Herbs that Harmonize Liver and Spleen

8/11/2019 Herbs that Harmonize Liver and Spleen

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Class 8: Harmonize Liver and

Spleen, Resolve Depression

Fayi Wu


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Herbs

Bupleurum (Chaihu) MM: pp 73-78

Immature Bitter orange (Zhishi) MM: pp 516-519

Bitter orange (Zhi Ke) MM: pp 519-520

Cyperus tuber (Xiangfu) MM: pp 527-529

Mentha (Bohe) MM: pp 47-49

Capejasmine fruit (Zhizi) MM: pp 95-98

Medicated Leaven (Shen Qu) MM: pp 495-497


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Chai hu (Bupleurum) Categories: herbs that release exterior

Taste and Property: Bitter, pungent and slightly cold Meridian Tropism: Pericardium, Liver, triple jiao and gallbladder

Actions: Reduce fever by harmonizing and relieving shaoyang, Relievestagnation of liver qi, Lifting yang Qi

Applications: Used as the most important herb for shaoyang pattern marked by alternate attack of

fever and chills, fullness in the hypochondrium, bitter taste in the mouth, dry mouth andvertigo

For liver qi stagnation marked by distending pain in the hypochondrium, headache,irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea,

Prolapse of rectum or uterus or shortness of breath or lassitude due to sinking ofdeficient qi

Dosage: 3-10g

Contraindications: Not used for true yin deficiency with hyperactivity of liver

yang


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Zhi shi (Immature Bitter orange )

Categories: herbs that regulate qi

Taste and Property: Bitter, pungent and slightly cold

Meridian Tropism: Spleen, stomach and the large intestine

Actions: Break up stagnated qi to remove food retention, dissolve phlegm to relieve theobstruction

Applications:

Retention of food marked by abdominal pain and constipation or unsmooth discharge of stool andtenesmus in diarrhea or dysentery

Distension and fullness in the chest and epigastrium due to obstruction of qi by phlegm

Used for prolapse of stomach, uterus, and rectum

Elevating blood pressure

Dosage: 3-10g

Attention: Used with great care for weakness of the spleen and the stomach and pregnantwoman


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Zhi Ke (Bitter orange ) Categories: herbs that regulate qi

Taste and Property: Bitter, pungent and slightly cold

Meridian Tropism: Spleen, stomach and the large intestine

Actions: Promotes the flow of qi, for qi stagnation leading toproblems in the flow of qi such as cough, distention or constipation

Applications:

Used with gui zhi, for stabbing pain in the chest and flank Used with jie geng to regulate the flow of qi in the chest an aid in the

transforming of phlegm

Used with sheng ma to relax the bowels and encourage thedownward flow of turbid yin

Dosage: 3-10g

Attention: Used with great care for weakness of the spleen and thestomach and pregnant woman


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Xiang fu (Cyperus tuber ) Categories: herbs that regulate qi

Taste and Property: Pungent, slightly bitter and slightly sweet Meridian Tropism: Liver and triple jiao

Actions: Spreads and regulates liver qi, regulates menstruation torelieve pain

Applications:

Stagnation of the Liver Qi: Hypochondric pain

Attack of liver qi on the stomach

Stomach ache due to stagnation of cold and qi

Abdominal pain due to cold

Irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea or distending pain in the breasts: Xiang Fu is a commonly used herb in treatment of gynecologic diseases,

especially the diseases caused by stagnation of the liver qi such as irregularmenstruation accompanied with distension in the breast and abdomen

Dosage: 6-12g


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Bo he (Mentha)

Categories: herbs that release exterior Taste and Property: acrid, aromatic, cool

Meridian Tropism: lung, liver

Actions: facilitates the dispersal of upper burner wind heat, cools and clears theeyes and head, soothes the throat, facilitates the flow of liver qi and expelsturbid filth

Applications: For patterns of wind-heat with fever, cough, headache, red eyes and sore throat, Used early stages of rashes to induce the rash to come to the surface as a means of

venting the wind and heat and thereby speed recovery

For constrained liver qi stagnation

For summertime exposure to unclean qi leading to summerheat gastric disturbance,with abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and a thick, greasy, yellow tongue coating

Dosage: 3-6g

Contraindications: Not used for debilitated patients who sweat profusely or forthose with ascendant liver yang


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Zhi zi (Capejasmine fruit)

Categories: herbs that clear heat Taste and Property: Bitter and cold

Meridian Tropism: Heart, lung, stomach and Triple Jiao

Actions: Purge fire to relieve restlessness, Clear heat and draindampness, Cool blood and remove toxic materials

Applications For restlessness, an oppression feeling and fidget in febrile disease with Dan

Dou Chi,

For restlessness, coma and delirium due to high fever in febrile disease,

Used for accumulation of damp heat in the liver and the gallbladder markedby jaundice, fever and scanty dark urine

Used for hemoptysis, epistaxis or hematuria due to blood heat

Subdue swelling and reducing pain: For external use.

