Immortal Valley & Yin Valley Formulas
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IMMORTAL VALLEY FORMULA XIAN GU FANG ORIGINS: Modern formulations. YIN VALLEY FORMULA YIN GU FANG Both Immortal Valley Formula (Xian Gu Fang) and Yin Valley Formula (Yin Gu Fang) are modern formulations which have their roots in a response to increased incidence over the last few decades of specific women’s health issues. Cindy Micleu, M.T.C.M., L.Ac. developed these two formulas in 2008 based on research by Tai Lahans, L.Ac., M.T.C.M., M.Ed. GENERAL SIGNS/SYMPTOMS Both formulas were designed specifically to address the two most common underlying patterns of cervi- cal dysplasia. But because Chinese herbal medicine emphasizes pattern treatment, both formulas have a broader range of application than merely treating cervical dysplasia. In general, both formulas target patterns of the lower burner/ reproductive system. Both formulas can be used for either men’s issues or women’s reproductive issues, provided the pattern is a match. Immortal Valley Formula (Xian Gu Fang), can be used for any damp-heat pattern affecting the repro- ductive structures of the lower burner, including vaginitis, vaginal infections with yellow discharge, acute outbreak of genital herpes, cervicitis and PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) and cervical dysplasia. Men’s health issues that fall under the pattern of damp-heat in the lower burner, such as prostatitis or urethri- tis, can also be treated with this formula. Yin Valley Formula (Yin Gu Fang) treats lower burner / gynecological conditions with an underlying pattern of yin deficiency, heat, and dryness. Both formulas are used for treating abnormal Pap smears, cervical dysplasia, a positive HPV test, vaginal itching or discomfort. They both resolve toxic heat and break up blood stasis. The main distinction is that Immortal Valley Formula (Xian Gu Fang) is superior for treating damp-heat patterns, which tend to appear in the earlier stages of cervical dysplasia and often manifest with vaginitis, cervicitis, or abnormal vaginal discharge. Yin Valley Formula (Yin Gu Fang), on the other hand, emphasizes support of the yin and is stronger for breaking up blood stasis and clearing toxin, making it ideal for moderate dysplasia and inflammation due to deficiency heat CHINESE MEDICAL ACTIONS Immortal Valley Formula Yin Valley Formula 1. Discharges damp-heat from the lower 1. Resolves heat-toxin in the lower burner burner 2. Breaks up blood stasis, cools the blood 2. Soothes the liver, supplements spleen 3. Nourishes yin and fluids 3. Resolves heat-toxin 4. Breaks up blood stasis Yin Valley Formula/Immortal Valley Fromula Monograph © February 2015, Herbal Medicine Press 2 IMMORTAL VALLEY FORMULA IMMORTAL VALLEY FORMULA INGREDIENTS FORMULA ACTIONS PINYIN LATIN ENGLISH % OF FORMULA Bai Hua She She Cao Hedyotis Diffusae Herba Hedyotis, Oldenlandia 12% • Discharges damp-heat from Yi Yi Ren Coicis Semen Job’s Tears Seed, Chinese Pearl Barley, Coix 10% ORMULA the lower burner Tu Fu Ling Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma Chinese Smilax Rhizome 10% F • Soothes the liver, Jin Yin Hua Lonicerae Flos Japanese Honeysuckle Flower 10% supplements spleen Shan Yao Dioscoreae Rhizoma Chinese Yam 9% ALLEY • Resolves heat-toxin Bai Shao Paeoniae Radix, Alba Chinese White Peony 9% V Huang Bai Phellodendri Cortex Phellondendron Bark 8% N I • Breaks up blood stasis Y Zhu Ling Polyporus Polyporus Sclerotium 8% / TONGUE Huai Niu Xi Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix Achyranthes 7% Pale, purple, or reddish Chong Lou Paridis Rhizoma Paris Rhizome 7% body; may have red sides and E Zhu Curcumae Rhizoma Zedoary Rhizome 5% ORMULA yellow coat at the back. Hong Teng Sargentodoxae Caulis Sargentodoxa Caulis 5% F PULSE IMMORTAL VALLEY FORMULA GENERAL INDICATIONS / MODERN APPLICATIONS ALLEY Slippery, maybe slightly • Abdominal distension, lower • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease V rapid, often wiry • Cervical dysplasia • Urethritis CONTRAINDICATIONS • Cervicitis • Uterine bleeding, dysfunctional Do not use during • Genital itching and swelling (with • Vaginal discharge, yellow, odorous MMORTAL dampness) • Vaginitis I pregnancy. • Herpes outbreaks, genital • Vulvar itching and pain DOSAGE • HPV Standard dosage is 2 tablets, • Yeast infections 3 times daily. • Menstrual bleeding, abnormal YIN VALLEY FORMULA INGREDIENTS YIN VALLEY FORMULA PINYIN LATIN ENGLISH % OF FORMULA FORMULA ACTIONS Long Kui Solani Nigri Herba Black Solanum 12% • Resolves heat-toxin in the Tai Zi Shen Pseudostellariae Radix Pseudostellaria Root 11% lower burner Bai Hua She She Cao Hedyotis Diffusae Herba Hedyotis, Oldenlandia 11% • Breaks up blood stasis, cools Mai Men Dong Ophiopogonis Radix Ophiopogonis Tuber 10% the blood Jin Yin Hua Lonicerae Flos Japanese Honeysuckle Flower 10% • Nourishes yin and