BAO YUAN CHAI HU QING GAN SAN

Spread Liver Qi & Clear Heat-Toxin • Harmonizing & Detoxifying Formula

Symptoms / Indications:
Hypochondriac Distress: Heat, fullness, or discomfort in the flanks and ribcage.
Emotional Irritability: Restlessness, easily angered, or a constant sense of frustration.
Heat Toxin Manifestations: Sore throat, swollen lymph nodes (especially in the neck/submandibular area), or red, itchy skin eruptions.
Digestive Imbalance: Mild abdominal distention and a bitter taste in the mouth.
Key Indicator: A "Chai Hu" (Bupleurum) pattern—alternating chills/fever or a sense of heat trapped in the Shao Yang layer—combined with visible signs of inflammation or toxic heat.
Tongue: Red body with a yellow coating.
Pulse: Wiry and rapid.

Ingredients:

Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix)

Raw Herbs: 6g | Granulates: 6.1g

Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix)

Raw Herbs: 6g | Granulates: 6.1g

Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix)

Raw Herbs: 6g | Granulates: 6.1g

Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix)

Raw Herbs: 6g | Granulates: 6.1g

Mu Dan Pi (Moutan Radicis Cortex)

Raw Herbs: 6g | Granulates: 6.1g

Sheng Ma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma)

Raw Herbs: 6g | Granulates: 6.1g

Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma)

Raw Herbs: 6g | Granulates: 6.1g

Zhi Zi (Gardeniae Fructus)

Raw Herbs: 6g | Granulates: 6.1g

Chuan Xiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma)

Raw Herbs: 6g | Granulates: 6.1g

Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma)

Raw Herbs: 3.5g | Granulates: 3.6g

Posology

Granules: 3 to 9g per day after main meals, diluted in hot water.

Raw Plants: Boil in 1000ml of water and drink 1 to 3 cups per day.

Description

Bao Yuan Chai Hu Qing Gan San is a comprehensive formula that addresses the Liver from three angles: moving the Qi, cooling the Blood, and resolving toxicity. While a standard Xiao Yao San focuses on Liver/Spleen harmony, this formula is much more "aggressive" in clearing heat.
Chai Hu is the Chief, acting as the primary agent to spread constrained Liver Qi and resolve the Shao Yang (Half-Interior/Half-Exterior) level.
Huang Qin, Huang Lian, and Zhi Zi form a powerful trio of deputies that drain fire from all three burners. They focus specifically on the Liver/Gallbladder heat that causes irritability and inflammation.
Sheng Ma works in tandem with Chai Hu but adds a "toxic-clearing" element, particularly effective for heat in the upper body and throat.
Sheng Di Huang and Mu Dan Pi cool the Blood and nourish Yin. This prevents the heat from drying out the Blood and helps soothe the "Fire" at a deeper level.
Dang Gui and Chuan Xiong ensure that as we clear heat, the Blood continues to circulate smoothly, preventing the stagnation that often accompanies chronic inflammation.
Gan Cao harmonizes the bitter, cold nature of the clearing herbs and protects the Spleen Qi.

This formula is particularly useful for modern conditions involving chronic low-grade inflammation or "detoxification" where the patient feels "toxic" and "stuck" simultaneously.

Contraindications

Not recommended for patients with Spleen/Stomach Cold (loose stools, cold limbs, pale tongue) as the high concentration of bitter-cold herbs will exacerbate these symptoms. Use with caution in pregnancy. Consult a practitioner before use.