Xiāng Fù (Cyperus)
🌱- Primary Action Spreads Liver Qì and resolves constraints.
- Secondary Action Regulates menses and alleviates pain.
- Character Neutral, Acrid, Bittersweet. Acts on LV, GB, SJ.
Yì Mǔ Cǎo (Motherwort)
🌿- Primary Action Invigorates Blood and regulates menses.
- Secondary Action Promotes urination and reduces swelling/edema.
- Character Acrid, Bitter, Slightly Cold. Acts on HT, LV, BL.
Qì and Blood Harmonization
In gynecology, Qì stagnation often leads to Blood stasis. Xiāng Fù is the "Commander of Qì" and a specialist for the Liver, clearing emotional frustration and physical tension. Yì Mǔ Cǎo is the "Mother's Herb," specifically moving Blood in the Uterus.
Dynamic: Xiāng Fù addresses the source of tension (Qì), while Yì Mǔ Cǎo addresses the physical manifestation (Blood). Together, they are indispensable for PMS, dysmenorrhea, and postpartum recovery.
Relative Action Intensity
How they prioritize Qì vs. Blood level issues.
Pharmacology and Kinetics
Uterine modulation and anti-spasmodic effects.
| Parameter | Xiāng Fù (Cyperus) | Yì Mǔ Cǎo (Motherwort) |
|---|---|---|
| Key Components | Cyperene, Cyperol, flavonoids. | Leonurine, Stachydrine. |
| Biological Mechanism | Anti-spasmodic (uterine muscle relaxation); analgesic; mild estrogenic. | Uterotonic (contraction modulation); improves micro-circulation; diuretic. |
| Action Type | Spreading, Neutral, Moving Qì. | Contracting/Moving, Cooling, Moving Blood. |
| Best For | Emotional PMS, breast distension, irregular Qì. | Postpartum lochia, dark clots, menstrual edema. |
Formula Architecture
The "Gynecological Pivot" Lineage
| Formula Name | Pair's Role | Clinical Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Xiāng Fù Yì Mǔ Tāng | Chief Pair | The primary decoction for painful or irregular menses due to stagnation. |
| Dàn Zhēn Sàn | Blood Invigorators | Specifically used for postpartum abdominal pain and lochia retention. |
Clinical Insight
This pair represents the "Flow Restoration" dynamic. While Xiāng Fù acts as the Wind in the Sails (moving the Qì), Yì Mǔ Cǎo acts as the Current in the Water (moving the Blood). Together, they resolve the "double stagnation" often at the root of chronic gynecological pain.