ER XIAN TANG (BP041) Epimedium & Curculigo Complex

Indication

This is an ingeniously designed modern formulation. It was developed by doctors at the Shuguang Hospital of the Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in order to treat hypertension occurring in menopausal women. Not only was it shown to be effective for this disorder but it also has the side effect of reducing hot flushes, for which it is now commonly used.

The pathogenesis of hot flushes in menopause is complex and may include: Kidney Yin deficiency, Kidney Yang deficiency, Kidney Qi deficiency and Spleen Qi deficiency. The former syndrome leads to Yang hyperactivity, whereas the latter three may lead to ‘stirring’ of the Ministerial Fire (the Fire of the Life Gate), which is normally stored in the lower Jiao. Frequently, several (if not all) of these syndromes may occur concurrently.

This elegant and simple formula addresses Kidney Yang deficiency or Kidney Qi deficiency together with the Fire that may arise as a consequence.

The synergistic actions of the herbs are as follows:

Epimedium herb (yin yang huo), Curculigo rhizome (xian mao), Eucommia stem bark (du zhong), Morinda officinalis, root (ba ji tian): warm-tonify the Kidney Yang and enrich the Kidney Essence, also (to a lesser degree) nourish the Kidney Yin

Angelica polymorpha, root (dang-gui): nourishes the Blood to protect the Kidney Yin from the warming action of the above herbs, regulates the Chong and Ren Channels

Phellodendron stem bark (huang bai), Anemarrhena rhizome (zhi mu): reduce Fire from deficiency

Angelica polymorpha, root (dang-gui), Anemarrhena rhizome (zhi mu): prevent the warming herbs from damaging the Body Fluids

Signs & Symptoms:

Menopausal hot flushes and dysphoria

Menopausal hypertension

Irritability

Night sweats

Insomnia

Combinations:

Menopausal syndrome, alternating hot flashes and chills:

XIAO CHAI HU WAN

Menopausal syndrome, dysphoria and emotional volatility:

WEN DAN TANG

GAN MAI DA ZAO WAN (Jia Wei)

Menopausal syndrome, insomnia or sleep disturbance:

AN SHEN DING ZHI WAN

WEN DAN TANG

Menopausal syndrome, Kidney Yang deficiency:

FU GUI BA WEI WAN

TAO HONG SI WU WAN

YOU GUI WAN

Menopausal syndrome, Kidney Yin deficiency:

ZUO GUI WAN

QI BAO MEI RAN DAN (Jia Wei)

TAO HONG SI WU WAN

Menopausal syndrome, severe hot flushes:

JIA WEI XIAO YAO SAN

ZHI BAI BA WEI WAN

TCM Syndromes: Deficiency of the Kidney Qi, Deficiency of the Kidney Essence, Fire due to deficiency.

TCM Actions: Tonifies the Kidney and enriches the Kidney Essence, reduces deficiency Fire, regulates the Chong and the Ren Channels.