Xiaoyao Powder is one of the most commonly used prescriptions for depression over the years.
Xiaoyao Powder was first seen in the prescription manual of state-owned pharmacies in the Song Dynasty - Taiping Huimin Hejijufang. Taiping Huimin Hejijufang was an authoritative prescription book covering internal medicine, surgery, gynecology and pediatrics compiled by the Imperial Medical Bureau of the Song Dynasty after collecting folk prescriptions. It was not only the drug preparation specification of the pharmacy at that time, but also the most famous prescription for patent medicine since the Song Dynasty.
Many prescriptions are "experienced prescriptions" with real clinical effects in folk medicine, such as Siwu Decoction, Sijunzi Decoction, Xiaoyao Powder, Zhibao Pill, etc., which are still used as standard prescriptions today. Xiaoyao Powder is composed of Bupleurum, Angelica, White Peony, Atractylodes, Poria, stewed ginger, mint, and roasted licorice.
Bupleurum is the main drug, which can soothe the liver and relieve liver depression, and is also the guiding drug for the liver meridian. The assistant drug is Angelica dahurica, which can nourish blood, replenish the liver, and regulate blood stasis.
Bupleurum and white peony root are used together, one to soothe the liver and the other to soften the liver. Bupleurum, the main herb, soothes the liver, regulates qi and relieves depression. Bupleurum and white peony root are almost a fixed combination. The sour taste of white peony root enters the liver, nourishes blood and nourishes yin, softens the liver and relieves urgency. Here, Bupleurum is mainly used to soothe the liver, while white peony root is mainly used to soften the liver; this is in line with the physiological characteristics of "the liver is yin in nature and uses yang". Angelica dahurica also mainly enters the liver. It can both replenish blood and activate blood circulation. When paired with white peony root, it has the effects of nourishing blood and softening the liver, relieving pain, etc.
Atractylodes macrocephala and Poria cocos are representative herbs for tonifying the spleen. "The spleen likes dryness and hates moisture." Both of these herbs can tonify the spleen, one for drying moisture and the other for penetrating moisture, which is in line with the physiological characteristics of the spleen; ginger warms the stomach and harmonizes the middle, helps strengthen the spleen, and at the same time conforms to the trend of soothing the liver, because ginger is dispersing in nature; mint is cool in nature, not only can it soothe the liver, but also can disperse liver heat.
Prescription composition roles (lord, minister, assistant, envoy)
Bupleurum soothes the liver and relieves depression; Angelica sinensis and white peony root nourish blood and soften the liver, and when used together with bupleurum, they can both soothe and nourish, making the liver qi flow smoothly and harmonizing qi and blood; Atractylodes macrocephala and Poria cocos invigorate qi and strengthen the spleen; add a little mint to help bupleurum soothe the liver and relieve depression, and then use dried ginger to harmonize the stomach; liquorice harmonizes all the medicines.
Lord: Bupleurum
Minister: Peony, Angelica
Made by: Licorice
To summarize: Bupleurum can relieve liver qi and depression; Angelica sinensis and white peony root can nourish blood and soften liver; Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos, and roasted licorice root can strengthen spleen and replenish qi, and remove dampness; stewed ginger can reduce adverse effects, harmonize the stomach, and relieve depression; peppermint can help Bupleurum to relieve liver qi and penetrate the liver meridian to remove heat. Roasted licorice root, combined with white peony root, can also relieve liver urgency and harmonize all the medicines.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the liver likes to be smooth and hates depression. It is the organ that stores blood, and is yin in nature but uses yang. If the emotions are not smooth, the liver wood cannot be smooth, and the liver loses its softness, resulting in liver depression and blood deficiency. The foot Jueyin liver meridian "spreads along the ribs, along the back of the throat, goes up to the cheekbones, connects to the eye ligaments, goes up to the forehead, and meets the Du meridian at the top."
When the liver is depressed and blood is deficient, pain in the limbs, headache and dizziness will occur; depression will turn into fire, so the mouth and throat will be dry. Diseases of the liver wood are easy to spread to the spleen, and spleen and stomach deficiency will cause fatigue and loss of appetite. The liver stores blood and is responsible for dispersing and discharging. When the liver is depressed and blood is deficient and the spleen is weak, women often experience irregular menstruation and breast swelling and pain. The treatment should be to relieve liver depression, nourish blood and strengthen spleen.
Xiaoyao Powder is a classic Chinese medicine prescription for treating liver, gallbladder, spleen, stomach and mental diseases. It has the advantages of no obvious adverse reactions and is widely used in the treatment of various diseases in modern clinical practice. When using it, the severity of the three symptoms of blood deficiency, liver depression and spleen weakness should be considered to increase or decrease the dosage of the medicine for symptomatic treatment.
