HERB FORMULAS

SHAO YAO GAN CAO TANG - 芍藥甘草湯 - PEONY AND LICORICE COMBINATION

English: Peony and Licorice Decoction
Also Known As: Peony and Licorice Combination
Decoction of Paeoniae and Glycyrrhizae

HERBS AND ACTIONS

Pharmaceutical Latin
Pin Yin
Dosage
Actions
Rx. Paeoniae Alba

 

Bai Shao 6-30g Nourishes the Blood, preserves Yin, softens the Liver and alleviates pain.
With Bai Shao, Regulates the Liver and Spleen and nourishes the sinews.
With Zhi Gan Cao for abdominal pain due to disharmony between the Liver and Stomach and muscle spasms, especially in the calf, due to Blood Deficiency.
Rx. Glycyrrhizae Preparata Zhi Gan Cao 6-20g Tonifies and augments the Qi of the Middle Jiao, especially that of the Spleen.

FORMULA ACTIONS

  • Softens the Liver
  • Nourishes the Blood
  • Nourishes Yin
  • Moderates painful spasms
  • Relieves pain
  • Harmonizes the Middle Jiao
  • Replenishes Body Fluids

SYNDROMES

  • Pain in the calves with Blood Deficiency or injury to fluids
  • Cramps in the hands and abdominal pain that improves with pressure
  • Insufficiency of Yin and Yang
  • Disharmony between the Liver and Spleen

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

  • Abdominal pain
  • Irritability
  • Slight chills
  • Spasms of the calf muscles
  • Cramps in the hands
  • Weak legs
  • Hypertonicity of the extremities characterized by difficult flexion and extension
  • Wheezing
  • Coughing
  • Hiccup
  • Constipation
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Sciatic pain
  • Severe and painful muscle spasms in the Stomach, bronchi, Gallbladder and uterus. Intestines
  • Shoulder pain
  • Pain in the head, body or limbs due to arterial spasms characterized by a severe pulling pain
  • T: Normal or Reddish
  • C: None or Yellowish
  • P: Wiry and rapid or Thready and rapid

TREATS

CONTRAINDICATIONS AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Use caution for those with hypertension.
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS
  • This formula may be effective in treating schizophrenia patients with neuroleptic-induced hyperprolactinemia.
  • This formula has been shown to decrease paclitaxel-induced myalgia/arthralgia.
  • This formula has been shown to be effective in treating menopausal symptoms induced by gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists without a negative effect on serum estradiol levels.

NOTES

  • Some say the dosage between Peony and Licorice should be two to one.

