Classic formula · Regulate qi
Chai Hu Shu Gan San
柴胡疏肝散 Bupleurum Powder to Spread the Liver
Pure qi moving for a stuck Liver when pain is the main complaint. Tightness and pain under the ribs or across the chest, belching, sighing, a bloated stomach, and a short temper, in a person who is not tired or pale. Where Xiao Yao San supports and soothes, this one simply opens.
Seven herbs that all move in the same direction. No tonic, no moistener. It is a crowbar for a jammed door, which is why it works fast and should not be used for long.
Also sold as: Chai Hu Shu Gan Wan · Bupleurum Soothe Liver Formula
Who Chai Hu Shu Gan San is for
This formula is chosen for one pattern. Match your own picture before you match the name.
Signs it is classically given for
- Pain or tightness under the ribs, often on both sides
- Chest fullness, frequent sighing
- Belching, bloating, a stomach that feels knotted
- Irritability and frustration
- Pain that moves around and follows stress
- Painful periods with a tense, bloated feeling
- Tongue
- Normal or a little dusky, thin white coat.
- Pulse
- Wiry.
What is in Chai Hu Shu Gan San
Amounts are the classic decoction range in grams. Patent pills use the same herbs in the same proportion, so read the box for these names.
| Herb | Amount | Role | Job in the formula |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chai Hu Chinese Thorowax Root Use caution | 6 g | Chief | Bupleurum spreads the Liver qi. |
| Xiang Fu Rhizome of Nutgrass Galingale | 5 g | Deputy | Cyperus moves Liver qi and eases pain. |
| Chuan Xiong Chuanxiong Rhizome, Szechuan Lovage Root Use caution | 5 g | Deputy | Ligusticum moves qi and blood and stops pain. |
| Chen Pi Dried Tangerine Peel | 6 g | Assistant | Tangerine peel moves qi in the digestion. |
| Zhi Ke | 5 g | Assistant | Bitter orange opens the chest and stomach. |
| Bai Shao White Peony Root | 5 g | Assistant | White peony softens the Liver and keeps the movers from drying the blood. |
| Zhi Gan Cao Honey-Fried Licorice Root Use caution | 2 g | Envoy | Honey-fried licorice harmonizes and eases pain. |
How Chai Hu Shu Gan San works
Bupleurum, cyperus, and ligusticum unjam the Liver. Tangerine peel and bitter orange clear the stomach and chest. Peony and licorice keep the drying movers in check. Every herb points the same way, which is the strength and the limit of the formula.
Actions in classic terms
- Spreads Liver qi and relieves constraint
- Moves blood and stops pain
Common changes to Chai Hu Shu Gan San
A practitioner rarely gives the bare formula. These are the classic additions for a specific picture.
- Pain that is sharp and fixed add Yan Hu Suo, Yu Jin Corydalis and curcuma for blood-level pain.
- Heat and a bitter taste add Zhi Zi, Mu Dan Pi Cooling herbs.
Cautions with Chai Hu Shu Gan San
- Drying and dispersing. Not for a dry, yin-deficient person with a red peeled tongue; use Yi Guan Jian.
- Not for the tired, pale, weak-digestion picture; use Xiao Yao San, which supports while it moves.
- Short courses. Weeks, not months.
- Pregnancy: use only under a qualified practitioner.
Forms and typical dose
Sold as teapills, granules, decoction.
- Teapills
- 8 pills, three times a day, the usual label dose
- Course
- One to three weeks.
Follow the label of the brand you buy. Pill sizes differ between makers.
Buying Chai Hu Shu Gan San
The box reads Chai Hu Shu Gan San or Wan with the characters 柴胡疏肝. Seven ingredients led by Bupleurum, Cyperus, and Ligusticum.
Brand comparisons for formulas live on Supplements Apothecary, the buying side of this library.
Formulas often confused with Chai Hu Shu Gan San
- Xiao Yao San 逍遥散 Moves the Liver while feeding the Spleen and blood. The better choice when there is tiredness or a weak appetite.
- Si Ni San 四逆散 Four herbs for stagnation with cold fingers and toes.
- Yi Guan Jian 一贯煎 For rib pain in a dry person. Nourishes first, moves gently.
Conditions where Chai Hu Shu Gan San comes up
Sources
- Bensky, Scheid, Ellis and Barolet, Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies, 2nd edition Composition, actions, indications, and cautions.
Important Note
Formula pages describe classic use so you can read a label, ask a better question, and find the right monographs. They are education, not a prescription. A formula that fits the wrong pattern can make things worse, so match the picture first.