The case of Tang: Right, posterior rib pain radiating to the low back and hip producing aversion to cold and icy-cold extremities. [The patient was so cold that] it took a long time to get the patient warm. This was a lack of movement of qi and blood within the vessels and networks, culminating in congealed cold producing pain that was an obstruction pattern of the vessels and networks and is understood in the context of a yang wei and yin wei disease.

Cervi Cornu degelatinatum (lu jiao shuang)
Foeniculi Fructus (xiao hui xiang)
Angelica sinensis Radix (dang gui)
Sechuan Cinnamomi Ramulus (gui zhi)
Astragali complanati Semen (sha yuan zi)
Poria (fu ling).[i]

Translated by: Charles Chace

Original Chinese: 唐（嶇）右後脅痛連腰胯。 發必惡寒逆冷。 暖護良久乃溫。 此脈絡中氣血不行。 遂至凝塞為痛。 乃脈絡之痹症。 從陽維陰維論病鹿角霜， 小茵香， 當歸， 川桂枝， 沙苑， 茯苓

Commentary: This case involves a yang wei disorder presenting as rib side pain radiating to the low back and hip, the supple, warm, essence-nourishing Cervi Cornu degelatinatum (lu jiao shuang) is added to the primary treatment method of opening the yang to harmonize the networks. In general, the drugs in this prescription enter the liver and kidney channels while Cinnamomi Ramulus (gui zhi) opens the yang qi in the foot greater yang.

For further reading, please view the intro to this case, Herbs & the Eight Extraordinary Vessels and Ye Tian-Shi & the Eight Extraordinary Channels.

[i] This case record appears in another anthology containing case records attributed to Ye Tian-Shi (葉天士), 2004i, Combined Case Records of Three Physicians (San jia yi an’ he ke 三家醫案合刻), juan 1, Minor Construct the Middle Decoction (xiao jian zhong tang 小建中湯), juan 7, “Obstruction” (bi 痹).