Restore - Relax - Regenerate
Xiao Yao San is one of the most widely used formulas in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Modern research has extensively studied its effects, particularly in gasotransmitter pain signaling, as well as its ability to alleviate anxiety and depression
It is commonly utilized to address stress-related symptoms, including:
- Abdominal distension or bloating
- Anxiety, stress-induced
- Electrical or burning pain (such as in fibromyalgia)
- Menopausal symptoms
- Menstrual pain
- Premenstrual
Syndrome (PMS) - PTSD
- Poor Digestion
History of Xiao Yao Wan
Xiao Yao Wan is one of the most commonly prescribed herbal formulas in both the United States and Taiwan.
This 900-year-old classical formula, known as Bupleurum & Tang Kuei Formula (Xiao Yao Wan), originates from The Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the People in the Tai Ping Era (Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang), published in 1107. It is a modification of the Shang Han Lun formula, Frigid Extremities Powder (Si Ni San), published nearly 900 years earlier.
As evident from the Modern Applications section below, this formula is among the most studied and versatile in modern Chinese herbal medicine.
General Indications
Generally speaking, this formula is used to treat stress with an underlying deficiency.
Because of the deficiency component, the stress will likely become emphasized around menstruation, when less blood is available for circulation and carrying the qi. Dysmenorrhea, PMS, and stress in general (for men and women alike) are the most
common reasons for prescribing these formulas today.
Children, especially those under pressure to perform/ produce, benefit from taking these formulas. Stress will affect any areas of weakness, particularly those ruled by the
liver or middle burner. These include the chest, the abdomen, the entire digestive tract, and, of course, the blood, which is made in the middle burner and ruled by the liver.
Altogether, the central role played by blood and digestion for the rest of the body accounts for the wide range of indications for which this formula is used.
Xiao Yao wan is well-balanced and can be taken for acute and long-term situations.
Modern Applications
Xiao Yao Wan is a powerful herbal formula known for its wide range of benefits. It helps improve depression and anxiety, working as well as conventional medications but with fewer side effects. When combined with standard treatments, it can provide faster relief.
Xiao Yao Wanis also effective for digestive issues like IBS, helping reduce symptoms and improve gut health, while also addressing the stress and anxiety often linked to these problems.
Anti-Depressant Effects
• Xiaoyaosan, whether used alone or in combination with antidepressants, demonstrates comparable effectiveness to standard antidepressants after 4-6 weeks of treatment.
• When used alone, Xiaoyaosan has a slower initial effectiveness (within the first 2 weeks) but catches up with standard antidepressants over time.
• Combined use of Xiaoyaosan and antidepressants results in a faster onset of symptom relief compared to antidepressants alone.
Anti-Anxiety Effects
• XYS, used alone or in combination with standard anxiolytic medications, is as effective as anxiolytics in alleviating anxiety symptoms.
• Patients receiving XYS reported fewer adverse drug reactions compared to those treated solely with anxiolytics.
Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Improved Treatment Outcomes: XYS, alone or in combination with conventional treatments, improves treatment efficiency and reduces symptom scores for FGIDs compared to Western medicine alone.
• Psychological Benefits: XYS effectively alleviates anxiety (SAS scores) and depression (SDS scores) associated with FGIDs.
• Low Recurrence Rates: Studies with a 6-month follow-up show that XYS reduces FGID recurrence rates, indicating sustained benefits.
• Few adverse reactions were reported (3 in the XYS group vs. 23 in the control group) and were mild and tolerable.
• No significant safety issues were identified, although systematic safety testing (e.g., liver and kidney function tests) remains limited.
• XYS enhances gastrointestinal motility by modulating motilin, serotonin, and somatostatin levels.
• It exhibits antidepressant effects through inflammation-related pathways and brain functional connectivity.
Ingredients
- Radix Bupleuri Chinensis (Chai Hu)
- Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae (Bai Shao)
- Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Dang Gui)
- Sclerotium Poriae Cocos (Fu Ling)
- Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis (Zhi Gan Cao)
- Herba Menthae Haplocalycis (Bo He)
- Rhizoma Zingiberis Officinalis Recens (Gan Jiang)
Highlights of Purple Star Xiao Yan Wan
- We adjusted the dose of Bo He to reduce the incidence of Chai Hu causing headaches from yin/blood deficiency.
