BLACK PEARL BP031 XIAO YAO WAN BUPLEURUM & DANG GUI

XIAO YAO WAN
逍遙丸
Bupleurum & Dang Gui Formula
Product Code: BP031

TCM Actions
Soothes the Liver, tonifies the Spleen Qi and nourishes the Liver Blood.

Indications
Stress, irritability, depressed mood, stress-related disorders, bruxism, premenstrual tension, hepatitis, hepatic cirrhosis, gastritis, duodenitis, cholecystitis, peptic ulcer disease, mastitis, mammary dysplasia (fibrocystic breast disease), irregular menstruation, chronic hepatitis B.

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

Course of treatment: 2 – 6 months.

Safe for long term use.

Signs and Syndromes
Liver Qi constraint Spleen Qi deficiency

Stress, emotional strain, depressed mood

Sense of tightness or oppressive sensation in the chest, the need to make an effort to take a deep breath, sighing

Symptoms brought on or worsened by emotional strain

Tightness of the shoulders and lower thoracic paraspinal muscles

Fatigue

Poor appetite, epigastric or abdominal bloating

Loose stools

Hypochondrial distending pain

Premenstrual tension with mastalgia

Tongue may be normal possibly with a thick tongue coat

Wiry pulse that may also be weak-thready

Cautions & Contraindications
Caution for those on anti-coagulant medications (i.e. heparin, warfarin or aspirin).

Caution for those on any type of sedative drug.

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

Contraindicated for patients taking interferon.

Comments
This formula is from the ‘Formulary of the Tai Ping Welfare Dispensary Bureau’ (tai ping hui min he ji ju fang), 1151, a compilation of popular and effective formulas that were used in the public dispensaries of the Song dynastic period. It is a well- designed formula that addresses Liver Qi constraint – together with the associated emotional disturbances – when it occurs in the context of a deficiency syndrome, specifically Spleen Qi and Liver Blood deficiency. This condition is marked by failure of the Liver to maintain the smooth and even flow of the Qi throughout the body. It is commonly caused by emotional strain or stress, but may also come about through invasion by pathogens, which obstruct the Qi and Blood, placing a critical strain on the Liver’s ability to adequately regulate the Qi. Thus, Liver function (i.e. the Liver Qi) becomes inhibited leading to what is essentially a deficiency type of syndrome. It manifests In a diminution of emotional responses (I.e. Inability to give vent to feelings, depressed mood, crying easily), together with disturbances along the course of the Liver channel (chest, breasts and hypochondrium). In addition, disruption of the middle Jiao function (i.e. Stomach and Spleen) is usually also present. This is because the Liver fails to regulate and promote the normal movements of Qi in the middle Jiao, leading to digestive disturbances, as described above under ‘Signs and Symptoms’. Because the Qi and the Blood form a complementary pair, Liver Qi constraint is essentially a disharmony between the Liver Qi and the Liver Blood. Thus, the later may readily become deficient. Liver Blood deficiency may impact on the Heart (the Liver nourishes the Heart) as well as the uterus: in the former, the Heart receives less Blood from the Liver, leading to disturbances in cognitive function and possibly also sleep; while in the latter, the Liver’s ability to store and discharge Blood may adversely affect menstruation, e.g. irregular periods, pre-menstrual cramping and distention etc.

Ingredients
BUPLEURUM FALCATUM, ROOT (chai hu) – 柴胡 – 60.8mg
PAEONIA LACTIFLORA, ROOT (bai shao) – 白芍 – 60.8mg
ANGELICA POLYMORPHA, ROOT (dang-gui) – 當歸 – 60.8mg
ATRACTYLODES MACROCEPHALA, RHIZ. (bai zhu) – 白朮 – 60.8mg
WOLFIPORIA COCOS, FRUIT. BODY (fu ling) – 茯苓 – 60.8mg
GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS, ROOT (gan cao) – 甘草 – 50.3mg
MENTHA HAPLOCALYX, HERB (bo he) – 薄荷 – 10.5mg
ZINGIBER OFFICINALE, RHIZ. (pao jiang) – 炮薑 – 10.5mg