Sharing of Dietary Therapy Formula by Dr. Wu Mingjie from Fengyang Daoist Traditional Chinese Medicine

Abstract: This article aims to analyze and share a dietary therapy formula derived from Dr. Wu Mingjie of Fengyang Daoist Traditional Chinese Medicine—the decoction of Honey Locust Thorn (皂角刺, Spina Gleditsiae), Astragalus (黄芪, Radix Astragali), Red Dates (红枣, Fructus Jujubae), and Goose Egg. This formula integrates the core TCM treatment principle of "reinforcing the healthy qi and eliminating pathogens" (扶正祛邪). Through the combination of tonifying qi and blood, expelling pus and toxins, and reducing swelling and dissipating nodules, it provides an auxiliary approach for addressing chronic benign nodules and sores on the body surface or internally caused by qi-blood deficiency and phlegm-stasis binding, such as certain cases of mammary gland hyperplasia and nodules. This article will elaborate on its composition, preparation method, mechanism of action, and emphasize its prerequisites for use, contraindications, and precautions. It stresses that it must be used under the guidance of a professional TCM practitioner based on pattern differentiation and absolutely cannot replace formal medical treatment.

Introduction

In TCM clinical practice, the combination of dietary therapy and herbal medicine is a distinctive treatment method. This formula from Dr. Wu Mingjie cleverly pairs herbs with definitive properties with everyday foods, embodying the wisdom of "food and medicine sharing the same source" (药食同源) and "simultaneously attacking and supplementing" (攻补兼施). This formula is not a potent remedy for acute or severe conditions but focuses on regulating chronic pathological states characterized by "blockage due to deficiency," aiming to improve the body's internal environment and assist in its self-repair.

I. Formula Composition, Efficacy, and Preparation

This formula consists of five ingredients, each with its specific role, working synergistically.

· Monarch Herb: Honey Locust Thorn (皂角刺)

· Properties, Flavors & Channel Affinities: Warm in nature, pungent in flavor. Enters the Liver and Stomach channels.

· Core Efficacy: Reduces swelling, expels toxins, drains pus, invigorates blood, and dissipates abscesses. Serves as the main force in this formula for "eliminating pathogens" and "attacking and breaking up hard accumulations."

· Crucial Dosage and Usage: Based on Dr. Wu Mingjie's practical experience, for regulating mammary gland hyperplasia, nodules, etc., the starting dose needs to be 30 grams per day, gradually increasing daily up to 90 grams per day to achieve noticeable effect. Small doses (10-30 grams) are mostly used for routine blood activation, with insufficient power to break up hard accumulations. Before decocting, take about 30 honey locust thorns and insert them into the cooked goose egg. This is a traditional, distinctive method intended to allow the medicinal properties to penetrate.

· Minister Herb: Astragalus (黄芪)

· Properties, Flavors & Channel Affinities: Slightly warm in nature, sweet in flavor. Enters the Lung and Spleen channels.

· Core Efficacy: Tonifies qi and elevates yang, consolidates the exterior and stops sweating, promotes urination to reduce swelling, expels toxins and pus, and promotes tissue regeneration. Serves as the core of "reinforcing the healthy qi" in this formula, providing the energetic foundation for the "attacking" action of the honey locust thorn and promoting the outward expulsion of pus and toxins.

· Crucial Dosage: For expelling toxins and pus, it is suggested that the dose starts from 60 grams per day and can be increased to 90 grams.

· Assistant Herb: Scutellaria Barbata (半枝莲)

· Properties, Flavors & Channel Affinities: Cold in nature, pungent and bitter in flavor. Enters the Lung, Liver, and Kidney channels.

· Core Efficacy: Clears heat and removes toxins, transforms stasis, and promotes diuresis. In this formula, it assists by moderating the warm nature of the honey locust thorn and astragalus, while also helping to transform stasis and dissipate nodules, preventing stasis from transforming into heat over time.

· Conventional Dosage: 10-30 grams.

· Guiding Herb: Red Dates, Goose Egg

· Red Dates: Warm in nature, sweet in flavor. Enters the Spleen and Stomach channels. Efficacy: Tonifies the middle and augments qi, nourishes blood and calms the spirit, moderates the properties of other herbs. It helps astragalus tonify qi and nourish blood while harmonizing all ingredients in the formula, moderating the "attacking" nature of the honey locust thorn and protecting the spleen and stomach.

· Goose Egg: Warm in nature, sweet in flavor. Considered a dietary supplement for tonifying the middle and augmenting qi, rich in nutrients. After being pierced by the honey locust thorns and decocted with the herbs, it serves both as food and a medicinal guide, absorbing the medicinal properties and enhancing the tonifying effect.

Preparation Method:

1. Wash the goose egg, cook it with the shell on, and set aside.

2. Take about 30 honey locust thorns and insert them evenly into the cooked goose egg.

3. Place the goose egg with the inserted thorns, astragalus, scutellaria barbata, and red dates together into a clay pot.

4. Add about 5 bowls of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then switch to low heat and simmer slowly for 1 hour.

5. Strain the decoction for drinking. Consume the medicated goose egg at the same time. One dose per day.

II. Analysis of Regulating Principles and Applicable Situations

This formula embodies the classic TCM concept of "reinforcing the healthy qi and eliminating pathogens." It is suitable for patterns of "deficiency in origin and excess in manifestation" (本虚标实), meaning the body's healthy qi (qi and blood) is insufficient (deficiency in origin), leading to the congealing and stagnation of pathological products like phlegm-dampness and blood stasis, forming lumps or nodules (excess in manifestation).

