Er Ling Dan，*Formulas of the Imperial Pharmacy*, Volume 6.，
Er Ling Dan
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All references in this article to TCM syndrome differentiation, herbal medicines, teas, and decoctions are intended to promote TCM culture and are provided solely for educational and reference purposes.
Formulas Name : Er Ling Dan
Chinese Name : 二灵丹
Drug Formulation
He Shou Wu (equal parts male and female; harvest, scrape, and pound—avoid contact with iron; soak in the first rinse water from washing rice for one fu; strain).In a silver vessel, first arrange a single layer of jujubes, splitting each open; cover with a layer of He Shou Wu; add another layer of jujubes; then another layer of He Shou Wu, and so on until all ingredients are used. The next day, add clear river water to the mixture until the water level is about five fingers above the herbs. Simmer over low heat;until the jujubes are completely mushy and the Polygonum multiflorum is slightly softened. Remove the mixture; discard the jujubes. Select only the Polygonum multiflorum, soak it briefly in cool, clean water, then use a bamboo knife to scrape off the black skin and any foam on both sides until clean. Slice it into thin pieces with the bamboo knife, dry it over low heat, and set aside 1 jin of the cleaned material.Achyranthes root (remove the root crown and fine tips; use only the thick central portion; break into half-cun pieces; soak in fine wine for two nights; remove and dry over low heat; clean) half a jin.
Source
*Formulas of the Imperial Pharmacy*, Volume 6.
Processing
He Shou Wu (equal parts male and female; harvest, scrape, and pound—avoid contact with iron; soak in the first rinse water from washing rice for one fu; strain. In a silver vessel, first arrange a single layer of jujubes, splitting each open; cover with a layer of He Shou Wu; add another layer of jujubes;followed by another layer of He Shou Wu, continuing until all ingredients are used. The next day, add clear river water to the mixture until the water level is about five fingers above the herbs. Simmer over low heat until the jujubes are completely mushy and the He Shou Wu is slightly softened. Remove from heat; discard the jujubes. Select only the He Shou Wu, soak it briefly in cold water, then use a bamboo knife to scrape off the black skin and any foam on both sides until clean,slice into thin pieces with a bamboo knife, dry over low heat, and set aside (1 jin of the cleaned material),Achyranthes root (remove the root crown and thin tips; use only the thick central portion; break into half-cun pieces; soak in fine wine for two nights; remove and dry in an oven; clean) half a jin. Mix the above herbs together, place them in a stone mortar and pestle, and pound and sift into a fine powder. Mix with refined honey to form pills the size of a Paulownia seed.
Instructions for Use
Take 60 pills daily on an empty stomach, washed down with warm wine or rice water. After half a month, increase the dose to 70–80 pills; after one month, increase to 100 pills. After 100 days of treatment, all previous ailments will be cured.
Copyright: Excerpt from *Formulas of the Imperial Pharmacy*, Volume 6., Copyright belongs to the Original Author and all original sources, This article was shared by DeDe on August 24, 2026, Please credit the source and include a link to the original article when reposting.
Terminology Proofreading: [Cheng Bo] | August 24, 2026 Reviewed by: [Wang Zhongxiang, Associate Chief TCM Physician (China)] | August 24, 2026
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Er Ling Dan