Chinese Medicine

You may or may not hear about the Chinese medicine school of Huo Shen Pai. But this is a fascinating name in China, especially in the field of Chinese medicine. Here is the brief introduction to this unique Chinese medicine school.

What is Huo Shen Pai?

Why this Chinese medicine school is called Huo Shen Pai (Vulcan Group)? It is because this Chinese medicine school has very unique style, and well known for specializing at the use of hot natured Chinese herbs, such as Fu zi (Aconitum carmichaeli Debx) and Gan jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) etc.

They shock the whole nation by saving dying people who are terminally ill and its own unique characteristics. Since Huo Shen Pai began, they carried forward with their unique techniques in generations over a hundred years. Recent years for some reason, this Chinese medicine school is reviving again and back to the spot light again.

In the history of Chinese medicine, there are the theory of the Four Famous Doctors in Jin and Yuan Dynasty, The School of Cold-induced Febrile Diseases, the School of Warm-recuperation and the School of Seasonal Febrile Sisease, etc.

For thousands of years, their unique characteristics and splendor made the rich origins of Chinese medicine. But few people know about that there was also an important faction of Chinese medicine schools in Sichuan since the end of Qing Dynasty. They were called Huo Shen Pai in later generations.

In my opinion, Huo Shen Pai’s theory, whose impact is no less than other schools, is so exquisite and distinctive that it is worth to explore it.

The history of Chinese medicine shows that for those who can create a school, there must be leaders and a few representatives, plus some theoretical writings and considerable clinical practice (medical cases). These items are essential; otherwise it is difficult to cause some impact. For these standards, Huo Shen Pai has them all. And Zheng Shouquan is its leader.

Zheng Shouquan (1804-1901), also known as Qinan, from Qionglai Sichuan. He created Huo Shen Pai in Chengdu during Tongzhi Emperor in Qing Dynasty and was famous for this medical efficacy. The Record of Qionglai County claimed that he was the leader of Huo Shen Pai and was well known for specializing at Fu Zi to cure the diseases to the point and recover balance out of disorder. Then the people called him “Mr. Jiang Fu”.

Wu Peiheng (1888-1971), from south of Kunming, Yunnan. Hence he got the name of “Wu Fu Zi”, who was well known in particular for curing measles by his use of Fu Zi.

Zhu Wei-ju (1884-1951), from Shanghai. In Shanghai, Zhu Wei-ju was a household name, especially his nickname of “Zhu Fu Zi”. He would dare to use Fu Zi even when the patients were in coma with high fever, dried lips and clenched teeth. He thought that the patients of febrile were not died from fever, but from heart failure.

Huo Shen Pai’s writings

Zheng Qinan — ” Yi li Zhen Chuan ” (1869), ” Yi Fa Yuan Tong ” (1874);
Wu Peiheng — ” Ma Zhen Fa Wei “, ” Shang Han Lun Xin Zhu ” ” Wu Peiheng Yi An “;
Zhu Wei-ju —” Shang Han Zhi Nan “, ” Zhu Wei-ju Yi An “;
Liu Minshu —” Lu Lou Yi An “;
Fan Zhong-Lin —” Fan Zhong-Lin Liujing Bian Zheng Yi An Xuan”.
and so on….

A rough summary features of Huo Shen Pai theory

1. Academically this Chinese medicine school follows “Nei Jing”, “Probe the reason of Yin and Yang “,” Focus only on yin and yang”, “Change in conditions is variable, but it does not extend beyond the two laws of yin and yang.” (Zheng Qinan)

2. Clinically, Huo Shen Pai follows “Zhang Zhong-jing’s Law”. The mostly used Chinese herbs are Fu zi Fu zi (Aconitum carmichaeli Debx), Gan jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), Rou gui (Cinnamomi Cortex) and so on. Usually the amount of Fu Zi would be given more than 100g even 300g. They respect that “Fu Zi is the chief of Chinese herbs.” (Zhu Wei-ju). The most used formulas are Sini Tang, Bai Tong Tang, Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang etc., which is the most distinctive feature of this Chinese medicine school.

3. It is suspected that this Chinese medicine school laid particular stress on certain herbs, which also the habit for other Chinese medicine schools, such as School of Warm-recuperation and School of Cold. But what Huo Shen Pai claims seems fair and do not only use Gan jiang and Fu zi. They would use other Chinese herbs if the conditions needs. They are not biased though. “We are not using Fu zi and Gan jiang for the sake of using them. It is just because illness needs them.” (Zheng Qinan).

4. Huo Shen Pai has a set of mature experience on the application of Fu zi, including its compatibility and boiling methods, such as compatibility with Ci Shi, Zao Ren, etc. from Zhu Wei-ju’s experience; More than 3 hours of boiling time is needed in large doses of Fu Zi, until it won’t tingle the tongue, according to the experience from Wu Peiheng.

Of course, the stories about Huo Shen Pai are not ending here. If you are interested to know more about them, just feel free to let me know, I would try my best to write more.