Intestinal abscess, chest pain treated with TCM herb Patrinia

What is Bai Jiang Cao or Patrinia?
Also known as Herba Patriniae or Thlaspi in the west, it refers to the whole herb of valerianaceae. Actually there are a few of them and sometimes it includes Patrinia Villosa juss, Patrinia sca-biosaefolia Fisch., and other kindred plants. This is one of perennial plants, 10 to 30cm in height, glabrous throughout. In China, it is found in mountainous regions of northern, eastern and southern parts. Medicinal Patrinia is collected in early spring, cleaned with water and dried in the sun. Fresh Patrinia is odorless but with intensive stink after dried. And the greener one is better.

Herbal formulas for pus-filled bumps and suppurative appendicitis
Yi Yi Fu Zi Bai Jiang San, from Synopsis of Prescriptions of The Golden Chamber, is mainly designed for intestinal abscess. Main symptoms and signs are fish-scale skin, tight abdominal skin but soft when pressing, swelling but no mass inside, no fever, and rapid pulse, which, therefore, infers that carbuncle pus is inside intestine. Besides this primary herb of Bai Jiang Cao (Patrinia), other herbs are Fu Zi (Aconite Root) and Yi Yi Ren (Seeds of Job’s Tears). By the way, because skin symptoms are mentioned here, this formula is also used to treat skin diseases like pus-filled sores, acne, bumps, warts, and blisters etc.

Chang Yong Fang, from Clinical Applications of Chinese Herbal Medicine, is mainly formatted for appendiceal perityphlitis and appendiceal abscess. Other individual herbs are Yi Yi Ren (Seeds of Job’s Tears), Dong Gua Ren (Winter Melon Seed), Tao Ren (Peach Seed), Mu Dan Pi (Tree Peony Root Cortex), Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle Flower, Lonicera), Lian Qiao (Forsythia Fruit), Qin Pi (Bark of Korean Ash Branch), Zi Hua Di Ding (Yedeon’s Violet), and Yan Hu Suo (Corydalis Rhizome).

Another exclusive formula for acute purulent appendicitis is from Shan Gan Ning Qing Zhong Cao Yao Xuan (Portfolio of Chinese Herbal Medicine from Shan Gan Ning Qing). Other main herbs are Hong Teng (Sargentadoxa Vine), Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion), Tao Ren (Peach Seed), Chi Shao (Red Peony Root), and Da Huang (Rhubarb).

Property and indications
It is acrid, bitter, and cold in nature and covers meridians of large intestine, liver, and stomach. Main functions are to clear heat and detoxicate, eliminate carbuncle and drain pus, and remove blood stasis to relieve pain. Main usage and indications are intestinal abscess, Pulmonary Abscess with high fever, coughing up purulent blood, severe boils due to heat, pain in the chest or abdomen, abdominal pain after delivery, and Dysmenorrhea. Regular dosage is 9 to 15 grams of dried herb or even 60 to 120 grams of fresh herb, in decoction.