fluids Yu Zhu Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma Aromatic Solomon’s Seal 9% Huang Bai Phellodendri Cortex Phellondendron Bark 9% TONGUE Gou Qi Zi Lycii Fructus Lycium Fruit, Chinese Wolfberry 9% Dry, cracked, or reddish tongue Han Lian Cao Ecliptae Herba Eclipta 8% body. Hong Teng Sargentodoxae Caulis Sargentodoxa Caulis 6% E Zhu Curcumae Rhizoma Zedoary Rhizome 5% PULSE Thin or thready, rapid, weak YIN VALLEY FORMULA GENERAL INDICATIONS / MODERN APPLICATIONS in kidney position. • Back pain, lower • Night sweats • Bleeding, post coital • Ovulation, light bleeding during CONTRAINDICATIONS • Cervical dysplasia • Restlessness Do not use during • Cervicitis • Seminal emissions pregnancy. • Genital itching and swelling (with- • Sexual intercourse, pain with DOSAGE out dampness) • Urethritis Standard dosage is 2 tablets, • HPV • Vaginal discharge (scanty, yellow, 3 times daily. • Menstrual bleeding (bright red or brownish, or blood streaked) brown in color) • Vaginal dryness or irritation • Menstrual cycle shortened with • Vaginitis scanty bleeding Formulae Discussion These two modern formulations,Immortal Valley Several of the actions of these two formulas are Formula (Xian Gu Fang) and Yin Valley Formula shared, as well as five key ingredients. Both formulas (Yin Gu Fang), were designed to address two distinct contain oldenlandia (bai hua she she cao), Japanese patterns of cervical dysplasia as well as other indica- honeysuckle flower(jin yin hua), phellodendron bark tions associated with the same patterns. The chief (huang bai), sargentodoxa (hong teng), and zedo- distinctions between the two formulas can be encap- ary rhizome (e zhu). Together, these five substances sulated this way: Immortal Valley Formula (Xian perform the three basic actions required for treating Gu Fang) is more applicable when there is damp- cervical dysplasia. Oldenlandia (bai hua she she cao) heat and heat from excess, while Yin Valley For- has a strong anti-neoplastic synergy with herbs that mula (Yin Gu Fang) is to be preferred when there is break up blood stasis.iv It is very strong to resolve fire deficiency heat with scant or no dampness. Hence, toxin and expel dampness, so when combined with any pelvic region indication with a damp-heat or substances that break up blood stasis, oldenlandia IMMORTAL VALLEY FORMULA GENERAL INDICATIONS / MODERN APPLICATIONS excess heat pattern can be treated with Immortal (bai hua she she cao) can effectively reduce tumors or Valley Formula (Xian Gu Fang) and any pelvic prevent them from forming out of abnormal cells.v region indication with a pattern of yin deficiency or Japanese honeysuckle flower (jin yin hua) is another deficiency heat can be treated withYin Valley For- powerful anti-toxin herb with anti-neoplastic ac- mula (Yin Gu Fang). tion.vi It is described as a “sage-like herb for sores that have perforated.” Along with oldenlandia, it is Cervical Dysplasia one of the most commonly utilized substances in (For a more thorough discussion of cervical dysplasia, the material medica for cancer and precancer treat- see Cervical Dysplasia by Cindy Micleu, Herbal Med- ments. Compared to oldenlandia, Japanese honey- cine Press, 2008.)i suckle flower is stronger to reduce swellings while Depending of the stage, cervical dysplasia is consid- oldenlandia is stronger to resolve fire toxin and ered a “precancerous” condition and therefore justi- toxic dampness. The third substance shared by both fies our attention. In most cases of mild to moder- formulas is phellodendron bark (huang bai). Phel- ate dysplasia, Chinese herbal medicine can be very lodendron bark directs the formulas to the pelvis effective at eliminating the condition. One of the and lower burner. It clears heat, dries dampness, I reasons for this is due to the ability of certain anti- resolves toxin, and prevents the ascension of defi- MMORTAL toxin herbs to destroy HPV.ii Modern medicine has ciency fire from the kidneys. It has a mild astringent identified the leading cause of cervical dysplasia to quality, which helps to protect the normal fluids. be chronic infection by the Human papillomavirus Sargentodoxa (hong teng) is the forth substance com- V (HPV). There are over 100 types of HPV, but two mon to these two formulas. In context of the three ALLEY of them, types 16 and 18, have been identified as the primary actions required in formulas that treat cervi- highest risk for developing into cervical dysplasia cal neoplasm (described above) sargentodoxa (hong F and for developing cervical cancer. teng) is a bridging herb. Not only does it clear heat ORMULA and cool blood, resolving toxin and reducing swell- Synergy of Ingredients ings, it also invigorates blood and disperses stasis. It In order to effectively resolve any pattern of cervical / is mildly antibacterial and anti-neoplastic. The fifth Y dysplasia as well as its precursors