Small dose of Fu zi dangerous?

[Guest guest]

Sharon and Jason...

These are really good questions that would be great to investigate.

Quality and processing is crucial, but so is dosing.

Since this was not even touched on in regular TCM training, I'd like to

really have a good grasp

about the proper dosing of important herbs, such as Fu zi and Chai hu.

 

As Heiner wrote in his article, a small dose of Fu zi has been said to bring

the heat up to the upper jiao,

and also guide the herb to the 12 channels. Maybe a small dose (3 gms) in a

formula opens the door to the Ming men, like putting kindle on a fire,

without really stoking it with large logs. In this case, there is light,

but no warmth. The light shows up like heat rising up to the head and the

extremities.

 

This might also fit into my question about the small dose of Fu zi in Shen

qi wan (3 gms)....

Maybe a small dose of Fu zi in the formula opens the gate to the Ming men,

so that the other herbs can mix into the cauldron. Otherwise, it's under

lock and key.

As far as I know of, only 1 formula in the Shang han za bing lun has the 3gm

dosage of Fu zi... Shen qi wan.

 

Which reflects what my Shang han lun teacher at ACTCM, who grew up in

Sichuan said,

which is a little bit of Fu zi could be just as dangerous as too much.

She has no problem using 15-30 gms for many many cases, but I've never seen

her give less than that.

 

K

 

 

>

> Hello all,

>

> I agree that Fu Zi seems to be stimulating. On the other hand, I have

> gotten some good results for patients with Yang rising - symptoms

> being severe headache and insomnia - when there is a true Yang

> deficiency below. None-the-less, it seems that calling it an herbal

> valium is quite misleading. My results for insomnia I've interpreted

> as a result of rooting the Yang through stoking it at the root and not

> as a result of sedating in any way.

>

> In fact, in terms of side effects, over stimulation and heat are the

> side effects I have seen in my own patients. These side effects have,

> as Jason reports, can come from a relatively small amount of Fu Zi.

> I can't say anything about this being due to the type of Fu Zi I have

> used which is exclusively Spring Wind. I've interpreted the side

> effects as being either a dosage or a diagnostic issue. (ie inaccurate

> diagnosis or inaccurate dosages or proportions) I've also used

> relatively larger doses of Fu Zi with no side effects at all.

>

> I've never had side effects that would indicate Fu Zi toxicity such as

> numbness though. I think there is a difference between a side effect

> from an excess of the temperature or nature of an herb and a side

> effect from it's un-neutralized toxicity.

>

> My question is, how do people differentiate the effects of the

> temperature and nature of an herb and the effects from a poison in the

> herb? Fu Zi, after all, is quite hot and stimulating. Are the

> various varieties different in their level of toxicity or in their

> level of warmth and acridity? Are some varieties able to be quite

> warm and boosting in mellower ways?

>

> Best

>

> Sharon

>

> Sharon Weizenbaum

> 86 Henry Street

> Amherst, MA 01002

> www.whitepinehealingarts.com

> sweiz <sweiz%40rcn.com>

>

>

>