Herbs 1 Case Studies

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A 42-year-old male complains of stress. He has headaches, ribside pain, and a bitter taste in the mouth. He sighs frequently. The pulse is wiry. You diagnose him with Liver qi stagnation. What herbs could you give him to move Liver qi?

Chai Hu (bupleuri radix) and Bo He (menthae haplocalycis herba)
Huang Bai (phellodendri cortex) and Zhi Mu (anemarrenhae rhizoma)
Ma Huang (ephedrae herba) and Gui Zhi (cinnamomi ramulus)
Jin Yin Hua (lonicaerae flos) and Lian Qiao (forsythiae fructus)

Chai Hu is the chief herb in Xiao Yao San (Rambling Powder). Even though Chai Hu is in the C.A.R.E. category, it also has an important function of moving Liver qi and relieving constraint.

Source: Scheid, V. (2009). Formulas & Strategies 2nd Edition. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press. pp. 120 [Q419]