MODIFICATIONS

For fixed pain that increases with pressure: For a slow pulse and other signs of Cold:
- Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao + Rz. Zingiberis Gan Jiang
+ Rx. Paeoniae Rubra Chi Shao
For a flooding pulse and other signs of heat:
To increase the effectiveness of the in treating spasms of the calf muscles:
+ Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian
+ Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae Niu Xi
For abdominal pain:
+ Fr. Chaenomelis Mu Gua + Rz. Cyperi Xiang Fu
For Wind rash:
For spasms of the extremities and stiff neck and back associated with encephalitis, after the fever has broken:
+ Per. Cicadae Chan Tui + Scorpio Quan Xie
+ Fr. Jujube Da Zao + Scolopendra Wu Gong
+ Fr. Kochiae Di Fu Zi
For spasms and cramps of the extremities:
For dysuria:
+ Hb. Asari Xi Xin
+ Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu + Rz. Zingiberis Gan Jiang
+ Poria Fu Ling
For back pain:
For neck and shoulder pain:
+ Cx. Eucommiae Du Zhong
+ Rx. Puerariae Ge Gen + Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae Niu Xi
or
 + Rz. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo
+ Kudzu Decoction
Ge Gen Tang
For severe pain:
For bone fractures:
+ Rz. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo
+ Olibanum Ru Xiang
For dysmenorrhea:
+ Myrrh Mo Yao + Rz. Cyperi Xiang Fu
or
+ Sudden Smile Powder
Shi Xiao San
+ Purple and Gold Pill for Righteous Bones
Zheng Gu Zi Jin Dan
For pain from Kidney stones:
For fibromyalgia due to Qi and Blood Stagnation:
+ Polyporus Decoction
Zhu Ling Tang
+ Tonify Yang to Restore Five-Tenths Decoction
Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang
+ Spora Lygodii Hai Jin Sha
+ Hb. Lysimachiae Jin Qian Cao
+ Drive Out Blood Stasis from a Painful Body Decoction
Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang  
 + Endothelium Corneum Gigeriae Galli Ji Nei Jin
For systremma:
For acute back pain:
+ Ram. Cinnamomi Gui Zhi + 6g Rx. Notoginseng San Qi
+ Fr. Chaenomelis Mu Gua
For chronic atrophic gastritis:
For chronic atrophic gastritis with epigastric burning and pain:
 - Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao
+ 24g Rx. Paeoniae Rubra Chi Shao
- Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao
+ 24g Rx. Paeoniae Rubra Chi Shao
For chronic atrophic gastritis with thirst:
- Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao
+ Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian + 24g Rx. Paeoniae Rubra Chi Shao
+ Cx. Moutan Mu Dan Pi
For chronic atrophic gastritis with hypochondriac fullness and pain:
 + Rx. Trichosanthis Tian Hua Fen
For chronic atrophic gastritis with distention and pain after meals:
- Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao
+ 24g Rx. Paeoniae Rubra Chi Shao - Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao
+ 24g Rx. Paeoniae Rubra Chi Shao
+ Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin
+ Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu + Pollen Typhae Pu Huang
For chronic atrophic gastritis with insomnia and irritability:
 + Faeces Trogopterori Wu Ling Zhi
For chronic atrophic gastritis with belching:
- Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao - Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao
+ 24g Rx. Paeoniae Rubra Chi Shao + 24g Rx. Paeoniae Rubra Chi Shao
+ Sm. Zizyphi Spinosae Suan Zao Ren + Flos Inulae Xuan Fu Hua
+ Cx. Moutan Mu Dan Pi + Haematitum Dai Zhe Shi
For colitis:
For colitis with Cold-Damp:
+ Per. Zanthoxyli Chuan Jiao + Per. Zanthoxyli Chuan Jiao
+ Caulis Sargentodoxae Hong Teng + Caulis Sargentodoxae Hong Teng
For colitis with Damp-Heat:
+ Fr. Evodiae Wu Zhu Yu
+ Per. Zanthoxyli Chuan Jiao + Rz. Zingiberis Preparata Pao Jiang
+ Caulis Sargentodoxae Hong Teng
+ Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian
For colitis with constipation:
+ Sm. Coicis Yi Yi Ren + Per. Zanthoxyli Chuan Jiao
For colitis with hematochezia:
+ Caulis Sargentodoxae Hong Teng
+ Per. Zanthoxyli Chuan Jiao + Rx. et Rz. Rhei Da Huang
+ Caulis Sargentodoxae Hong Teng
For constipation with Qi Deficiency:
+ Fr. Mume Wu Mei + Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu
+ Flos Sophorae Huai Hua Mi
For constipation with Cold:
For cholecystitis with alternating fever and chills:
+ Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Zhi Fu Zi
+ Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu
For cholecystitis with constipation:
+ Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin
+ Rx. et Rz. Rhei Da Huang + Rx. Gentianae Long Dan Cao
+ Rx. Rehmanniae Sheng Di Huang
For cholecystitis with pain:
+ Rx. Scrophulariae Xuan Shen + Fr. Toosendan Chuan Lian Zi
For cholecystitis with a bitter taste in the mouth:
+ Rx. Curcumae Yu Jin
+ Rx. Trichosanthis Tian Hua Fen + Rz. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo
+ Cx. Moutan Mu Dan Pi
For cholecystitis with a poor appetite:
For cholecystitis with nausea and vomiting:
+ Fr. Hordei Germinatus Mai Ya
+ Hb. Agastaches Huo Xiang + Fr. Crataegi Shan Zha
+ Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam Zhu Ru
For cholecystitis with abdominal fullness:
+ Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis Hou Po
+ Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum Zhi Ban Xia
+ Fr. Aurantii Zhi Ke
For cholecystitis with parasites:
For cholecystitis with jaundice:
+ Fr. Mume Wu Mei +Hb. Artemisiae Scopariae Yin Chen
For urolithiasis:
+ Sm. Abutili/Malvae Dong Kui Zi + Fr. Aurantii Immaturus Zhi Ke
+ Talcum Hua Shi
For hyperosteogeny:
+ Sm. Plantaginis Che Qian Zi + Caulis Spatholobi Ji Xue Tang
For dysmenorrhea:
+ Rx. Clematidis Wei Ling Xian
+ Rz. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo
For perimenopause syndrome with uterine leiomyoma:
+ Rz. Cyperi Xiang Fu
or
+ Cinnamon Twig and Poria Pill
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
+ Tangkuei and Peony Powder
Dang Gui Shao Yao San
For cervical spondylosis with pain and contracture of the neck and arm muscles:
For impotence:
+ 12g Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui + 15g Fr. Chaenomelis Mu Gua
+ 10g Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata Shu Di Huang
+ 12g Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata Shu Di Huang
   
+ 9g Rz. Polygonati Huang Jing    
+ 9g Fr. Corni Shan Zhu Yu    
+ 9g Fr. Schisandrae Wu Wei Zi    
+ 6g Fr. Lycii Gou Qi Zi