Plum Flower - Soothe Liver Teapills (Shu Gan Wan)

What is Plum Flower - Soothe Liver Teapills (Shu Gan Wan):

Plum Flower - Soothe Liver Teapills (Shu Gan Wan) is a Chinese Herbal Medicine formula designed to move stagnated Liver qi and regulate the Stomach. This formula may be helpful to alleviate the following general symptoms of Liver qi stagnation*, such as:

• Abdominal pain and/or bloating (when not due solely to food stagnation)
• hypochondriac pain (i.e. pain (often sharp) just below the rib cage or in the flanks)
• gastric "disturbances" of one sort or another-- heartburn, acid reflux, poor digestion, irregular bowel movements etc...
• expressions of "blocked" emotions, such as frustration, anxiety, irritability, sleeplessness etc...
• gynnecological complaints (i.e. PMS symptomology, although Shu Gan Wan is specifically formulated for complaints that center around dysregulation of the Stomach-- see below))

In TCM theory, the Liver and the Stomach are related to each other. One function of the Liver is to regulate (or move) qi throughout the entire body. When this function is blocked and Liver qi stagnates, it can "spill over" and lead to a condition known as "Liver attacking Spleen/Stomach". In these cases, the excess of qi goes into the Spleen and Stomach as causes imbalances that may present with such additional symptoms* as:

• acid reurgitation/GERD
• gastric upset (perhaps "queasiness") and nausea
• vomiting
• excessive belching (note that a foul smell points to food stagnation)

Plum Flower Soothe Liver Teapills (Shu Gan Wan) is indicated for this condition of "Liver attacking Spleen and Stomach" in which both sets of symptoms are presenting simultaneously (i.e. some of the general symptoms of Liver qi stagnation and gastric disturbances of some sort). Practitioner note: Shu Gan Wan treats patterns of pure excess (it contains 6 herbs that move Liver qi and blood and 10 herbs that descend Stomach qi and damp). Mixed patterns may be better addressed by Chai Hu Shu Gan Wan, which is a broad purpose formula to address Liver qi and blood imbalances. Patterns with food stagnation as a root cause call for a formula like Bao He Wan to properly address. Follow this link to Dr Jake Fratkin's website to read the full article on this subject.

Herbal Ingredients found in Plum Flower Soothe Liver Teapills (Shu Gan Wan)

• Xiang Fu – Nutgrass Rhizome – Rhizoma Cyperi (vinegar-fried)
• Bai Shao – White Peony Root – Radix Paeoniae Alba (wine-fried)
• Chai Hu – Bupleurum – Radix Bupleuri
• Zhi Ke – Bitter Orange – Fructus Aurantii (bran-fried)
• Qing Pi – Immature Citrus Peel – Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride
• Chen Pi – Tangerine Peel – Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae
• Sha Ren – Amomum – Fructus Amomi
• Hou Po – Magnolia Bark – Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis
• Yan Hu Suo – Corydalis – Rhizoma Corydalis
• Mu Dan Pi – Tree Peony Root Bark – Cortex Moutan
• Xiang Yuan – Citrus Fruit – Fructus Citri
• Gan Cao – Licorice Root – Radix Glycyrrhizae
• Mu Xiang – Costus Root – Radix Aucklandiae
• Pian jiang huang -- (Curcuma wenyujin rhizome)
• Fo Shou – Citrus Sarcodactylus – Fructus Citri Sarcodactylis
• Chen Xiang – Aquilaria – Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum
• Bai Dou Kou – Amomum – Fructus Amomi Rotundus
• Tan Xiang – Sandalwood – Lignum Santali Albi

Other Ingredients: Dextrin, Hydrated magnesium silicate, China wax Zhi ke is stir-fried with wheat bran. While the bran is sifted out during processing, it does contain traces of wheat.

Dosage Instructions for Plum Flower - Soothe Liver Teapills (Shu Gan Wan)

8 pills, 3 x per day Amount: 200 Teapills (160mg each) per bottle. Contraindicated during pregnancy. Zhi Ke is stir-fried with wheat bran. While the bran is sifted out during processing, it does contain traces of wheat.