INDIVIDUAL HERBS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Rhizoma Cyperi
Common English: Nut-Grass Rhizome
Cyperus
Purple Nutsedge Root
Herbs that Regulate Qi
Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Acrid
Slightly Bitter
Slightly Sweet
Neutral
Liver
San Jiao
Gallbladder
(Stomach)
6-14g
Tincture: 2-4ml
Actions Indications/Syndromes

Spreads and regulates Liver Qi

Liver Qi Stagnation with hypochondriac pain and epigastric distention

Disharmony between the Liver and Spleen

Regulates menstruation and alleviates pain

Gynecological disorders due to Liver Qi Stagnation with dysmenorrhea or irregular menstruation

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated in those with Qi Deficiency without Stagnation.
  • Contraindicated in those with Yin Deficiency with Heat signs.
  • Contraindicated in those with Heat in the Blood.
  • Use caution in those with constipation.
  • Use caution during pregnancy.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

Rx. Bupleuri
Chai Hu
Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Rx. Aucklandiae
Mu Xiang
Fr. Citri Sarcodactylis
Fo Shou
(Fr. Amomi)
(Sha Ren)
(Massa Medicata Fermentata)
(Shen Qu)

Rx. Linderae
Wu Yao
Fr. Foeniculi
Xiao Hui Xiang

Pain and distention in the chest and flanks.

Epigastric and abdominal pain, indigestion, vomiting and diarrhea due to Qi Obstruction of the Liver and Spleen.

Pain, distention, and prolapse in the lower abdomen due to Cold and Qi Obstruction of the Liver and Kidneys.

Hernial pain due to Cold.

Rz. Alpiniae Officinarum
Gao Liang Jiang

Rz. Atractylodis
Cang Zhu

Caul. Perillae
Zi Su Geng

Epigastric and hypochondriac pain due to Liver Qi Stagnation with Cold congealing in the Stomach.

Indigestion, pain and distention in the flanks and abdomen, nausea, vomiting and acid regurgitation.

Fullness, distention, and discomfort in the epigastrium and abdomen due to Liver attacking the Spleen.

Morning sickness.

Fol. Perillae
Zi Su Ye

Flos Inulae
Xuan Fu Hua

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Rx. Ligustici Chuanxiong
Chuan Xiong

Nasal congestion, epigastric and abdominal distention and discomfort associated with externally contracted disorders.

Thin mucus in the hypochondria.

Irregular menstruation and dysmenorrhea due to Qi and Blood Stasis.

Rx. Bupleuri
Chai Hu
Fr. Trichosanthis
Gua Lou

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao
Rx. Bupleuri
Chai Hu

Rx. Bupleuri
Chai Hu

Breast masses that swell around the time of the menstrual flow.

Disordered period.

Qi Stagnation and menstrual irregularity.

Fr. Amomi
Sha Ren
Rx. Aucklandiae
Mu Xiang

Rx. Linderae
Wu Yao

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui

Ulcer and digestive disturbance.

Unblocks Qi in both the Qi and Blood levels, releases constraint from the Liver and Gallbladder, descends Qi in the chest and abdomen and warms Qi which has been slowed by pathogenic Cold.

Painful, Cold Qi leading to abdominal distention, borborygmus and diarrhea.

Qi and Blood Stagnation with menstrual irregularity, pain in the lower abdomen and generalized pain and distention throughout the body.

Tonifies the Blood and moves Qi, for premenstrual symptoms, menstrual pain and irregular menstruation.

Faeces Trogopterori
Wu Ling Zhi
Pollen Typhae
Pu Huang
Rz. Corydalis
Yan Hu Suo

Rz. Chuanxiong
Chuan Xiong

Rz. Corydalis
Yan Hu Suo

Dysmenorrhea.

Qi Stagnation combined with Blood Stasis.

Treats everything from Liver Qi Stagnation to Deep Blood Stasis with pain anywhere in the body including stabbing chest pain, distending pain in the breast, Cold pain in the epigastrium, pain due to bulging disorder in the lower body and dysmenorrhea.

Lignum Santali Albi
Tan Xiang

Rx. Bupleuri
Chai Hu
Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Fr. Aurantii
Zhi Ke

Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Rx. Curcumae
Yu Jin
Rx. Bupleuri
Chai Hu
Rx. Aucklandiae
Mu Xiang

Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis
Hou Po

Regulates Qi and harmonizes the Liver and Spleen to treat Liver QI Stagnation causing Spleen and Stomach disharmony with a stifling sensation in the chest and flanks, belching, sighing, loss of appetite and epigastric pain.

Hypochondriac pain.

Stress and emotional disturbance.

Rz. Alpiniae Officinarum
Gao Liang Jiang

Rx. Aucklandiae
Mu Xiang

Fr. Toosendan
Chuan Lian Zi
Rz. Corydalis
Yan Hu Suo
Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Rz. Alpiniae Officinarum
Gao Liang Jiang

Bul. Lilii
Bai He
Rx. Linderae
Wu Yao
Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae
Dan Shen
Lignum Santali Albi
Tan Xiang
Fr. Amomi
Sha Ren

Concha Arcae
Wa Leng Zi
Endoconcha Sepiae
Hai Piao Xiao
Bul. Fritillariae Thunbergii
Zhe Bei Mu

Stomach pain caused by stress.

Epigastric pain due to alternating Cold and Heat.

Acid regurgitation.

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Rx. Ligustici Chuanxiong
Chuan Xiong

Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Rx. Bupleuri
Chai Hu

Rx. Bupleuri
Chai Hu

Per. Citri Reticulatae Viride
Qing Pi
Sm. Vaccariae
Wang Bu Liu Xing
Fr. Trichosanthis
Gua Lou

 

Irregular menstruation with breast distention and abdominal pain.

Breast distention or breast nodules.

 
  1. The neutral property of this herb, together with its ability to disperse and harmonize, account for its widespread use.
  2. This is one of the most commonly used analgesics for abdominal pain, especially upper abdominal pain.
  3. This herb is used in combination with either Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu or Rx. Linderae Wu Yao but not both for menstrual problems related to Liver tension.
  4. This herb disperses and spreads stagnant Liver and Stomach Qi and is therefore best for problems involving emotional Stagnation (irritability), epigastric and hypochondriac distention and pain and menstrual problems (best when there is scanty bleeding).
  5. This herb is said to treat melancholy.
  6. Both Xiang Fu and Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang are bitter, acrid, promote the flow of Qi, stop pain and most importantly enter the San Jiao channel. Mu Xiang mobilizes clumped Qi in the Stomach and Intestine channels and reduces Food Stagnation. It is used for epigastric fullness, abdominal distention and diarrhea. Xiang Fu dredges and disperses Qi Stagnation in the Stomach and Liver and is especially good at relieving Liver Qi Stagnation, regulating menstruation and stopping pain. It is used for emotional constraint, distending pain in the ribs and flanks and irregular menstruation.
  7. Processed Cyperus Zhi Xiang Fu is most effective at dredging the Liver and alleviating pain.
  8. Black Cyperus Hei Xiang Fu is able to enter the Liver Blood level to harmonize Blood and stop bleeding to treat irregular menstrual bleeding.
  9. Dry-fried Cyperus Chao Xiang Fu regulates pain due to Qi Stagnation.
  10. Four (Substance) Prepared Cyperus Si Zhi Xiang Fu is less likely to exhaust Qi and dry the Yin and Yang fluids. It is better able to promote the flow of Qi , unblock the collaterals, reduce accumulation and alleviate pain to treat deficient patients with pathogenic obstruction.