BLACK PEARL BP017 QI JU DI HUANG WAN LYCIUM, CHRYSANTHEMUM & REHMANNIA

QI JU DI HUANG WAN
杞菊地黃丸
Lycium, Chrysanthemum & Rehmannia Formula
Product Code: BP017

TCM Actions
Nourishes the Kidney Yin and enriches Kidney Essence, nourishes the Liver Blood and Yin.

Indications
Chronic disorders of the eyes and vision (e.g. central retinochoroiditis, retrobulbar neuritis, optic nerve atrophy, vitreous opacity, glaucoma, retinal disorders, cataracts), migraine headaches, hypertension, Meniere’s disease.

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

Course of treatment: 3 – 9 months, or ongoing in elderly patients.

Safe for long term use.

Signs and Syndromes
Liver-Kidney Yin deficiency Liver Blood deficiency

Dry and sore eyes, loss of visual acuity

Excessive lacrimation (watery eyes) on exposure to wind

Photophobia

Dizziness

Dry mouth and throat

Thirst

Low back pain

Irritability

Tinnitus or hearing loss

Sensation of heat in palms and soles

Recurrent headaches

Sleep disturbance

Night sweats

Red cheeks

Red and dry tongue with little coat

Thready pulse that may also be rapid

Cautions & Contraindications
Discontinue during an episode of common cold or influenza.

Not for acute inflammatory eye diseases.

Comments
This is a popular variant of Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Rehmannia Six Formula), which was first recorded in the ‘Precious Mirror for Advancement of Medicine’ (yi ji bao jian) by Dong Xi-xuan, 1777. In contrast to Rehmannia Six Formula, it focuses more on the Liver: Liver Blood and Liver Yin deficiency, with the tendency for the Liver Yang to become hyperactive. The Liver has a very close association with the eyes, which receive the major part of their nourishment from this organ (i.e. the Liver sends Qi and Blood to the eyes in order to maintain its normal functions). Thus, it is said that the eye is the signaling sense organ (miao qiao) of the Liver, reflecting its pathological changes. Thus, chronic eye disorders may arise in patients with Liver Blood and Liver Yin deficiency. In addition to treating chronic eye conditions, this formula has a broad range of applications in disorders due to Liver and Kidney Yin deficiency, possibly also with Liver Yang hyperactivity. These include chronic headaches, dizziness and hypertension. The synergistic actions of the herbs are as follows:

• Rehmannia root (shu di huang), Dioscorea root (shan yao), Cornus fruit (shan zhu yu), Lycium fruit (gou qi zi): enrich the Kidney Essence and nourish the Kidney Yin

• Rehmannia root (shu di huang), Lycium fruit (gou qi zi): nourish the Liver Blood

• Wolfiporia cocos (fu ling), Alisma plantago rhizome (ze xie): drain Damp and induce diuresis

• Paeonia stem bark (mu dan pi), Alisma rhizome (ze xie): reduce deficiency Fire

• Dioscorea root (shan yao), Wolfiporia cocos (fu ling): tonify the Spleen Qi

• Cornus fruit (shan zhu yu), Dioscorea root (shan yao): astringe the Kidney Essence (to allow it to build up without loss).

• Lycium fruit (gou qi zi), Chrysanthemum flower (ju hua): nourish the eyes to improve vision

Ingredients
REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA, ROOT (shu di huang) – 熟地黃 – 66mg
DIOSCOREA OPPOSITIFOLIA, ROOT (shan yao) – 山藥 – 55.1mg
WOLFIPORIA COCOS, FRUIT. BODY (fu ling) – 茯苓 – 55.1mg
ALISMA PLANTAGO AQUATICA, RHIZ. (ze xie) – 澤瀉 – 54.8mg
LYCIUM BARBARUM, FRUIT (gou qi zi) – 枸杞子 – 44.3mg
CHRYSANTHEMUM SINENSE, FLOWER (ju hua) – 菊花 – 33.8mg
CORNUS OFFICINALIS, FRUIT (shan zhu yu) – 山茱萸 – 33mg
PAEONIA SUFFRUTICOSA, STEM BARK (mu dan pi) – 牡丹皮 – 33mg