Chinese medicine prescriptions for regulating the liver and spleen

Many sub-health conditions can be treated with Chinese medicine. For example, liver and spleen problems can be slowly treated with Chinese medicine. When liver and spleen problems occur, there are often symptoms of chest tightness and shortness of breath. Women may also have symptoms of dysmenorrhea and endocrine disorders. The Chinese herbal prescriptions for regulating the liver and spleen should be selected according to one's actual situation, such as the method of dispersing Qi and relieving middle pain, the method of calming the stomach and relieving adverse effects, and the method of warming the meridians and harmonizing the blood.

1. TCM Methods for Regulating the Liver and Spleen

The method of relieving qi and tonifying the middle: used for chest tightness, warming the body, and frequent flatulence. Medicines such as Cyperus rotundus, dried tangerine peel, Citrus aurantium, and Citrus hand.

The method of descending qi and calming the adverse symptoms: used for asthma. Medicines such as agarwood, sandalwood, lindera strychnifolia, and tangerine peel.

Heavy tranquilizing and relieving method: used for hiccups due to stomach deficiency and upward flow of qi. Medicines such as hematite and magnetite.

Method of regulating the liver and spleen: used for stagnation of liver and spleen qi. Medicines such as Angelica sinensis, White Peony Root, Bupleurum Root, Atractylodes Macrocephala, and Poria cocos.

Qi-moving and blood-stasis-removing method: used for women with dysmenorrhea, with small amounts of blood stasis. Medicines such as Chuanxiong, Safflower, Leonurus japonicus, and Cyperus rotundus.

Warming the meridians and harmonizing the blood: used for cold in the blood and late menstruation. Medicines such as angelica, moxa, and cinnamon.

2. How to regulate the liver and spleen

1. Sini San

It is a classic prescription in the Treatise on Febrile Diseases. The composition of the medicinal ingredients is relatively simple, with four herbs: bupleurum, immature bitter orange, peony root, and liquorice. It is mainly used to soothe the liver and regulate the spleen. The saying "When seeing a liver disease, know that the liver will pass it to the spleen, so the spleen should be strengthened first" is aimed at this pathogenesis. Sini San has the function of regulating the liver and spleen. In this prescription, Bupleurum chinense soothes the liver, regulates qi and raises yang, while Citrus aurantium regulates qi, harmonizes the stomach and eliminates abdominal distension. Combined with white peony root and liquorice, they soften the liver, replenish deficiency and strengthen the spleen. This classic combination of herbs is used for some symptoms of liver and spleen diseases and has a wide range of applications.

2. Chaihu Shugan San

There is also a classic prescription called Chaihu Shugan San, which is based on Sini San but without the bitter orange peel. Instead, it adds dried tangerine peel, bitter orange peel, cyperus rotundus, and Chuanxiong. It increases the effects of dried tangerine peel and bitter orange peel in regulating qi and relieving stomach pain, while cyperus rotundus is added to soothe the liver, regulate qi, and relieve pain, while Chuanxiong is added to promote qi and blood circulation to relieve pain. In this way, the effects of Chaihu Shugan San in soothing the liver, promoting qi, regulating qi, and relieving pain are more prominent. This prescription can be used to treat any stagnation of qi in the liver, gallbladder, spleen, and stomach.