When it comes to the "Liver-Nourishing Master" in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhang Zhongjing undoubtedly ranks at the top. The prescriptions he left behind are like the mortise and tenon joints of an old house—seemingly simple, yet exquisitely ingenious. With just a few herbs, they can effectively regulate the "blockage" and "deficiency" in the liver. Today, I will share a classic prescription that canPromote liver qi, promote blood circulation, and regulate the middle jiao, nourishing the liver thoroughly。
If you often experience chest and flank distension and pain, a depressed mood, a pale complexion, bloating after eating even a little, and loose stools, it often indicates that liver qi is stagnant, and the flow of qi and blood is not smooth, which "affects" the middle jiao. In such cases, you might try this formula, which consists of six herbs in total, includingAngelica sinensis, Paeonia lactiflora, Ligusticum chuanxiong, Poria cocos, Atractylodes macrocephala, Alisma orientaleComposition, each has its own responsibilities and cooperates with each other, working together.
Among themAngelica sinensisJust like the "porter" of liver blood, it can nourish blood and activate blood circulation, clearing the blood pathways in the liver, allowing the liver to have nutrients to absorb.White Peony RootThe nature is gentle, capable of stabilizing liver qi and preventing it from becoming too irritable; when paired with Angelica sinensis, it can tonify without causing greasiness. Chuanxiong is particularly effective in promoting qi and blood circulation, thoroughly unblocking the stagnant qi and blood vessels in the liver. When combined with Danggui and Baishao, it works to unblock and nourish simultaneously, ensuring sufficient liver blood and smooth liver qi.
The liver and spleen are "neighbors" to each other. If the spleen and stomach become blocked, the liver will also "act up." The poria, atractylodes, and alisma in the formula are specifically the "iron triangle" for regulating the middle jiao spleen and stomach. Among themAtractylodes macrocephala和PoriaIt can invigorate the spleen and dispel dampness, boosting the "motivation" of the spleen and stomach, and then expelling the damp turbidity and waste from the bodyAlismaIt excels at promoting diuresis and draining dampness, quickly expelling "wastewater" from the spleen and stomach.
The combination of these six herbs may seem simple, but it actually addresses both the deficiency and stagnation of the liver. However, it is important to remind everyone that each person's constitution is different. For example, some people may have excessive dampness, while others may have more pronounced blood deficiency, and their dosages will vary accordingly. If you have similar conditions, it is recommended to consult a professional TCM practitioner for syndrome differentiation and personalized treatment. The above content is for reference only.
