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| Exploring the application of Wumei Wan in treating depression of Cold-Heat complex syndrome based on the theory of “releasing stagnant fire” put forward by national traditional Chinese medicine Master LI Shimao |
| Hits 37 Download times 11 Received:April 20, 2026 |
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| DOI
10.11656/j.issn.1673-9043.2026.09.01 |
| Key Words
releasing stagnant fire;Wumei Wan;depression;cold-heat complex syndrome;LI Shimao;pulse-centered syndrome differentiation |
| Author Name | Affiliation | E-mail | | LI Bingru | The Second Clinical Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450002, China | | | LI Chentao | The Second Clinical Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450002, China | | | DENG Nan | The Second Clinical Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450002, China | | | CHANG Xuehui | Academic Affairs Office, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China | xhchang123@126.com |
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| Abstract
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| Based on the theory of “Releasing Stagnant Fire” proposed by Professor LI Shimao，a National Master of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM），the paper systematically explores the therapeutic mechanism of Wumei Wan in treating depression of cold-heat complex syndrome. Professor LI held that the core pathogenesis of stagnant fire syndrome lies in internal accumulation of heat pathogens failing to disperse outward，accompanied by disorder of qi ascent and descent. The therapeutic principle of “releasing stagnant fire” aims to disperse constrained internal heat by unblocking and smoothing qi movement. As a classical formula that combines cold and warm medicinals to harmonize liver and spleen，Wumei Wan matches perfectly with the theory of releasing stagnant fire via its combined medicinals with sour astringent，pungent dispersing，bitter descending and sweet tonifying properties. The pungent-warm medicinals in the formula，including Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata，Rhizoma Zingiberis and Ramulus Cinnamomi，relieve stagnant fire through three pathways：warming and nourishing liver yang，smoothing stagnant qi movement，and warming and activating the middle jiao. These medicinals embody the core connotation of the therapeutic principle of “releasing” and can soothe liver excess to tonify spleen，harmonize yin and yang，and disperse stagnant heat. Combined with Professor LI’s core academic thought of pulse-centered syndrome differentiation，a diagnostic system taking pulse palpation as the core，which differentiates deficiency and excess by pulse strength under deep palpation，advocates determining syndrome and interpreting symptoms based on pulse manifestations，and opposes abandoning pulse diagnosis merely according to symptomatic manifestations，this paper clarifies that string-thin forceless pulse or deep string-thin forceless pulse is the core diagnostic basis for applying Wumei Wan. This paper further elaborates the internal logical connection between this formula and the theory of releasing stagnant fire，and avoids indiscriminate application of prescriptions only based on symptoms. It is expected to provide rigorous theoretical support and clinical reference for the clinical application of Wumei Wan in the treatment of depression with cold-heat complex syndrome. |
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