- Sustainability Wildcrafted high-altitude Chai hu from the Tibetan region
- Paeoniflorin: 5.727mg /g in Purple Star Xiao Yao San, 8 times higher than the required amount in the Pharmacopeia
- All herbs are fresh and sulfur-free.
- Active ingredients, water content, and bacteria tested
- The herbs are ground-filtered through a sieve, and thicker herbs will be reground for consistent dissolving. Then, they will be further dried and sterilized with UV light before being carefully packed.
(Paeoniflorin is a monoterpene glycoside and the primary bioactive compound extracted from the roots of Paeonia lactiflora, a plant used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It exhibits various pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and antidepressant properties)
Why Is Tea Better Than Pills?
Tea preserves its volatile oils!
Preparation
The preparation instructions on the label are for reference only and not mandatory.
French Press Method
We often prepare a few tea bags in a French press:
- Pump the press a few times and serve the tea to patients.
- Throughout the day, keep adding hot water to the press. The tea’s color and flavor will continue to evolve, providing a rich and enjoyable experience.
Storage
Please store the tea in a cool and dry place. Keep away from direct sunlight. Keep the tea sealed and refrigerate after opening. Finish it within a month after opening.
This product has no preservatives so it’s important to keep it in a cool and dry place and once it’s open please finish it as soon as possible. Refrigerate after opening is a great idea.
Protocol for Digestive Health
The primary confounding factor I have observed in digestive complaints is Liver Qi stagnation. Many of our patients experience unpredictable lifestyles and stress patterns, which are the most common reasons for regression during digestive treatment.
I’ve seen numerous cases where intestinal lesions, confirmed to be healed through imaging, still result in digestive issues during periods of stress. Xiao Yao San tea works effectively in these cases. It not only alleviates Liver Qi stagnation but also contains spleen tonics that aid in repairing digestion.
Microgard Plus is excellent for supporting digestion and gut health. If needed, the original Microgard formula can be used.
Key Benefits of Microgard Plus:
- Contains herbs that address diarrheal conditions, nausea, vomiting, food stagnation, and harmful intestinal microbes.
- Includes Ge Gen, which has been shown to help repair intestinal lining junctions, reducing intestinal permeability (leaky gut).
Technique:
- Start with your hands below your belly button.
- Apply light pressure and massage in a large circular motion:
- Begin below the belly button, move up the left side of the abdomen, across under the ribs from left to right, down the right side, and back under the belly button.
- Repeat this circle 36 times.
- Reverse the direction and repeat another 36 times.
Use your whole body while you rub you should feel your waist twisting
Important Notes:
- Always end the massage in the direction of peristalsis.
- You may notice increased burping and flatulence after this, which is a good sign of improved digestive activity.
- Consistency is key. This massage should be done daily.
This breathing exercise helps move Liver Qi and is simple to do anywhere: in the car, during breaks, in the bathroom, or especially before bed.
How to Do It:
- Perform sighing breaths, just like you would sighn after getting in a hot tub. Repeat until you start to yawn.
- Yawning is the signal that the exercise is effective, and you can stop once it occurs.
Special Considerations:
- For some patients, it may take weeks to start yawning.
- In extreme cases of trauma, it can take longer. One patient, who hadn’t yawned in years, required a full month of consistent practice before experiencing results.
Additional Tip:
Incorporate gentle shaking movements with the sighing to enhance its effects.
Instructional Video:
About the Author
Willard Sheppy is a writer and healthcare practitioner who seamlessly melds scientific knowledge with practical applications in engaging and authoritative articles. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Oregon State University and a Master’s in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the distinguished Oregon College of Oriental Medicine.
In his work, Willard skillfully combines his extensive educational background in scientific research with his practical experience as a healthcare practitioner. Willard balances his life with martial arts and cherished family adventures. As a father of three, he often leads his family on camping and hiking trips along the breathtaking Oregon coast.
Connect with Willard on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/valleyhealthclinic or learn more about his services at valleyhealthclinic.com. Embark on this journey towards holistic health with Willard!
