【Source】

《Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang》 (Prescriptions of Peaceful Benevolence Pharmacy)

 【Ingredients】

Chai Hu (Bupleurum Root), Dang Gui (Angelica Root), (Bai) Shao Yao ((White) Peony Root), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), Fu Ling (Poria), (Zhi)Gan Cao (Prepared Licorice Root), Wei Jiang (Baked Ginger), Bo He (Peppermint)
(8)

 【Ingredient Classification】

<Blood Tonifying>: Dang Gui, Shao Yao

<Spleen Tonifying & Middle Jiao Invigorating>: Gan Cao, Bai Zhu

<Acrid-Cool Exterior-Releasing>: Bo He, Chai Hu

<Acrid-Warm Exterior-Releasing>: Wei Jiang

<Spleen Tonifying & Water-Draining>: Fu Ling

【Formula Principles】

《Yi Fang》: For Foot Shaoyang and Jueyin Channels. (1) When the Liver is deficient, blood disorders occur. Dang Gui and Shao Yao nourish blood and astringe yin. (2) When Wood is excessive, Earth declines. Gan Cao and Bai Zhu harmonize the middle and supplement Earth. (3) Chai Hu: Lifts yang and dissipates heat, combined with Shao Yao to calm the Liver, allowing Wood (Liver qi) to flow freely. (4) Fu Ling: Clears heat and drains dampness, assisting Gan Cao and Bai Zhu to benefit Earth, and ensuring the Heart qi is tranquil. (5) Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger, though Wei Jiang is in composition): Warms the stomach and expels phlegm, regulates the middle and resolves stagnation. (6) Bo He: Scours the Liver and purges the Lungs (meaning to release stagnation from Liver/Lung pathways). (7) Smooths qi flow and harmonizes the middle, all symptoms naturally resolve, hence the name ‘Xiao Yao’ (Free and Easy Wanderer).《Shan Bu》: Bai Zhu and Fu Ling are used to assist Earth’s virtue to ascend Wood. Dang Gui and Shao Yao are used to benefit nourishing blood and nourish the Liver. Bo He clears heat, and Gan Cao harmonizes the middle. Chai Hu alone serves as the emissary for the Jueyin channel and to lift all Yang qi. The classic states: When Wood is constrained, it should be released/vented. This formula allows its natural expansive and straightening nature, hence it is named Xiao Yao.

 【Functions】

Soothes the Liver and relieves stagnation, nourishes blood and strengthens the Spleen.

 【Indications】

(1) Pain in both hypochondria, headache and dizziness, dry mouth and throat, fatigue and reduced appetite, or alternating chills and fever due to Liver qi stagnation and blood deficiency. (2) Irregular menstruation, breast distention. (3) Blood deficiency with overstrain/fatigue, hot sensation in the five centers, aching limbs, heavy and dizzy head and eyes, palpitations and flushed cheeks, fever and night sweats, reduced appetite and preference for lying down.《Yi Fang》: (1) Blood deficiency and dry Liver, steaming bone tidal fever, cough with tidal fever, alternating chills and fever, dry mouth and difficult stool, irregular menstruation. (2) Regulates blood, eliminates wind, smoothes qi flow and harmonizes the middle, all symptoms naturally resolve, hence the name Xiao Yao.《Shan Bu》: Liver system with blood deficiency and vigorous fire, headache, dizziness, vexation, and flushed face, bitter taste in mouth, fatigue, vexation, and thirst, depression and unhappiness, pain in both hypochondria, alternating chills and fever, heavy and dragging sensation in the lower abdomen, irregular menstruation in women, wiry, large, and weak pulse.

 【Clinical Applications】

Hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis belonging to Liver qi stagnation and Spleen deficiency pattern, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis (gallstones), male gynecomastia; women’s low back pain and dysmenorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease, menopausal syndrome, mammary hyperplasia, intraductal papilloma, thyroid adenoma, sinusitis, chronic enteritis, eye diseases, and other conditions.

 【Mnemonic】

Xiao Yao— ‘Ling Zhu Gan Shao Dang Jiang Hu He’ (茯苓 Fu Ling, 白朮 Bai Zhu, 甘草 Gan Cao, 芍藥 Shao Yao, 當歸 Dang Gui, 煨薑 Wei Jiang, 柴胡 Chai Hu, 薄荷 Bo He) #

 【Modifications】

(1) If Liver qi stagnation is severe, add Xiang Fu (Cyperus Rhizome) and Qing Pi (Green Tangerine Peel) to soothe the Liver and relieve stagnation. (2) If menstruation is continuous spotting/prolonged, add E Jiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin), Du Zhong (Eucommia Bark), Dang Shen (Codonopsis Root), Xu Duan (Dipsacus Root), and Zhi Ke (Bitter Orange Peel) to tonify qi and blood, enter Chong and Ren meridians to astringe and stop bleeding. (3) If Liver qi stagnation with blood deficiency causes steaming bone tidal fever, add Dan Pi (Moutan Bark) and Zhi Zi (Gardenia Fruit); this becomes Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San or <a href='https://whatsintcm.com/dt_articles/加味Xiao Yao San/’>Jia Wei Xiao Yao San (Modified Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) from 《Xue Ji》, used to treat Liver damage from anger, blood deficiency with dim vision. It also treats irritability and proneness to anger, or spontaneous sweating and night sweats, or headache with dry eyes, or flushed cheeks and dry mouth, or irregular menstruation, abdominal distention and dragging sensation, and painful, difficult urination. (4) If Liver qi stagnation causes headache, add Chuan Xiong (Szechuan Lovage Rhizome) and Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica Root) to relieve pain. (5) If Liver qi stagnation forms masses, with pain and masses in the hypochondriac region, add Dan Shen (Salvia Root), Bie Jia (Turtle Shell), and Sheng Mu Li (Raw Oyster Shell) to soften hard masses and dissipate accumulations. (6) If Liver qi stagnation causes breast distention and pain, add <a href='https://whatsintcm.com/dt_articles/穿山Jia/’>Chuan Shan Jia (Pangolin Scales), Wang Bu Liu Xing (Vaccaria Seed), and Qing Pi (Green Tangerine Peel) to soothe the Liver and unblock collaterals. (7) Adding Shu Di (Prepared Rehmannia Root) or Sheng Di (Raw Rehmannia Root) to this formula makes Hei Xiao Yao San (Black Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) from 《Yixue Liushu》 and 《Nuke Zhiyao》, which treats Liver qi stagnation and blood deficiency with abdominal pain during menstruation and a wiry, weak pulse. (8) If uterine bleeding or uncontrollable menorrhagia/metrorrhagia occurs, add Sang Ji Sheng (Loranthus Stem and Leaf), Dang Shen (Codonopsis Root), Chi Shi Zhi (Halloysite), Chuan Duan (Dipsacus Root), and Bu Gu Zhi (Psoralea Fruit) to astringe and stop bleeding.

 【Pharmacology】

Regulates endocrine, modulates the central nervous system, protects the liver, increases intestinal peristalsis, and reduces adverse reactions of the anti-cancer drug Cisplatin, among other effects.