Hei Xiao Yao San, Black Rambling Powder, is Chai Hu, Bai Shao, Fu Ling, Dang Gui, Sheng Di Huang and Gan Cao. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that regulate and harmonise the Liver and Spleen.

Herb

Amount

1.5 g

4.5 g

4.5 g

9 g

15 g

1.5 g

Actions and indications

Spreads Liver Qi and pacifies the Liver

Stagnant Liver Qi invading the Stomach or the Spleen (Liver-Spleen disharmony)
Pain of the flanks and ribs, frequent sighing, a tight or full chest, distended breasts
Headache, heavy head, dizziness and vertigo, bitter taste, dry mouth and throat
Alternating chills and fever
Depression, irritability, insomnia and palpitations
Tongue pink with a thin white or yellow coat; pulse wiry and deficient, or wiry and rapid

Strengthens the Spleen and harmonizes the Liver and Spleen

Epigastric pain and distention; bloating and pain around the navel and abdomen; flatulence
Poor appetite, fatigue, lassitude and a strong urge to sleep
Diarrhea alternating with constipation

Nourishes Blood

Liver Qi stagnation with Blood deficiency, or stagnant Qi and Blood; Blood deficiency with tiredness
Irregular periods, premenstrual cramps, heavy bleeding and discharges of various kinds
Ying-Wei disharmony with cough and phlegm, tidal fever and thinning limbs, which may develop into Bone Steaming
Heat in the five centres, malar flush and night sweats
Cold hands and feet; pain in the arms and legs, shoulders and back
Gu syndrome

Modern uses

Stress
Nervousness in women
Neurasthenia
Depression
Bi-polar disorder
Insomnia
Palpitations
Fatigue
Chronic fatigue (CFIDS)
Epstein Barr
AIDS/HIV
Headache
Dizziness
Vertigo
Meniere's disease
Numbness
Paresthesia
Shoulder pain
Middle back pain
Hypertension
Hypotension
Hyperthyroidism
Anemia
Fever
Tuberculosis
Pleurisy
Hepatitis
Chronic hepatitis
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Liver cancer
Chronic gastritis
Peptic ulcer
Acid reflux
Indigestion
Nausea
Vomiting
Anorexia
Enteritis
Gastroenteritis
Irritable bowel syndrome
Leaky gut syndrome
Constipation
Giardiasis
Candidiasis
Gu syndrome
Irregular menstruation
Late or delayed menstruation
Scanty menstruation
Amenorrhea
Dysmenorrhea
Menorrhagia
Functional uterine bleeding
Premenstrual syndrome, ovulation to period onset
Premenstrual breast distention
Breast distention
Fibrocystic breasts
Leukorrhea
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Morning sickness
Menopausal syndrome
Male menopause
Optic nerve atrophy
Optic neuritis
Acute retrobulbar neuritis
Central retinitis
Glaucoma
Cortical blindness

Symptoms

Abdominal distention

Abdominal pain

Alternating chills and fever

Alternating constipation and diarrhea

Arm pain

Back pain

Bitter taste in the mouth

Breast distention

Chest fullness

Chest oppression

Cold limbs

Depression

Dizziness

Dry mouth

Dry throat

Dysmenorrhea

Epigastric distention

Epigastric pain

Fatigue

Five-center heat

Flatulence

Headache

Heavy head

Hypochondriac pain

Insomnia

Irregular menstruation

Irritability

Leg pain

Malar flush

Menorrhagia

Night sweats

Palpitations

Poor appetite

Shoulder pain

Sighing

Somnolence

Modifications

Worse distending pain in the flanks: + xiang fu, − bai zhu

Severe fixed pain from Blood stasis: + mu dan pi, + yu jin, + san leng

Vaginal discharge: + jin yin hua, + guan zhong

Pain over the liver area with tiredness and poor appetite: + xiang fu, + fo shou, + dan shen, + dang shen, − sheng jiang, − bo he

Enlarged liver and spleen: + hai piao xiao, + bie jia, + mu li

Chronic hepatitis: + qian cao gen, + hai piao xiao, + dang shen

Fibrocystic breasts: + wang bu liu xing, + ji xue teng, − zhi gan cao

Irregular cycles, after the period: tonify Yin and Blood, and move Blood if there are clots: + bai zhu, + gou qi zi, + nu zhen zi, + sang shen, − chai hu

Irregular cycles with a deficient Spleen: + bai zhu, + gou qi zi, + nu zhen zi, + sang shen, + fu ling, − chai hu

Delayed menstruation: + xiang fu, + yu jin, + dan shen, + fo shou, + wu mei

Irritability, quick temper or other signs of Heat: + mu dan pi, + zhi zi

Pain of the chest and flanks: + san leng, + e zhu

Show all 34 modifications

Poor appetite: + shen qu, + ji nei jin
Vertigo with headache: + chuan xiong, + bai zhi
Qi deficiency: + huang qi, + ren shen
Blood deficiency: + shu di huang
Period pain and cramps: + yan hu suo, + xiang fu, + mu xiang
Irregular menstruation: + yi mu cao, + dan shen
Stagnant Heat: + mu dan pi, + zhi zi
Combination with Chai Hu Shu Gan San
Full, uncomfortable chest and flanks: + zhi xiang fu, + yu jin, + zhi ke
Waking easily or being easily startled (choose one or two): + zhen zhu mu, + long chi, + ci shi
Severe pain (choose two or three): + chuan lian zi, + yan hu suo, + mo yao, + ru xiang, + qing pi, + bai jie zi
Nausea and vomiting: + xuan fu hua, + zhi ban xia, + sheng jiang
Liver Heat harassing the Stomach: flank pain, gnawing hunger, sour regurgitation, vomiting, belching, bitter taste: + huang lian, + wu zhu yu
Acid reflux: + hai piao xiao, + mu li
Stagnant Qi turning to Heat: more flank pain, irritability, flushed face, dry mouth, red sore eyes, yellow coat, wiry rapid pulse (choose two or three): + mu dan pi, + yu jin, + zhi zi, + chuan lian zi, + ju hua, + gou teng
Insomnia from stagnant Liver Qi with constrained Fire: + suan zao ren, + he huan pi
Severe insomnia from stagnant Liver Qi with constrained Fire: + suan zao ren, + he huan pi, + bai zi ren
Full, distended chest and flanks from stagnant Liver Qi with constrained Fire: + suan zao ren, + he huan pi, + xiang fu, + yu jin, + zhi ke
Easily startled or frightened, from stagnant Liver Qi with constrained Fire: + suan zao ren, + he huan pi, + long chi, + ci shi
Insomnia: + bai zi ren
Gu syndrome: + zi su ye, + bo he, + bai zhi
Depression: + zi su geng, + yu jin

Pinyin

hei xiao yao san

English Name

Black Rambling Powder

hei xiao yao san

About hei xiao yao san

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Spreads Liver Qi and pacifies the Liver

Strengthens the Spleen and harmonizes the Liver and Spleen

Nourishes Blood

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Names

Classification

Support