🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Formula Name: Chinese Artificial Menstrual Cycle Formula
【Function and Indications】
Function: Tonify kidney and activate blood circulation. Indicated for polycystic ovary syndrome.
【Prescription Composition】
This is a sequential formula for one menstrual cycle, differing based on deficiency of Kidney Yang or Kidney Yin.
(1) Follicle-promoting Decoction: For deficiency of Kidney Yang: Cynomorium songaricum 10g, Epimedium sagittatum 10g, Angelica sinensis 10g, Dioscorea opposita 10g, Cuscuta chinensis 10g, Morinda root 10g, Cistanche deserticola 10g, Rehmannia glutinosa (prepared) 10g, decocted and taken orally. For deficiency of Kidney Yin: Ligustrum lucidum 10g, Eclipta prostrata 10g, Salvia miltiorrhiza 10g, Dioscorea opposita 10g, Cuscuta chinensis 10g, Rehmannia glutinosa (prepared) 10g, Cistanche deserticola 10g, Prepared Polygonum multiflorum 10g, decocted and taken orally.
(2) Ovulation-promoting Decoction: For deficiency of Kidney Yang: Angelica sinensis 10g, Salvia miltiorrhiza 10g, Vitex agnus-castus seed 10g, Persicae semen 10g, Carthamus tinctorius 10g, Millettia reticulata 10g, Dipsacus asper 10g, Cyperus rotundus 6g, Cinnamomum cassia 3g, decocted and taken orally. For deficiency of Kidney Yin: Salvia miltiorrhiza 10g, Red Peony Root 10g, Leonurus artemisia 10g, Rehmannia glutinosa (prepared) 10g, Lycium barbarum 10g, Persicae semen 4g, Carthamus tinctorius 4g, Coix lacryma-jobi 15g, Cyperus rotundus 6g, decocted and taken orally.
(3) Luteal Phase-promoting Decoction: For deficiency of Kidney Yang: Colla corii asini 10g, Testudinis placenta 10g, Angelica sinensis 10g, Rehmannia glutinosa (prepared) 10g, Polygonum multiflorum (prepared) 10g, Cuscuta chinensis 10g, Dipsacus asper 10g, Cyperus rotundus 6g, Cinnamomum cassia 3g, decocted and taken orally. For deficiency of Kidney Yin: Salvia miltiorrhiza 10g, Testudinis carapax 10g, Lycium barbarum 10g, Ligustrum lucidum 10g, Eclipta prostrata 10g, Rehmannia glutinosa (prepared) 10g, Prepared Polygonum multiflorum 10g, Cistanche deserticola 10g, Cuscuta chinensis 10g, decocted and taken orally.
(4) Blood-activating and Menstruation-regulating Decoction: For deficiency of Kidney Yang: Angelica sinensis 10g, Rehmannia glutinosa (prepared) 10g, Salvia miltiorrhiza 10g, Red Peony Root 10g, Leonurus artemisia 10g, Chuanxiong 4g, Cyperus rotundus 6g, Vitex agnus-castus seed 15g, decocted and taken orally. For deficiency of Kidney Yin: Salvia miltiorrhiza 10g, Red Peony Root 10g, Leonurus artemisia 10g, Rehmannia glutinosa (prepared) 10g, Poria cocos 10g, Vitex agnus-castus seed 10g, Angelica sinensis 6g, Cyperus rotundus 6g, decocted and taken orally.【Differential Diagnosis and Modification】
None
【Clinical Efficacy】
Treated 27 cases, ovulation occurred after 3 months, 24 became pregnant within 3 years (88.8%).
【Prescription Source】
Lin Zhijun, Second People's Hospital of Jiangxi Province.
【Comment】
This treatment confirms that tonifying kidney herbs promote follicular development. Clinically, this condition is classified into two types: deficiency of Kidney Yang with cold in Chong and Ren meridians, and deficiency of Kidney Yin with heat stagnation in Chong and Ren meridians. Thickened and firm ovarian capsule acts as mechanical obstruction to ovulation, serving as diagnostic basis for blood stasis. Thus, this formula first uses tonifying kidney herbs to promote follicular development; once estrogen levels rise (typical cervical mucus crystallization), it employs blood-activating and stasis-resolving methods to induce ovulation, then continues tonifying kidney to promote luteal development, forming a "tonify kidney—activate blood to resolve stasis—tonify kidney—regulate menstruation by activating blood" artificial menstrual cycle using traditional Chinese medicine.
Professor Fu Shigui and colleagues from the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi Medical College have confirmed that tonifying kidney and activating blood herbs can induce follicular development and ovulation in rabbits, and found that kidney-tonifying herbs such as Epimedium sagittatum and Psoralea corylifolia also increase progesterone secretion in pseudopregnant rats, providing laboratory evidence for the efficacy of tonifying kidney and activating blood herbs.<ovary>