Dosage: 3-10g.

Contraindications: Spleen deficiency with diarrhea


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Shen Qu (Medicated Leaven)

Categories: herbs that relieve food stagnation

Taste and Property: Sweet, pungent and warm

Meridian Tropism: Spleen and stomach

Actions: Promote digestion and harmonize function of the stomach

Applications: Indigestion marked by fullness in the epigastrium and abdomen,

poor appetite, borborygmus and diarrhea

Dosage: 6-15g


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Formulas

Si Ni San, Chai Hu Shu Gan San FS: pp 145-

146

Xiao Yao San, Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San, Hei

Xiao Yao San FS: pp 147-149


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Frigid Extremities Powder (si

ni san)

Categories: formulas that harmonize

Ingredients: chai hu, Zhi shi, Bai shao, Zhigan cao


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Actions and indications of the formula

Actions Harmonize and release Lesser Yang-Stage Disorders

Indications Cold fingers and toes (although the body is warm),

sometimes accompanied by a sensation of irritability andfullness in the chest and epigastrium. A red tongue with ayellow coating, and a wiry pulse.

There may also be abdominal pain and/or severe diarrhea.Hypochondriac pain and distention, epigastric pain andfullness, a bitter taste in the mouth, belching, reduced

appetite, and a wiry forceful pulse due to liver qi stagnationinvading spleen


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Analysis of Formula

Chief: Chai hu

Release the constraint and vent heat. Deputy: Zhi shi

Remove stagnation

Assistant: Bai shao

Nourish liver and preserve yin

Envoy: Zhi gan cao Harmonize and relieve pain


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Modern application and modifications

Modern application

Chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer

Hepatitis

Fibrocystic breasts

Modifications

Chai hu shu gan san : Add chen pi, chuan xiong,

xiang fu, substitute zhi shi with zhi ke.


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Attention

Differentiation of Jue syndrome which is

marked by loss of consciousness or/and

coldness of the extremities.


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Rambling Powder (xiao yao

san)Categories: formulas that harmonize

Ingredients: Chai hu, Dang gui, Bai zhu, Bai

shao, Fu ling, Zhi gan cao


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Actions and indications of the formula

Actions Spread liver qi, strengthen spleen, and nourish blood

Indications Hypochondriac pain, headache, vertigo, a bitter taste in

mouth, dry mouth and throat, fatigue, poor appetite, pale-red tongue, a wiry deficient pulse.


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Analysis of Formula

Chief: Chai hu Soothe liver.

Deputy: Bai shao, dang gui Nourish liver blood and preserve yin

Assistant: Fu ling, Bai zhu Tonify spleen

Envoy: Zhi gan cao, wei jiang, bo he Zhi gan cao: harmonize and relieve pain

Wei jiang: harmonize stomach

Bo he: relieve liver constraint and disperse heat


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Modern application and modifications

Modern application Irregular menstruation

PMS

Chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer

Mental problems

Modifications Jia wei xiao yao san: add dan pi, zhi zi

For liver qi stagnation with spleen deficiency that transforms into heat

Irritability, a short temper, tidal fever and sweating, red eyes, drymouth, palpitations, lower abdominal pressure, difficult, painfulurination, an increased menstrual flow,

Hei xiao yao san: add sheng di huang or shu di huang For liver qi stagnation, spleen deficiency, blood deficiency

For the same presentation as xiao yao san, but with more severeblood deficiency characterized by premenstrual cramps or excessivemenstrual bleeding, and a wiry, deficient or wiry, rapid pulse

F l C i


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Formula Comparisons

between Chai hu shu gan san and Xiao yao

sanFormula Chai hu shu gan san Xiao yao san

Ingredient Chai hu, Bai shao, Zhi gan cao

Chen pi, Zhi ke,Chuan xiong, Xiang fu Bai zhu, dang gui,Fu ling,

Wei jiang, Bo he

Actions Spread liver qi

Harmonize blood and

alleviate pain

Strengthen spleen and

nourish blood

Documents

Herbs that Harmonize Liver and Spleen