The source is from the immature fruit or its pericarp of Citrus reticuta Blanco, family Rutaceae. The fruit or its pericarp is collected during the period of May and June, dried in the sun. The crude or the one stir-baked with vinegar can be used.
Medicinal Properties Bitter and pungent in flavor, warm in nature and attributive to the liver, gallbladder and stomach meridians.

Actions Soothe the liver to break qi stagnation, eliminate mass and relieve dyspepsia.

Application

1. It is indicated for liver-qi stagnation manifested as hypochondriac distending pain, breast distending pain, and pain due to hernia. For treatment of hypochondriac pain, it is usually used in combination with Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri), Yujin (Radix Curcumae), etc. ; for swelling and pain due to breast abscess, usually combined with Gualou ( Fructus Trichosanthis ), Jinyinhua ( Flos Lonicerae ), Pugongying (Herba Taraxaci ), and Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae), etc. ; for hernia of cold type with abdominal pain, combined with Wuyao (Radix Linderae ), Xiaohuixiang ( Fructus Foeniculi), and Muxiang (Radix Aucklandiae), etc., to expel cold, regulate qi and relieve pain, such as Tiantai Wuyao San (Powder).

2. For distention and pain of the epigastrium due to indigestion, it is usually combined with Shanzha (Fructus Crataegi) , Maiya ( Fructus Hordei Germinatus ), and Shenqu (Massa Medicata Fermentata), etc., such as Qingpi Wan (Pill).
In addition, for abdominal mass due to qi stagnation and blood stasis, and malarial nodule, it is combined with Sanleng ( Rhizoma Sparganii ), Ezhu ( Rhizoma Zedoariae ) , and Yujin (Radix Curcumae ) , etc..

Usage and Dosage 3 - 10 g is used in decoction for oral use.

Notes Used with caution in the patient with qi deficiency since it has violent action to damage qi.

Xiangfu Rhizoma Cyperi

The source is from the rhizome of Cyperus rotundus L., family Cyperaceae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in the areas of Guangdong, Henan, and Sichuan, etc., collected during the period of December and October, dried in the sun, the hair being removed by burning. The crude or the one stir-baked with vinegar can be used.

Medicinal Properties Pungent, slightly bitter and sweet in flavor, mild in nature and attributive to the liver and triple energizer meridians.

Actions Soothe the liver to regulate qi and regulate menstruation to relieve pain.

Application

1. It is used for the syndromes of stagnation of liver-qi with pain in the hypochondrium, distention and pain in epigastric abdomen and pain due to hernia, etc.. For pain in the hypochondrium, it can be combined with Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri ), Baishaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Alba ) , Zhike (Fructus Aurantii), etc., such as Chaihu Shugan San (Powder) ; for liver-qi invading the stomach and accumulation of cold and qi stagnation with cold and pain in epigastrium, combined with Gaoliangjiang (Rhizoma Alpiniae Officinarum ) like Liang Fu Wan (Pill); for hernia of cold type with abdominal pain, combined with Xiaohuixiang (Fructus Foeniculi), Wuyao ( Radix Linderae ) , etc..

2. For irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea and distension and pain of the breast, especially those caused by stagnation of liver-qi, it is usually combined with Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis ), Chuanxiong ( Rhizoma Chuanxiong) , Baishaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Alba ) , and Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri), etc., to soothe the liver to remove stagnation and regulate qi and blood.

Usage and Dosage 5 - 10 g is used in decoction for oral use.

Muxiang Radix Aucklandiae

The source is from the root of Aucklandia lappa Decne., family Compositae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in the areas of Yunnan and Sichuan, dug and collected in autumn and winter, washed cleanly, dried in the sun. The crude or roasted is used.

Medicinal Properties Pungent and bitter in flavor, warm in nature and attributive to the spleen, stomach, large intestine and gallbladder meridians.

Application

1. It is used for stomach and spleen qi-stagnation syndrome and meanwhile is an essential medicine to activate qi circulation and alleviate pain. For epigastric fullness and pain due to stagnation of qi, it is used in combination with Jupi (Pericarpium Cirri Tangerinae ), Sharen ( Fructus Amomi ), and Tanxiang ( Lignum Santali Albi), etc. ; for the stagnation of spleen-qi due to spleen-deficiency with mass and oppression in the chest and epigastric abdomen, loss of appetite, diarrhea, it is used together with Dangshen (Radix Codonopsis ), Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), and Ju-pi (Pericarpium Cirri Tangerinae), etc., such as Xiang Sha Liujunzi Tang (Decoction).

2. For dysentery due to dampness and heat with tenesmus, usually combined with Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis), such as Xiang Lian Wan (Pill); for fullness and pain in the epigastrium due to indigestion with constiPation or difficulty in diarrhea, used together with Binglang ( Semen Arecae ), Qingpi ( Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride ), and Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei), etc., such as Muxiang Binglang Wan (Pill).

3. For steaming fever due to dampness and heat, and failure of the liver and gallbladder to disperse with hypochondriac distension and pain, jaundice, bitter taste in the mouth, and yellowish tongue coating, etc., it is used together with Chaihu ( Radix Bupleuri ), Yujin ( Radix Curcumae), and Zhike (Fructus Aurantii), etc.. Now it has certain therapeutical effects in treatment of cholelithiasis and gallstone colic.

In addition, it is also added to tonics with small amount for decreasing the greasy property of tonics and preventing such side effects from appearing as chest distress, abdominal distension, and loss of appetite.

Usage and Dosage 3 - 10 g is used in decoction for oral use. The crude herb is large in an action of circulating qi while the roasted is mild in the action and usually used for diarrhea.