The normal functioning of the body's various physiological activities relies on the sufficiency of qi, blood, and body fluids, as well as their proper circulation within the meridians and internal organs.
Qi and blood reach everywhere in the body. Once blockages occur, qi movement becomes stagnant, dampness accumulates, and blood flow becomes sluggish, leading to corresponding discomfort symptoms in the body.
When the spleen is obstructed, it manifests as heaviness in the body and easy fatigue; when the liver is obstructed, it causes fullness and discomfort in the chest and ribs, as well as abdominal bloating; when the blood vessels are obstructed, pain occurs wherever the blockage is located.
Today, we will use a traditional Chinese patent medicine, Chaihu Shugan Wan, to explain the mechanisms behind three typical types of "blockage" in the body and how to unblock these "blockages" throughout the entire body.
一
The Manifestations of "Blockage" in the Three Major Internal Transportation Hubs
1. Spleen obstruction generates dampness—waterway blockage
The spleen governs transportation and transformation serving as the hub for water and dampness processing It is responsible for converting ingested food and fluids into essential nutrients from food and water and distributing them throughout the body
If the spleen's ability to transport and transform declines, it is like a major paralysis of the waterway hub, where water stagnates and becomes blocked, and "water" accumulates into "dampness."
Typical symptoms of spleen obstruction and dampness: heaviness in the body, weakness in the limbs, and lack of energy.
2. Liver Stagnation and Bloating - Airway Obstruction
The liver is the central hub of the body's qi movement, governing dispersion and favoring smooth flow, managing the ascent, descent, entry, and exit of qi.
If liver qi is not flowing smoothly, the pivotal mechanism of qi movement "goes on strike," causing qi to become "stuck" in place and unable to move, leading to "qi stagnation." This can result in sensations of fullness in the chest, flanks, abdomen, and breasts, low mood or irritability, a tendency to sigh, and due to impaired ascending and descending functions, stagnation of qi in the throat may cause symptoms such as a persistent sensation of a foreign body in the throat.
3. Blood Stasis Pain - Vessel Blockage
Qi is the commander of blood. When qi movement is stagnant and unable to propel the normal circulation of blood, blood flow slows down or even stagnates, leading to the formation of local "blood stasis." This manifests as pain and tenderness at the blocked site, dark complexion and lips, susceptibility to spots, tendency to develop thyroid nodules, possible breast hyperplasia or uterine fibroids in women, and localized varicose veins in the body.
二
One through, all through
Classic Chinese Patent Medicine Chaihu Shugan Powder
The corresponding Chinese patent medicine is: Chaihu Shugan Wan
If the "traffic roads" of qi, blood, and body fluids are all "blocked," how can such complex problems be resolved? Is there a comprehensive formula that can address all these issues? The answer is yes.
Today we will take a classic prescription: Chaihu Shugan Wan to see how it achieves the effects of soothing the liver and regulating qi, strengthening the spleen and dispelling dampness, promoting blood circulation and relieving pain.
Composition
Bupleurum, Tangerine Peel (stir-fried with vinegar), Chuanxiong, Cyperus, Bitter Orange (stir-fried with bran), Peony, Prepared Licorice Root
Fang Jie
This formula originates from the Jingyue Quanshu by the renowned Ming dynasty physician Zhang Jingyue, featuring an ingenious composition designed to unblock the "blockages" throughout the body.
Monarch drug——Bupleurum:The top warrior for soothing the liver and regulating qi, like a commander, oversees the overall situation, powerfully restoring the liver's dispersing function, allowing the stagnant qi to flow freely again. It resolves issues caused by liver stagnation.
Assistant Drug——Cyperus Rhizome, Bitter Orange, Dried Tangerine PeelThree qi-moving herbs are like three turbochargers, moving qi and resolving stagnation from different directions and meridians to enhance the power of the sovereign herb.
Cyperus rotundus is known as the "commander of qi disorders." When combined with Bupleurum, its medicinal effects directly target the liver to relieve liver qi stagnation. Additionally, it can regulate the qi of all twelve meridians, excelling at resolving qi stagnation throughout the body. Citrus aurantium acts like an axe, breaking through the constraints of qi movement, dispersing stagnant qi, eliminating accumulation, and relieving distension in the middle burner.
Tangerine Peel regulates qi and strengthens the spleen, dries dampness and resolves phlegm, while promoting qi flow, it enhances the spleen's transportation and transformation, reducing the generation of dampness.
Assistant Drug——Chuanxiong.Chuanxiong is the "Qi-regulating herb in the blood" and a representative drug of "Qi as the commander of blood." It can promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, as well as regulate Qi and relieve depression, making it a key herb for resolving pain caused by blood stasis.
Guiding Medicinal – White Peony Root, Prepared Licorice Root.Harmonize all medicines; roasted licorice combined with white peony is the famous Peony and Licorice Decoction, which nourishes liver yin, softens the liver and nourishes blood, and relieves pain.
Licorice has a sweet taste and warm nature, it strengthens the spleen and boosts qi, alleviates urgency and relieves pain. When used together, these two herbs harmonize the liver and spleen, generate and transform yin fluids, achieving the effect of relaxing tendons and relieving pain.
Conclusion
Chaihu Shugan Pills focus on soothing and promoting smooth flow, relieving liver qi stagnation to alleviate liver congestion and bloating. Combined with strengthening the spleen and dispelling dampness, they address spleen congestion and dampness accumulation, while enhancing blood circulation and removing stasis to resolve blood stagnation and pain. The pharmacological mechanism is clear.
The combination of these herbs works to soothe the liver and gallbladder, strengthen the spleen and stomach, and resolve blood stasis. The entire formula promotes the smooth flow of qi and blood, harmonizes all meridians, and clears blockages throughout the body, leaving you feeling light and unburdened!
