What diseases are treated with Chinese herbal formula granules?

Generally, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula granules are made from traditional TCM decoction pieces as raw materials, processed through modern techniques such as extraction, concentration, drying, and granulation, and are provided in granular form for clinical prescription use. TCM formula granules can treat various diseases including cold due to wind-cold, stomach pain, irregular menstruation, insomnia, and others. Specific applications are as follows:

1. Cold Due to Wind-Cold

A cold caused by external contraction of wind-cold pathogenic factors commonly presents with symptoms such as severe chills, mild fever, absence of perspiration, headache, and body or joint aches. TCM formula granules, such as Mahuang Decoction Granules, composed of granules of Ephedra (Mahuang), Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi), Apricot Seed (Xingren), and Honey-fried Licorice (Zhi Gancao), can induce perspiration to relieve the exterior condition, relieve lung congestion, and alleviate asthma, effectively easing symptoms of cold due to wind-cold.

2. Stomach Pain

Stomach pain is often caused by irregular diet, excessive fatigue, or prolonged illness leading to weakness and damage to the spleen and stomach. The main symptoms include dull epigastric pain, preference for warmth and pressure, and pain when hungry. Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction Granules, containing granules of Saussurea (Muxiang), Amomum (Sharen), Codonopsis (Dangshen), Atractylodes (Baizhu), Poria (Fuling), etc., can invigorate qi, strengthen the spleen, harmonize the stomach, and relieve pain, and are used to treat this type of stomach pain.

3. Chest Stagnation (Xiongbi)

Chest stagnation is often caused by internal invasion of cold pathogens, emotional disharmony, or dietary irregularities, leading to obstruction of the heart meridian. Symptoms include fixed stabbing chest pain, palpitations, and restlessness. Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction Granules, containing granules of Peach Seed (Taoren), Safflower (Honghua), Angelica (Danggui), Rehmannia (Shengdihuang), etc., can activate blood circulation, resolve blood stasis, regulate qi flow, and relieve pain, improving symptoms of chest stagnation due to obstruction from blood stasis.

4. Irregular Menstruation

Irregular menstruation is often caused by emotional depression or anger damaging the liver, leading to impaired liver function in coursing and diffusing and disharmony of qi and blood. Symptoms may include menstrual cycles that are either earlier or later than usual, varying menstrual flow, and distending pain in the chest, ribs, and breasts. Xiaoyao San Granules, composed of granules of Bupleurum (Chaihu), Angelica (Danggui), Paeonia (Baishao), Atractylodes (Baizhu), etc., can course the liver, relieve depression, nourish blood, and regulate menstruation, thus managing irregular menstruation caused by liver qi stagnation.

5. Insomnia

Insomnia is often caused by excessive worry or insufficient production of qi and blood. Symptoms include difficulty falling asleep, frequent dreams with easy awakening, palpitations, forgetfulness, dizziness, blurred vision, and fatigue in the limbs. Guipi Decoction Granules, composed of granules of Codonopsis (Dangshen), Atractylodes (Baizhu), Honey-fried Astragalus (Zhi Huangqi), Honey-fried Licorice (Zhi Gancao), etc., can tonify the heart and spleen, nourish blood, and calm the mind, improving insomnia due to deficiency of both the heart and spleen.

In daily life, maintaining emotional stability and avoiding long-term exposure to negative emotions such as anxiety, tension, and depression is important. Listening to music, walking, and chatting with friends can help relieve stress, regulate emotions, and help prevent various diseases caused by emotional factors, such as liver qi stagnation type of irregular menstruation and heart-spleen deficiency type of insomnia.