Bupleurum and Peony Formula (jia wei xiao yao san)

Details of Bupleurum and Peony Formula
chai.hu.962 Bupleurum and Peony Formula (jia wei xiao yao san)

Bupleurum unsticks what is stuck.

All of the yummy goodness of Rambling Powder (Xiao Yao San) plus two herbs to “cool the blood”.

When the (Chinese concept of the) Liver is out of balance, its function of ensuring the free-flow of qi is compromised. This free-flow of qi is many neurological functions in biomedical terms. Where there is stagnation, there is often heat. The can cause one to get angry, frustrated, or give rise to PMS.

Alternative Names

  • jia wei xiao yao san
  • Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San
  • Modified Merry Life Powder
  • Modified Rambling Powder
  • Supplemented Free Wanderer Powder
  • bupleurum and paeonia formula
  • Bupleurum and Peony Formula
  • chia wei hsiao yao san
  • kami syoyo san
  • kamishoyosan
  • TJ 24; TJ-24; TJ24
  • jia-wei-xiao-yao-san
  • kami-shoyo-san
  • kami-soyo-san
  • kamisyoyo-san
  • Kami-shōyō-san
  • 加味逍遙散
  • かみしょうようさん
  • jiā wèi xiāo yáo wán
  • 加味逍遙丸

Benefits

  • regulates the emotions in those with symptoms that are aggravated by stress or menstrual cycle
  • cools temporary hot flashes
  • calms restlessness, frustration, or impatience in those who are easily angered. Don’t hurt your neck nodding so vigorously, you know who you are. :)
  • regulates sleeping for those having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
  • relaxes neck and shoulder tension
  • regulates the menstrual cycle
  • supports vaginal health
  • relaxes pre-menstrual tension
  • supports bladder health.
  • supports pain-free flow of qi and blood

Ingredients

Chai Hu 柴胡 hare’s ear root, thorowax root, bupleurum Radix Bupleuri [caution]

Bo He 薄荷 field mint, mentha Herba Menthae Haplocalycis

  • Chai hu is the herb that helps move that Liver qi because qi stagnation can cause a dull aching beneath the ribs, on the flanks, or on the sides of the head in the case of migraine headaches. Bo he helps move this Liver qi, and it tastes good too.

Zhi Zi 梔子 cape jasmine fruit, gardenia Gardeniae Fructus

Mu Dan Pi 牡丹皮 moutan root bark, tree peony root bark Cortex Moutan Radicis

  • These are the two herbs that are added to Rambling Powder (Xiao Yao San). That’s why the original name of this formula was Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San, the “Dan” comes from Mu Dan Pi and the “Zhi” comes from Zhi Zi. They cool the Liver basically. When the Liver is hot, the heat rises to the Heart which disturbs the spirit, giving rise to impatience, frustrations, irritability, and restlessness.

Dang Gui 當歸 tangkuei, Chinese angelica root Radix Angelicae Sinensis [supports pregnancy]

Bai Shao 白芍 white peony root, peony Paeoniae Radix alba [supports pregnancy]

  • The two herbs above serve to nourish the blood and yin-fluids that keep the Liver lubricated and functioning harmoniously. When the Liver gets dry, the qi can stagnate, and that’s what this formula is treating, “Liver qi stagnation”.
  • Also, Chai hu is a drying herb which can damage the yin-fluids of the Liver, so Bai Shao is commonly used with Chai hu just to moderate this effect.

Zhi Gan Cao 炙甘草 licorice root Radix Glycyrrhizae prep.

  • Gan cao is commonly added to formulas to harmonize all the ingredients so they work gently without side-effects. The fact that this sweet herb (the literal translation of gan cao) is honey fried, it is mostly focused then on the functions of the Stomach because the two added herbs in this formula (zhi zi and mu dan pi) are capable of being too cold for the stomach.

Fu Ling 茯苓 sclerotium of tuckahoe, China root, hoelen, Indian bread Poria Cocos

Bai Zhu 白术 , bai shu ovate atractylodes, (white) atractylodes rhizome [supports pregnancy]

Wei Jiang 煨薑 roasted ginger rhizome Zingiberis Rhizoma

  • These three herbs (along with the zhi gan cao above) are used to prevent the Liver problems from spreading into the digestive functions which they commonly do. This formula strengthens the digestion while it prevents the Liver (nervous system) from causing problems in the digestive tract. Ginger prevents nausea too, which is a common effect of stress-induced Liver qi stagnation such as you might find with a migraine or excessive emotion.

Recommended for these body types:

avg.9.icon Bupleurum and Peony Formula (jia wei xiao yao san)

Balanced

sl.del.24.icon Bupleurum and Peony Formula (jia wei xiao yao san)

Slightly Delicate

Recommended for these thermal natures:

therm.ht Bupleurum and Peony Formula (jia wei xiao yao san)

Hot

therm.wm Bupleurum and Peony Formula (jia wei xiao yao san)

Warm

therm.neu Bupleurum and Peony Formula (jia wei xiao yao san)

Neutral

Adult Dosage

This formula can be used to support health with or without symptoms. If symptoms are present, take 1 level teaspoon of the powder (8 capsules) three times daily. When symptoms are not present, take 1/2 level teaspoon (4 capsules), two times daily. Empty stomach is best for efficient absorption, but not essential. [More...]

At this dosage, your order will last approximately this long (?):

  • 50 grams powder (capsules only): 4 to 14 days.
  • 100 grams powder (capsules or powder): 8 to 25 days
  • 200 grams powder (powder only): 19 to 56 days

Availability status: in stock

Order Bupleurum and Peony Formula
Stress-Induced Options
Additions for aches and pains
Modify for Headache
Digestives
Anxiety Modification

2 comments on “Bupleurum and Peony Formula (jia wei xiao yao san)

  1. Hi
    I am finishing my last year of chinese medecine. It might be a silly question but which herb do you use for headaches behind the eyes? I was told to add chuanxiong but i ve always been scared to use it when liver is aleeady hot, person also has tinnitus and dizzyness… Can you help me? Thanks! Love you website, the professionalism with the humour!

  2. Hi Anne,

    Good question

    Chuan xiong can be added to any formula where there is a headache. All of the headache options that I use are chuan xiong plus another herb. If the patient’s already got too much yang rising, that might call for a treatment principle that descends using herbs such as long dan cao or shi jue ming.

    But in the case of a hot liver with headaches behind the eyes, remember that this formula already has zhi zi and mu dan pi to cool the liver. Adding chuan xiong is okay, but you can also get by with just a pinch to help guide the effects upward to the head. Chuan xiong is a guiding herb that moves blood upward. I think of it as a blood-level equivalent of chai hu which lifts the qi such as it is used in bu zhong yi qi tang.

    For headaches behind the eyes, I use chuan xiong with bai shao, however since bai shao is already in this formula, I just add the chuan xiong.

    Good luck with your studies. Oh, and don’t expect the questions to end after you’re licensed, that’s when the best questions begin!

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