🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Formula Name: Nei Yi Xiao San Fang
【Function and Indications】
Function: Activate blood circulation, resolve stasis, soften hardness, warm kidneys. Indicated for dysmenorrhea, rectal heaviness, painful intercourse, infertility caused by endometriosis.
【Prescription Composition】
Gui Zhi 9 grams, Chi Shao 12 grams, Dan Pi 12 grams, Tao Ren 9 grams, Kun Bu 12 grams, San Ling 12 grams, E Zhu 12 grams, Zhi Bie Jia 15 grams, Fu Ling 15 grams, Suo Yang 15 grams, Xian Ling Pi 30 grams, Di Die Chong 15 grams, Wang Bu Liu Xing 12 grams, Xiao Yao Wan (wrapped) 12 grams. Boil in water. Take 5–7 doses after menstruation ends.
【Differential Diagnosis and Adjustments】
Adjustments based on menstrual cycle: separate pre-menstrual and menstrual phase formulas.
Pre-menstrual Formula: Sheng Pu Huang 12 grams, Wu Ling Zhi 12 grams, Dan Shen 12 grams, Chuan Niu Xi 12 grams, Zhi Ru Xiang 9 grams, Zhi Mo Yao 9 grams, San Ling 9 grams, E Zhu 9 grams, Liu Ji Nu 15 grams. Add 2 tablets of Sanqi tablets (swallowed). Boil in water. Take 5–7 doses before menstruation.
Menstrual Phase Formula: Pu Huang Tan (wrapped) 12 grams, Wu Ling Zhi 12 grams, Chao Chuan Bo 12 grams, Hua Rui Shi 30 grams, Xiang Fu Tan 9 grams, Chao Wu Yao 9 grams, Chao Chuan Xiong 6 grams, Da Huang Tan 6 grams, Zhi Huang Qi 15 grams, Rou Gui 3 grams. Boil in water. Take 3–7 doses during menstruation.
Additional adjustments: For qi deficiency, add Huang Qi and Dang Shen 15–30 grams to any of the three formulas; for yin deficiency, remove Rou Gui from menstrual formula and add Ce Bai Ye and Di Yu 12 grams each; remove Gui Zhi, Xian Ling Pi, and Suo Yang from main formula, add Xuan Shen 12 grams, Mai Dong 9 grams, Sang Zhi 9 grams; for constipation, add Sheng Da Huang (added later) 3 grams and Gua Lou Ren (crushed) 15 grams; for prominent masses, increase Hua Rui Shi to 30 grams or add Zao Jiao Ci 15 grams.
【Clinical Efficacy】
Among 60 patients treated, 29 showed marked improvement (main symptoms nearly disappeared, lesions significantly reduced, tenderness mostly gone, or infertility resolved with conception), accounting for 48.33%; 18 improved (symptoms improved, pelvic tenderness lessened, nodules unchanged), 30%; 11 improved after repeated treatment but relapsed after stopping medication, 18.33%; 2 showed no change, 3.33%. Total effective rate was 78.33%. 【Source】
Dr. Liu Defu et al., Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai.
【Comment】
Dr. Liu divides the treatment into three formulas—pre-, during, and post-menstrual phases—based on clinical manifestations differing before and after menstruation in endometriosis. The post-menstrual formula specializes in softening hardness and resolving stasis, primarily targeting endometriotic lesions, thus listed separately as the main formula. According to Dr. Liu’s observation, most cases were cold-type, comprising 76.6%, so this formula is specifically designed for cold coagulation and blood stasis type. For cases involving qi deficiency with blood stasis or yin deficiency with blood stasis, adjustments can be made according to symptoms based on the above formula.<uterine>