The angelica root in the formula is pungent, sweet, bitter and warm, which nourishes blood and harmonizes the pulse. It is combined with the sour and bitter peony root to nourish blood, nourish yin and soften the liver. It is supplemented with Poria cocos and Atractylodes macrocephala to strengthen the spleen and aid digestion. Bupleurum and mint soothe liver depression and disperse liver heat. Roasted ginger (simmered ginger) warms the stomach and harmonizes the middle. Roasted licorice nourishes the middle and harmonizes the other medicines. After taking it, the liver qi is soothed, the blood deficiency is nourished, the spleen weakness is restored, the five internal organs are unobstructed and the mood is happy, so it is named "Xiaoyao Powder". When using it, refer to the severity of the three symptoms of blood deficiency, liver depression and spleen weakness to increase or decrease the dosage:
1. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that anxiety is related to visceral diseases such as the liver, spleen, and kidney. Long-term liver qi stagnation and qi and blood stagnation can lead to excessive anxiety. Treatment should focus on soothing the liver and regulating qi, softening and dispersing nodules, etc. Danhua Xiaoyao Powder is based on Xiaoyao Powder with lily of the valley and peony bark added. It can nourish blood and strengthen the spleen, soothe the liver, relieve depression and clear heat. It has obvious anti-anxiety, hypnotic and sedative and analgesic effects, can effectively relieve anxiety symptoms, improve patients' sleep quality, and shorten treatment time.
With the continuous development of traditional Chinese medicine, the use of effective natural drugs instead of chemical drugs to treat depression has gradually become a new trend. Commonly used traditional Chinese medicine compound prescriptions for the treatment of depression include Xiaoyao Powder, Kaixin Powder, Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction, etc. Among them, Xiaoyao Powder is one of the most widely used compound prescriptions. Studies have shown that Xiaoyao Powder exerts its anti-depressant effect through the combination of Bupleurum, White Peony Root, Angelica Root, Atractylodes Macrocephala, Licorice, etc.
2. Gynecological diseases Perimenopausal syndrome refers to a series of syndromes in which women experience typical autonomic nervous system dysfunction symptoms such as sweating, hot flashes, panic and palpitations before and after menopause, accompanied by neuropsychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression. It belongs to the categories of "premenopausal and postmenopausal syndrome", "depression" and "irritability" in traditional Chinese medicine.
3. The cause of breast cancer is "depression hurts the liver, worry hurts the spleen, and those who have too much desire in their heart and cannot achieve their wishes will have the meridians stagnation and agglomeration into a nucleus" ("Surgery Authentic"). On the basis of Xiaoyao Powder, add Prunella Vulgaris to clear away heat and disperse the agglomeration, and Raw Oyster to calm the liver, disperse the agglomeration and stop the milk; if the five hearts are hot and the tongue is red and dry, add Raw Rehmannia glutinosa, Ophiopogon japonicus, and Schisandra chinensis; if the liver is depressed and phlegm is condensed, add Pinellia ternata , Trillium or raw oyster to soothe the liver and relieve depression, clear stagnation and resolve phlegm; if premenstrual pain worsens, accompanied by low back pain, fatigue, and menstrual disorders, add Angelica sinensis and Anemarrhena asphodeloides; breast and nipple swelling and pain are caused by liver depression and qi stagnation, and qi movement is not smooth. It is advisable to add costus root and Corydalis to promote qi and relieve pain. Those with pale complexion, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and fatigue during menstruation should add Millettia reticulata, Angelica sinensis and other drugs.
The source of Xiaoyao Powder: Taiping Huimin and Jiju Fang
Prescription for Xiaoyao Powder: 2 grams of roasted licorice, 4 grams of white peony root, 4 grams of angelica root, 4 grams of Poria cocos, 4 grams of Atractylodes macrocephala, 4 grams of Bupleurum chinense, 4 grams of simmered ginger, and 2 grams of mint (daily drink amount is 28 grams).
Xiaoyao Powder's efficacy: soothing the liver and relieving depression, nourishing blood and strengthening the spleen
Indications of Xiaoyao Powder:
1. Blood deficiency, fatigue, dizziness, irregular menstruation, fatigue and poor appetite.
2. This prescription regulates mental activity, promotes digestion and absorption, and reduces fever. It is used for schizophrenia, depression, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, menopausal syndrome, chronic hepatitis, cholelithiasis, optic neuritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, papillitis, chronic thyroiditis, irregular menstruation, infertility, leucorrhea, eczema, and palmar keratosis.
Usage and dosage of Xiaoyao Powder: Take three times a day with warm water
Taboos/Warnings of Xiaoyaosan: Avoid spicy, raw and cold food.
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding precautions for Xiaoyaosan: Use according to doctor's instructions