🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Formula Name: Four-Component Formula
【Function and Indications】
Function: Soothing the liver, unblocking meridians, invigorating Qi, strengthening the spleen, nourishing Yin, clearing heat, resolving stasis, eliminating phlegm. Indicated for premenstrual syndrome.
【Prescription Composition】
(1) Liver-Soothing Meridian-Unblocking Decoction: Bupleurum 9g, White Peony 12g, Angelica 12g, Citrus Aurantium 9g, Achyranthes 9g, Cyperus 9g, Curcuma 12g, Green Tangerine Peel 9g, Luffa Fruit 9g, Tangerine Leaf 9g, decocted in water.
(2) Spleen-Strengthening Qi-Invigorating Decoction: Codonopsis 12g, Atractylodes 12g, Poria 12g, Dioscorea 12g, Lotus Seed 12g, White Peony 12g, Plantago Seed 9g (wrapped), Psoralea 9g, Sandalwood 9g, Licorice 1.5g, decocted in water.
(3) Yin-Nourishing Heat-Clearing Decoction: Fresh Rehmannia 15g, Scrophularia 15g, Ophiopogon 15g, Forsythia 9g, Rhubarb 9g, Moutan Cortex 9g, Gardenia 9g, Coptis 9g, Mentha 4.5g, decocted in water.
(4) Phlegm-Resolving Blood-Stasis Clearing Decoction: Peach Kernel 9g, Rhubarb 9g, Moutan Cortex 9g, Gardenia 6g, Fructus Aurantii Immaturus 9g, Polygala 9g, Bamboo Shavings 9g, Angelica 9g, South Star 9g, Uncaria 12g, decocted in water. 【Syndrome Differentiation and Modifications】
For Liver Qi stagnation with Qi depression: add Moutan Cortex and Gardenia if irritability and anger are present; add Vaccaria and Trichosanthes Seed or Tangerine Seed for breast distension and nodules; add Vitex, Chrysanthemum, Mentha, Angelica, or Kudzu if headache occurs; add Atractylodes, Poria, or Plantago Seed for edema; add Bamboo Shavings, Pinellia, Tangerine Peel, or Rose Flower for nausea; add Uncaria, Schizonepeta, or Saposhnikovia for itching of nipples or genital area; add Magnolia Bark, Pinellia, or Perilla Leaf for obstruction of Qi and phlegm in the chest with sensation of lump in throat; add Red Peony, Moutan Cortex, Safflower, or Eupatorium for extremity blood stasis, swelling, or cyanosis; remove Cyperus and Bupleurum and add Ophiopogon, Moutan Cortex, or Fresh Rehmannia if Qi stagnation transforms into heat affecting the lungs with cough, hemoptysis, or epistaxis.
For Qi deficiency and Yang deficiency: add Lablab Bean or Charred Kudzu Root for severe diarrhea; add Cinnamomum, Prepared Aconite, Dried Ginger, or Evodia for cold limbs and aversion to cold; add Astragalus, Cinnamon Twig, or Prepared Aconite for frequent colds due to weak Yang; add Alisma, Large Belly Skin, or Winter Melon Skin for severe edema; add Eucommia, Du Zhong, or Morinda for soreness in waist and knees; add Cyperus, Curcuma, Wu Yao, or Green Tangerine Peel for abdominal distension; add Epimedium, Lotus Seed, or Silk Worm Pupa for frequent urination.
For internal heat excess: add Gypsum, Platycodon, or Large Green Leaf for red swollen lips, tongue, or gingival erosion; add Chrysanthemum, Gentian, or Cassia Seed for red eyes or corneal erosion; add Platycodon, Wheat Root, or Anemarrhena for dry nose and throat; add Achyranthes or Platycladus Leaf for bleeding; add Schizonepeta, Saposhnikovia, Red Peony, Honeysuckle, Red Adzuki Bean, or Poria for acne or pruritic rashes; add Albizia Bark or Night-Blooming Jasmine for insomnia; add Curcuma or Crataegus for abdominal distension.
For phlegm-blood obstruction: add Silkworm Pupa or Whole Scorpion for convulsions; add Coptis, Coptis, Magnetite, or Dragon Tooth for mania and restlessness; add Mirabilite for constipation.
【Clinical Efficacy】
Treated 100 cases: 61 cured (61%); 31 effective; 8 ineffective; total effective rate 92%. Follow-up of 37 cases: 27 showed no recurrence, 10 relapsed.
【Prescription Source】
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Hospital of Wuhan City, Hubei Province.
【Comment】
There is no systematic discussion of premenstrual syndrome in traditional Chinese medical classics. This formula is guided by the theory of zang-fu organs and Qi-blood, achieving good results through syndrome differentiation and treatment.<Menstrual Period>