BLACK PEARL BP012 GUI PI WAN GINSENG & LONGAN

GUI PI WAN
歸脾丸
Ginseng & Longan Formula
Product Code: BP012

TCM Actions
Tonifies the Spleen Qi and nourishes the Heart Blood, calms the Spirit.

Indications
Fatigue (physical and mental), depressed mood, anxiety, neurasthenia, insomnia, post-concussion syndrome, anemia, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, thrombocytopenic purpura, thrombocytopenia due to hepatitis, bleeding peptic ulcers, amenorrhoea, infertility, menopausal syndrome, pyrexia of unknown origin, easy bruising, ecchymoses.

Dosage & Course Of Treatment
8 pills, 3 times daily, half to one hour away from food.

Course of treatment: 2 – 6 months, or ongoing for elderly patients

Safe for long term use.

Signs and Syndromes
Spleen Qi deficiency Heart Blood deficiency

Fatigue, muscular weakness

Poor appetite

Palpitations

Dream-disturbed sleep or insomnia

Pale complexion

Forgetfulness, poor concentration and memory

Postural dizziness

Easy bruising, ecchymoses

Timidity, fearfulness, withdrawal

Anxiety, phobias or panic attacks

Depressed mood

Low grade fever

Early menstruation with profuse pale flow

Menorrhagia

Pale tongue with a thin white coat

Thready and weak pulse

Cautions & Contraindications
If taking antibiotics, allow at least 90 minutes before taking this formula.

Comments
This formula was first recorded in the ‘Formulas to Benefit Life’ (ji sheng fang), a work in 10 volumes by Yan Yong-he, 1253 CE, which covers internal medicine, gynecology and surgery. The formula was originally used for the combined symptoms of palpitations, anxiety and forgetfulness due to the effects of prolonged worrying or excessive mental activity, which has injured both the Spleen and Heart. This is because the Spleen is the seat of the capacity for ideation (yi), while the Heart is the seat of the psyche (shen). Thus, excessive mental activity puts a strain upon the Spleen Qi as well as the Heart Blood. Subsequently the formula’s uses were expanded to include abnormal bleeding due to Spleen Qi deficiency (Spleen failure in controlling the Blood). In the 16th century the prescription was modified with the addition of Angelica (dang-gui) and Polygala (yuan zhi) – to complete the present day formula – and its indications were fully described, as above. Heart-Spleen Qi-Blood deficiency is a commonly occurring dual syndrome that may arise due to inadequate care during the recovery phase of an illness, chronic blood loss, excessive worry, anxiety or mental work, dietary irregularities and overstrain. It frequently occurs in students due to the added stresses of examinations (i.e. lack of sleep together with extra mental work) as well as in athletes due to overtraining. The synergistic actions of the herbs are as follows:

• Astragalus root (huang qi), Codonopsis root (dang shen), Atractylodes rhizome (bai zhu), Glycyrrhiza root (gan cao): tonify the Spleen Qi

• Angelica root (dang-gui), Dimocarpus fruit (long yan rou): nourish the Heart Blood

• Wolfiporia cocos (fu ling), Polygala root (yuan zhi), Ziziphus seed (suan zao ren): nourish the Heart and calm the Spirit

• Atractylodes rhizome (bai zhu), Cyperus rhizome (xiang fu): strengthen the Spleen and regulate the Qi, prevent the tonic herbs from impairing digestion

• Glycyrrhiza root (gan cao), Ziziphus fruit (da zao), Zingiber rhizome (sheng jiang): harmonise the Spleen and Stomach to promote the production of Qi and Blood

Ingredients
ASTRAGALUS MEMBRANACEUS, ROOT (huang qi) – 黃芪 – 69.6mg
ZIZIPHUS JUJUBA VAR. SPINOSA, SEED (suan zao ren) – 酸棗仁 – 69.6mg
WOLFIPORIA COCOS, FRUIT. BODY (fu ling) – 茯苓 – 43.6mg
CODONOPSIS PILOSULA, ROOT (dang shen) – 黨參 – 43.4mg
ATRACTYLODES MACROCEPHALA, RHIZOME (bai zhu) – 白術 – 26.1mg
GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS, ROOT (gan cao) – 甘草 – 26.1mg
ANGELICA POLYMORPHA, ROOT (dang-gui) – 當歸 – 17.4mg
DIMOCARPUS LONGAN, FRUIT FLESH (long yan rou) – 龍眼肉 – 17.4mg
CYPERUS ROTUNDUS, RHIZOME (xiang fu) – 香附 – 17.4mg
POLYGALA SIBIRICA, ROOT (yuan zhi) – 遠志 – 17.4mg
ZIZIPHUS JUJUBA, FRUIT (da zao) – 大棗 – 17.4mg
ZINGIBER OFFICINALE, RHIZOME (sheng jiang) – 生薑 – 8.7mg