Chinese: 良附丸
Pinyin: Liáng Fù Wán
Other names: Galangal and Cyperus Pill, Alpinia–Cyperus Pill
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that promote Qi movement
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: DysmenorrheaPeptic ulcersChronic gastritis
- Warms the Middle Burner
- Dispels Cold
- Promotes the movement of Qi
- Alleviates Pain
Contraindications: Contraindicated in patients with Heat in the Liver and Stomach, or where there... Contraindicated in patients with Heat in the Liver and Stomach, or where there is bleeding. The formula is also contraindicated during pregnancy as it enters the Liver, Stomach, and eight Extraordinary Vessels where its strong Qi-moving properties may induce miscarriage. see more
Source date: 1842 AD
Source book: Small Collection of Fine Formulas
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Liang Fu Wan is a 2-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Lesser Galangal Rhizomes (Gao Liang jiang) and Coco-Grass Rhizomes (Xiang Fu) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1842 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that promote Qi movement. Its main actions are: 1) warms the Middle Burner and 2) dispels Cold.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Liang Fu Wan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Cold invading the Stomach, Large Intestine Cold or Cold invading the Large Intestine. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers or dysmenorrhea for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the two ingredients in Liang Fu Wan, we review the patterns and conditions that Liang Fu Wan helps treat.
The two ingredients in Liang Fu Wan
Gao Liang jiang is a king ingredient in Liang Fu Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Lesser Galangal Rhizomes (Gao Liang jiang)
In general Gao Liang jiang's main actions are as follows: "For any conditions of Cold in the Middle Burner where there are symptoms such as pain in the abdominal region, vomiting, diarrhea and chronic inflammation in the digestive tract caused by Cold."
In the context of Liang Fu Wan, it is used because it enters the Stomach, warms the middle, disperses cold, and stops pain.
Xiang Fu is a king ingredient in Liang Fu Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Coco-Grass Rhizomes (Xiang Fu)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSanjiaoSpleen
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
Xiang Fu enters the Qi aspect of the Liver and the Triple Burner channel to regulate their Qi, thereby unblocking the movement of Qi in all of the twelve primary and eight extra Channels. It also excels at relieving Stagnation.
Conditions and patterns for which Liang Fu Wan may be prescribed
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Liang Fu Wan is used by TCM practitioners to treat three different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Chronic gastritis Peptic ulcers Dysmenorrhea
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Liang Fu Wan treats chronic gastritis" for instance. Rather, Liang Fu Wan is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind chronic gastritis.
Now let's look at the three patterns commonly treated with Liang Fu Wan.
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Cold invading the Stomach
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Tight (Jin)
Symptoms: Nausea Cold limbs Feeling of cold Severe epigastric pain Vomiting of clear fluids Preference for warm drinks and foods Feeling worse after drinking cold drinks
Liang Fu Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Cold invading the Stomach. This pattern leads to symptoms such as severe epigastric pain, feeling of cold, cold limbs and preference for warm drinks and foods. Patients with Cold invading the Stomach typically exhibit deep (Chen), slow (Chi) or tight (Jin) pulses.
Pathogenic Cold blocks the Stomach and prevents Stomach-Qi from descending, hence the vomiting and the pain.
Cold impairs the Yang of the Stomach and Spleen and prevents the food essences from reaching the body, hence the feeling of cold, the Slow pulse, the preference for warm liquids and... read more about Cold invading the Stomach
The Large Intestine is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Large Intestine in Chinese Medicine
Large Intestine Cold
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
Symptoms: Borborygmi Cold limbs Loose stools Abdominal pain Clear urination
Liang Fu Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Large Intestine Cold. This pattern leads to symptoms such as loose stools, abdominal pain, borborygmi and clear urination. Patients with Large Intestine Cold typically exhibit deep (Chen) or weak (Ruo) pulses.
This is an Empty Cold pattern which is caused by prolong Deficiency of Spleen Yang. The Yang fails to warm the Large Intestine, hence the symptoms of dull abdominal pain and cold limbs. The function of absorbing Body Fluids is also impaired and thus the patients develop loose stools like duck... read more about Large Intestine Cold
The Large Intestine is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Large Intestine in Chinese Medicine
Cold invading the Large Intestine
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Tight (Jin)
Symptoms: Diarrhea Abdominal pain Feeling of cold Cold sensation in abdomen
Liang Fu Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Cold invading the Large Intestine. This pattern leads to symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, feeling of cold and cold sensation in abdomen. Patients with Cold invading the Large Intestine typically exhibit deep (Chen) or tight (Jin) pulses.
Like the Stomach and the Uterus, the large Intestine is one of the three Organs that the external Cold can invade directly. It is a Full Cold pattern and the Cold Evil penetrates the Defensive Qi and resides in the Large Intestine. The Cold then impairs the Qi circulation of the Lower Burner, hence... read more about Cold invading the Large Intestine
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