TCM is a study that looks at the human body and its surrounding environment in a holistic way. Like the yin-yang theory, everything in life operates through an inter-consuming-supporting relationship. As a woman goes through menopause, it is a period of time where her body is going through a major shifting of kidney yin and kidney yang. During this period of imbalance, other Zang-fu organs are likely to be affected too.There are many symptoms a woman may have during menopause. However, hot flashes, night sweats, and irascibility seem to be the most common complaint.In TCM, emotional distress is often linked with the Zang-fu organ, liver. The main functions of the liver are: to store and regulate the volume of circulating blood and to maintain good flow of qi (chi) throughout the body. Since the liver is responsible for unrestrained, harmonious qi and blood flow of all the Zang-fu organs, it is nicknamed, the general. Mirroring a general’s temperament, the liver flourishes when qi and blood flow smoothly. However, when something isn’t right, whether it is due to external factors or internal reasons, the liver qi and blood flow will be disrupted, thereby affecting the whole balance of the body. When this happens, “the general” often shows his discontent through emotional changes such as irascibility or mental depression.
A commonly used formula to cool down this liver heat caused by persistent liver qi stagnation or an underlying kidney yin-yang imbalance is, Jia Wei Hsiao Yao Wan. This formula is based on the famous soothing the liver qi formula, Hsiao Yao Wan.
The main difference between the two formulas is one address the liver qi stagnant symptoms (Hsiao Yao Wan), and the other deals with heat arising symptoms caused by the liver, (again, think of steamy hot summer days). Jia Wei Hsiao Yao Wan is an often used formula during menopause for the liver heat arising symptoms as irritability, hot flashes, disturbed sleep, and such, because the formulation not only addresses the need to quell down the liver heat, but also soothe the flow of the liver qi.
An interesting antidote of remembering the usage of this formula lies in its name. “Hsiao yao” means carefree and blissful, and there is a saying in Chinese which this formula name might derive from “be as carefree and blissful as the gods”. So, next time, when life’s stress is taking its toll on your liver qi balance, remember this formula.
“Wan” in Hsiao Yao Wan or Jia Wei Hsiao Yao Wan means pill(s) in Chinese. “Jia wei” means “in addition to” in Chinese.
