Yue Ju Wan, Escape Restraint Pill, is Cang Zhu, Chuan Xiong, Xiang Fu, Zhi Zi and Shen Qu. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that promote the movement of Qi, and records it as addressing six kinds of stagnation at once.

Herb

Amount

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Actions and indications

Moves Qi and resolves constraint

Qi Stagnation in the Middle Jiao, or Liver Qi invading the Stomach, chosen when Stomach symptoms lead and Liver stagnation is secondary
Epigastric and abdominal distension and fullness, sometimes painful, often worse under stress
Distension and a stifling feeling in the chest and flanks; fixed pain under the ribs
Foul belching, sour reflux, nausea and vomiting
Irregular or painful periods with breast distension from constrained Liver Qi

Relieves the six stagnations (Qi, Blood, Damp, Phlegm, Food and Fire)

Qi Stagnation, most often from emotional constraint, which in time tangles up Blood, Damp, Phlegm, Food and Heat
Poor appetite and indigestion, as if meals sit in the stomach unprocessed
Mild cough with a lot of sputum where Phlegm has formed
Tongue normal, or purple, red or dusky, with a thin white, greasy or slippery coat that may be white or yellow; pulse wiry and slippery, possibly rapid

Modern uses

Peptic ulcer
Gastric or duodenal ulcer
Chronic gastritis
Gastric neurosis
Acid reflux
Hiatus hernia
Irritable bowel syndrome
Abdominal fullness and distension
Indigestion
Anorexia
Nausea and vomiting
Morning sickness
Biliary tract infection
Cholecystitis
Gallstones
Cholelithiasis
Chronic hepatitis
Infectious hepatitis
Intercostal neuralgia
Dysmenorrhea
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Infertility
Hypocalcemia
Depression
Neurosis
Some types of neurosis
Globus hystericus
Schizophrenia
Epilepsy
Migraines
Meniere's disease
Cerebral thrombosis
Coronary artery disease
Chronic bronchitis
Chronic cough
Pertussis
Chronic tonsillitis
Otitis media
Fever

Modifications

Qi Stagnation predominating: + yu jin, + mu xiang, + wu yao

Liver Fire predominating: + bai shao, + mu dan pi, − cang zhu

Blood Stasis predominating: + tao ren, + hong hua

Phlegm predominating: + zhi ban xia, + zhi tian nan xing

Dampness predominating: + hou po, + fu ling

Dampness predominating, option with Zhi Ban Xia and Gua Lou: + zhi ban xia, + gua lou

Accompanying Middle Jiao Cold: + wu zhu yu, + gan jiang, − zhi zi

Severe bloating and distention: + qing pi, + zhi shi, + bing lang

Marked Qi Stagnation with bloating, distension and sighing: + mu xiang, + zhi ke, + hou po

Severe Blood Stagnation: + tao ren, + hong hua, + chi shao

Excess Dampness: + fu ling, + ze xie

Liver Heat invading the Stomach: flank pain, gnawing hunger, sour regurgitation, vomiting, belching and a bitter taste: + huang lian, + wu zhu yu

Show all 57 modifications

Liver Qi Stagnation: + chai hu, + bai shao
Phlegm Stagnation with sputum and an unsettled stomach: + sheng jiang, + chen pi
More marked Food Stagnation (combined with Bao He Wan)
Fullness, distention and oppression: + zhi ke, + hou po
Dysmenorrhea or depression: + yu jin, + fo shou
Dysmenorrhea or depression, option with Zhi Ke and Mu Xiang: + zhi ke, + mu xiang
Abdominal pain from Cold and Qi Stagnation (combined with Liang Fu Wan)
Heat and Stasis in the Liver with flank pain, yellow coat and wiry, rapid pulse: + yan hu suo
Stabbing chest and flank pain from Blood Stagnation: + hong hua, + yu jin
Flatulence from accumulated Dampness: + fu ling, + gui zhi
Food Stagnation with poor appetite, nausea and vomiting: + mai ya, + zi su geng
Excess Fire: + huang qin, + huang lian
Excess Phlegm: + zhi ban xia, + gua lou
Excess Phlegm, option with Huang Lian and Qing Dai: + huang lian, + qing dai
Excess Phlegm, option with Zhi Ban Xia, Gua Lou and Dan Nan Xing: + zhi ban xia, + gua lou, + dan nan xing
Fluid Retention: + fu ling, + ze xie, + che qian zi
Intense pain: choose two or three of these herbs: + 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
Acid reflux: + hai piao xiao, + mu li
Qi Stagnation turning to Heat: worse flank pain, irritability, flushed face, dry mouth, red sore eyes, yellow coat, wiry rapid pulse (add two or three of these): + mu dan pi, + yu jin, + zhi zi, + chuan lian zi, + ju hua, + gou teng
Qi Stagnation turning to Heat, option with Huang Lian, Wu Zhu Yu and Chuan Lian Zi: + huang lian, + wu zhu yu, + chuan lian zi
Food Stagnation predominating: + shan zha, + mai ya
Stronger action on Qi Stagnation: + zhi shi, + jie geng
Fever from Liver channel Heat with congested Qi and Phlegm-Damp-Heat: + chai hu, + huang qin
Mental illness, mainly Dampness: + fu ling, + bai zhi
Mental illness, mainly Fire: + qing dai
Mental illness, mainly Phlegm: + zhi ban xia, + dan nan xing
Mental illness, mainly Blood Stagnation: + tao ren, + hong hua
Mental illness, mainly Qi Stagnation: + mu xiang, + bing lang
Mental illness, mainly Food Stagnation: + shan zha, + sha ren
Plum-pit Qi with abundant Phlegm (combined with Er Chen Tang)
Plum-pit Qi with a dry throat: + mai men dong, + xuan shen
Plum-pit Qi with reduced food intake: + ji nei jin, + mai ya
Plum-pit Qi with chest oppression: + hou po, + zi su geng
Plum-pit Qi with irritability: + dan dou chi, + yu jin
Peptic ulcers: + chai hu, + bai shao, + ying su ke
Severe nausea and vomiting: + xuan fu hua, + dai zhe shi
Vomiting of bile: + zhi ke, + yu jin, + jin qian cao
Constipation with nausea and vomiting: + da huang, + zhi shi
Food Stagnation with nausea and vomiting: + shan zha, + mai ya, + ji nei jin
Stagnant Heat and sour reflux, with nausea and vomiting: + huang lian, + wu zhu yu
Long-standing nausea and vomiting that has damaged Yin: + sha shen, + shi hu
Hiatus hernia: + wu zhu yu, + huang lian
Severe Blood Stagnation, alternatively combined with Xiao Yao San
Severe Blood Stagnation, alternatively Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang

Cautions

contraindication Not for stagnation that arises from Deficiency (fatigue, weak pulse, pale tongue); purely moving herbs can deepen the fatigue, and a tonifying approach is needed instead

pregnancy Contains Chuan Xiong, which moves Blood; use in pregnancy only under professional guidance

caution Meant for a set course while the stagnation is active rather than long-term use; reassess once the distension settles

Pinyin

yue ju wan

English Name

Escape Restraint Pill

yue ju wan

About yue ju wan

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Moves Qi and resolves constraint

Relieves the six stagnations (Qi, Blood, Damp, Phlegm, Food and Fire)

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification

Support