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Source: Hé Jì Jú Fāng 和剂局方

Ingredients:

• Chái hú (柴胡 Bupleuri Radix, bupleurum [root]) 6–9g
• Bái zhú (白朮 Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, white atractylodes [root]) 6–9g
• Dāng guī (当归 Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Chinese angelica) 9g
• Bái sháo (白芍 Paeoniae Radix Alba, white peony [root]) 9g
• Fú líng (茯苓 Poria , poria) 9g
• Bò hé (薄荷 Menthae Herba, mint) 3g
• Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]) 3g
• Shēng jiāng (生姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, fresh ginger) (roasted) 3 slices

Action: Courses the liver and resolves depression; fortifies the spleen and nourishes the blood.

Indication: Liver depression and blood vacuity with pain in both rib-sides, headache and dizzy vision, dry mouth and throat, fatigue and reduced eating; in women, menstrual irregularities, menstrual pain, distended breasts; steaming bone taxation heat effusion. This formula is currently used in clinical practice to treat chronic hepatitis, early-stage cirrhosis of the liver, and pelvic inflammation in women.

Category: Harmonization formulas / Liver-spleen harmonization formula

Method: Grind to a rough powder. Decoct 3g at a time with 9g of roasted fresh ginger and 3g of bohe. It can also be made in pill form, taken in doses of 6–9g three times daily. Can also be decocted.

Rationale: Chái hú courses the liver and resolves depression. Bái sháo and Dāng guī nourish the liver and supplement the blood; they also ensure that the Chái hú courses the liver without damaging liver yīn. Thus, these three agents together supplement the substance (体 tǐ) and reinforce its function (用 yòng). Fú líng, Bái zhú, and Zhì gān cǎo fortify the spleen and boost qì. A little Shēng jiāng and Bò hé helps the Chái hú and Bái sháo to promote the orderly reaching of the liver.

Variations:

• Pronounced binding depression of liver qì: Add Xiāng fù (香附 Cyperi Rhizoma, cyperus [rhizome]) and Yù jīn (郁金 Curcumae Radix, curcuma [root]).
• Poor appetite: Add Chén pí (陈皮 Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, tangerine peel), Fǎ bàn xià (法半夏 Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum, pro formula pinellia [rhizome]), and Shén qū (神曲 Massa Medicata Fermentata , medicated leaven).
• Menstrual irregularities: Add Yì mǔ cǎo (益母草 Leonuri Herba, leonurus) (motherwort), and Dān shēn (丹参 Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, salvia [root]).
• Menstrual pain: Increase the Dāng guī (当归 Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Chinese angelica) and add Xiāng fù (香附 Cyperi Rhizoma, cyperus [rhizome]), Yán hú suǒ (延胡索 Corydalis Rhizoma, corydalis [rhizome]), and Yì mǔ cǎo (益母草 Leonuri Herba, leonurus).

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