CYPERUS & LIGUSTICUM FORMULA
Yue Ju San

 

 ‘Depression-Overcoming Pill’
Source: Teachings of Zhu Dan-Xi (Dan Xi Xin Fa, 1481)

Keywords
emotional or stress related gastrointestinal problems, gastro-duodenal ulcer, cholecystitis, choelithiasis

Ingredients
Cyperus rotundus (Xiang Fu, cyperus)
Ligusticum walichii (Chuan Xiong, ligusticum)
Atractylodes lancea (Cang Zhu, blue atractylodes)
Massa fermentata (Shen Qu, medicated leaven)
Gardenia jasminoides (Zhi Zi, gardenia)

Major therapeutic action
Regulates qi, harmonises the Liver and Stomach, resolves stagnation, calms the mind.

 Biomedical action
|Inhibits ileac smooth muscles, decreases peripheral vessel resistance, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antifebrile and sedative.
Benefits digestion, relieves depression and emotional stress, antispasmodic, sedative, carminative, nervine, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory.

Indications
|*  Traditionally used for any of the six stagnations (qi, Blood, Phlegm, Fire, Dampness and Food). It is now principally used for qi stagnation resulting in digestive problems, epigastric and ypochondriac pain. These symptoms are often caused by, or aggravated by, eating meals when anxious or stressed. In women these symptoms are often accompanied by irregular menstruation or dysmenorrhoea.
*  With the appropriate key symptoms, this formula can be used to treat biomedical conditions such as gastrointestinal neurosis, gastroduodenal ulcer, chronic gastritis, infectious hepatitis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, and intercostal neuralgia.

Key symptoms for use
*  fullness and discomfort in the chest, sometimes accompanied by mild coughing and copious sputum
*  epigastric and abdominal pain, bloating, often associated with irregular eating habits, overindulgence,
stress or anxiety
* belching/acid reflux

Combinations
* With depression add Ye Jiao Teng & He Huan Pi.
* With severe symptoms of  distension and fullness add Zhi Shi/Bing Lang/Wu Yao.
* With headaches, dizziness, red face or eyes or angry outbursts add Shan Zhi Zi & Mu Dan Pi.
* With stomach-heat (acid reflux or extreme hunger) add Huang Lian.
* With fixed stabbing pain add Tao Ren & Hong Hua.
* With severe nausea / vomiting add Cang Zhu & Hou Po.
* With undigested food retained in the stomach add Xiang Fu & Sha Ren.
* For diarrhoea with undigested food add Gan Jiang & Rou Gui. 		Dosage
|The typical dose is three grams twice daily, before meals. In severe cases or the early stages of treatment (the first two weeks), a 50-100% increase in dose may be used, then reduced as the treatment takes effect.

Cautions and contraindications
When unmodified this formula should be used with caution in patients with significant deficiency.
This is a drying formula and care should be taken when using this formula for qi stagnation with signs of dryness.
Pregnant women.
None noted.