medicines are improved on this basis, such as:

4. Notes and Summary

This treatment method needs to be used based on syndrome differentiation, and should be used with caution in those with spleen and stomach deficiency. Modern research shows ("Chinese Journal of Experimental Prescriptions" 2021) that relevant prescriptions can improve respiratory symptoms by regulating inflammatory factors such as IL-6. As a concrete practice of the Five Elements Theory, Zuo Jinpingmu embodies the wisdom of "preventing disease" and overall adjustment of traditional Chinese medicine.

Quote sources:
1. "Huangdi Neijing·Suwen"
2. Zhang Jingyue's "The Complete Book of Jingyue"
3. National Pharmacopoeia Commission "Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China" 2020 edition
4. Li Shizhen's "Compendium of Materia Medica" (entry on Indigo Naturalis)