· Core Regulating Directions:

1. Tonify Qi and Nourish Blood to "Reinforce the Healthy Qi": Heavy use of astragalus paired with red dates greatly tonifies the qi of the spleen and lungs. Sufficient qi can then propel blood circulation, transform and transport dampness, and "expel toxins outward," providing the fundamental driving force for dissipating nodules.

2. Attack Hardness and Dissipate Nodules to "Eliminate Pathogens": The honey locust thorn has sharp, dispersing properties, specifically targeting and breaking up accumulations, reaching the diseased area directly to "break open" accumulated phlegm and stasis. Scutellaria barbata assists by clearing heat, removing toxins, and invigorating blood to transform stasis.

3. Combine Food and Medicine to "Harmonize": Red dates and goose egg tonify qi and blood, moderate the properties of the herbs, enabling the entire formula to eliminate pathogens without damaging the healthy qi, while also considering nutrition and regulation.

· Main Applicable Situations (Requiring Professional Diagnosis First):

· Benign Mammary Gland Hyperplasia, Nodules: In TCM, this falls under the category of "Breast Masses" (乳癖). It is often caused by liver qi stagnation and phlegm-stasis binding together. This formula assists through the approach of soothing the liver and regulating qi (the dispersing pungency of the honey locust thorn), transforming phlegm and dispelling stasis, tonifying qi and expelling toxins.

· Chronic, Non-Inflammatory Sores or Lymph Node Swelling on the Body Surface: Such as sores where pus has formed but is difficult to rupture or that are difficult to heal after rupturing, chronic lymphadenitis (must be confirmed as benign), belonging to the pattern of qi-blood deficiency with lingering toxins.

· Improving Constitution of Qi Deficiency Combined with Phlegm-Stasis: For individuals who typically experience fatigue, shortness of breath, and are prone to sweating, while also having signs of localized pain due to stasis or phlegm-dampness in the body, it may have a certain overall regulating effect.

III. Important Precautions and Contraindications (Must Read)

This formula has relatively strong effects and carries risks if used improperly. The following points are crucial:

1. Absolute Contraindications:

· Pregnant women are strictly prohibited from using it. The honey locust thorn strongly invigorates blood and may induce miscarriage.

· Contraindicated for those with excess heat patterns or yin deficiency with fire effulgence. Such as newly formed sores with redness, swelling, heat, and pain; high fever; constipation; sores in the mouth and on the tongue; heat in the palms, soles, and center of the chest (五心烦热); red tongue with little coating. This formula, being warming and tonifying while also attacking, would be like adding fuel to the fire if used in such cases.

· Use with caution during the acute infection stage of broken skin or ulcers.

2. Core Prerequisites and Warnings:

· A Clear Diagnosis Must Come First: For any breast nodule, lump, or superficial mass, before using any regulating method, you must go to a regular hospital (e.g., breast surgery, general surgery, oncology department) to complete necessary examinations (such as ultrasound, mammography, or pathological biopsy if needed) to clarify whether it is benign or malignant. This formula is only discussed as an auxiliary approach for regulating diagnostically confirmed benign lesions.

· Cannot Replace Any Formal Treatment: For malignant tumors (cancer), this formula absolutely must not be used as the primary treatment method. It may only be considered, under the guidance of a TCM practitioner, as a very minor supplementary means to assist in improving constitution or alleviating side effects of radiotherapy/chemotherapy, and must be fully communicated with the attending physician.

· Must Be Used Under the Guidance of a TCM Practitioner: The honey locust thorn in the formula is toxic. The use of extra-large doses (e.g., 90 grams per day) belongs to a special clinical experience-based usage method and involves an incremental process, which is difficult for non-professionals to master. The dosage of astragalus also needs to be strictly adjusted according to the degree of qi deficiency. Self-administration and misuse may lead to adverse reactions such as nausea, vomiting, bleeding, or others. A TCM practitioner must confirm through observation, listening/smelling, questioning, and palpation (望闻问切) that you belong to the pattern of "qi-blood deficiency with phlegm-stasis binding" before considering its use and must formulate a safe dosage and course of treatment for you.

3. Regarding the Statement "Tumor Completely Disappears After One Course":

The effective cases mentioned in the article are summaries of specific cases under individualized diagnosis and treatment. They cannot guarantee the same effect for everyone. Disease recovery is the result of multiple factors working together. Please view this rationally and avoid unrealistic expectations.

Summary

Dr. Wu Mingjie's dietary therapy formula of "Honey Locust Thorn, Astragalus, Red Date, and Goose Egg Decoction" is a cleverly conceived, attack-and-supplement TCM auxiliary formula. It provides a regulating path of "tonifying qi to expel toxins, dissipating nodules, and reducing swelling" for benign nodular diseases of the pattern of qi-blood deficiency and phlegm-stasis congelation. However, its medicinal nature is potent, and its indications are strict—like a double-edged sword. Used correctly, it is an effective formula; used incorrectly, it harms the body. On the path to pursuing health, the safest route is always: Modern medical diagnosis + Formal treatment + Professional TCM pattern differentiation for auxiliary support. Sharing this formula aims to disseminate TCM regulating ideas. All practical applications must begin in the consultation room of a professional practitioner.

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