Chai Hu Shu Gan Wan Functional Groupings

• Primary Category: Harmonize
• Subcategory: Regulate and Harmonize the Liver and Spleen

Chai Hu

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Thorowax Root, Bupleurum

Usages

• Clears shao yang disorders and reduces fever - alternating chills and fever, bitter taste in the mouth, irritability, vomiting, stifling sensation in the chest.
• Relieves liver qi stagnation (often used with Bai Shao) - vertigo, menstrual disorders, chest and flank pain, the most common herb to treat stress, irritability, depression, etc.; also for liver and spleen disharmony - bloating, nausea, indigestion, flank pain.
• Raises yang qi in spleen and stomach deficiency patterns (often used with Sheng Ma) - prolapsed organ, diarrhea, hemorrhoids.

This formula has cautions, see details

Chen Pi

Tangerine Peel

Usages

• Regulates Qi, improves transportive function of the spleen, relieves diaphragm - epigastric/abdominal distention, fullness, bloating, belching, nausea, vomiting (promotes movement of qi in general; specifically directing it downward - good for different types of nausea/vomiting).
• Important herb for drying dampness and the transformation of phlegm - coughs with stifling sensation in the chest/diaphragm, and copious viscous sputum (qi-level herb).
• Prevents stagnation - prevents cloying of tonifying herbs.
• Ju Hong is the red part of the tangerine peel - it is more drying and aromatic.

Zhi Ke

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Ripe Fruit of Zhi Shi

Usages

• Milder actions - move qi and reduce distention (good for weak patients).

Zhi Gan Cao

Honey Fried Licorice Root

Usages

• This preparation increases the qi tonifying aspects of the heart and spleen along with its general harmonizing function within formulas.  See Gan Cao for complete information.