Gu Chong Tang / Penetrating Vessel-Securing Decoction

Gu Chong Tang / Penetrating Vessel-Securing Decoction

Chinese Name	固沖湯
Phonetic	Gu Chong Tang
English Name	Penetrating Vessel-Securing Decoction
Classification	Astringent formulas
Source	《Records of Chinese Medicine with Reference to Western Medicine》Yi Xue Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu《醫學衷中參西錄》
Combination	Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Bai Zhu chao dry-fried) 1 liang (30g), Astragali Radix (Sheng Huang Qi) 6 qian (18g), Draconis Os (Duan Long Gu calcined) 8 qian (24g), Ostreae Concha (Duan Mu Li calcined) 8 qian (24g), Corni Fructus (Shan Zhu Yu) 8 qian (24g), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Sheng Bai Shao) 4 qian (12g), Sepiae Endoconcha (Hai Piao Xiao) 4 qian (12g), Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma (Qian Cao) 3 qian (9g), Trachycarpi Petiolus Carbonisatus (Zong Lu Tan) 5 fen (1.5g), Galla Chinensis (Wu Bei Zi) 5 fen (1.5g)
Method	Decoct in water and take it the usual fashion. Duan long gu and duan mu li should be decocted for about an hour before adding the other medicinals.
Action	Boosts qi, fortifies spleen, and strengthens the chong mai to contain blood.
Indication	Gu Chong Tang is designed for the pattern of spleen and kidney deficiency with insecurity of the chong mai. Uterine bleeding may be profuse or it may routinely spot bleed in an irregular pattern. Profuse menstruation occurs with thin and pale menses, dizziness, cold extremities, palpitation, shortness of breath, mental fatigue, weakness, weak and aching waist and knees.
Pathogenesis	This formula treats a pathomechanism involving spleen and kidney deficiency with an insecure chong mai. The chong mai, one of the eight extraordinary channels, is described as the sea of the twelve channels and sea of the blood. Therefore, it is thought of as the root of menstruation and closely related to blood. Chong mai pertains to the yangming channel. Thereby, it receives nutrition from qi and blood generated from the spleen and stomach. When the spleen and stomach fail to provide adequate nutrition to the chong mai, incontinence will occur. The chong mai runs parallel with the foot shaoyin kidney channel. It is supported by the kidney qi and stores excess blood in the liver. When the liver and kidney are deficient, the chong mai will become insecure and manifest symptoms of bleeding, spotting, or profuse menstruation. Since blood loss will overtime result in the deficiency of qi and blood, the menses are often thin and pale and will occur with other related symptoms including palpitation, shortness of breath, dizziness, cold extremities, mental fatigue, aching waist and so on. The pale tongue body and weak pulses are due to qi and blood deficiency. Therefore, the treatment should aim at boosting the qi, fortifying the spleen, supplementing the liver and kidney, securing the chong mai, and containing blood.
Application	1. Essential pattern differentiation Gu Chong Tang is commonly used to treat flooding and spotting in those with a pattern of spleen and kidney deficiency and chong mai insecurity. This clinical pattern is marked by profuse menstrual bleeding with thin, pale menstruate, lumbar and knee soreness and weakness, pale tongue, weak and faint pulse. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders when the patient shows signs of spleen and kidney deficiency and an insecurity of the chong mai: dysfunctional or postpartum profuse uterine bleeding. 3. Cautions and contraindications It is not suggested for flooding and spotting due to excessive blood heat.