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Soothing theTroubled Spirit with

Blue PoppyOriginals Formulas

with Honora Lee Wolfe

Our ongoing interest in spirit

• Western practitioners of Chinesemedicine have always had moreinterest in “diseases of the essencespirit” than one sees in China.

• All of us may have differentdefinitions of what we mean by“spirit.”

• So…

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Definitions of Spirit in CMSpirit refers to the outward manifestations of

the body’s life activities, including themanifestations of both normal physiologicaland patho-physiological activities

Brightness of eyes; Color & luster of thecomplexion

Strength & clarify of speechRegularity of respirationGood appetite and digestive functionsAbility to think, act, and speak clearly and

normally

Definitions of Spirit

• Spirit is heart qi when heart qi functions aspsyche

• Spirit is nothing other than anaccumulation of qi in the heartconstructed and nourished by yin andblood (*adequate blood allows the heartto do its job of “housing” the spirit)

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Acupuncture and Essence-Spirit disorders.• Acupuncture has an immediate and

visible ability to rectify the qi ofvarious organs and tissues in thebody.

• As such, in any essence-spiritdisorder that involves mostlyrecifying qi, acupuncture is greatlyhelpful.

Herbs and Essence-spiritdisorders• When there is either:

– Excessive heat harassing the heart– Insufficiency of yin/blood not allowing

the heart to do its job of housing spirit– Phlegm or blood stasis blocking the

heart qi (and therefore spirit) fromconnecting with the outside world

Herbal intervention can be helpful!

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Classic formulas

• Xiao Yao San (rambling powder)• Yi Gan San (restrain the liver powder)• Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang (blood mansion dispel

stasis decoction)• Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan (heavenly mansion

supplement the heart elixir)• Suan Zao Ren Tang (pogostemon correct

the qi powder)

Blue Poppy Originals

• Designed to treat the most commonly seen

combinations of patterns in Western

patients with various common conditions

• Because there is such an interest in psycho-

emotional conditions in the West, Bob Flaws

created these formulas for Western

practitioners and our patients.

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Modified 11 Flavors Warm theGallbladder

Therapeutic actions: supplements the heart andfortifies the spleen, courses the liver and resolvesdepression, clears heat and transforms phlegm,quiets the spirit.

Possible indications: Insomnia, disturbing dreams ornightmares, heart palpitations, anxiety,depression, PMS, indigestion, sinusitis, headacheand TMJ syndrome, plum pit qi, easily startled.

Modified 11 Flavors Warm theGallbladder

• Ye Jiao Teng and Yuan Zhi nourishes theheart and calms the spirit

• Suan Zao Ren does the above and alsonourishes liver blood, stops abnormalsweating, clears vacuity heat to some extentas well.

• Zhu Ru, Ban Xia, and Chen Pi resolve phlegmand clear phlegm-heat, aided by HuangLian.

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Clear & Calm• Therapeutic actions: Fortifies the spleen

and boosts qi, resolves liver depressionand out-thrusts heat, downbears heartfire, seeps dampness, calms the heartand quiets and spirit.

• Possible indications: There may be hoturinary symptoms, but also irritability,anxiety, palpitations, insomnia,restlessness, possible red-tipped tonguewith sores on the tip.

Clear & Calm• Dan Zhu Ye is specific for clearing heat from the

heart, again helped by a little dose of Huang Lianand Sheng Ma. It also addresses hot painfulurination.

• Chi Shao with Bai Shao stop pain when there isboth blood vacuity and stasis at the same time.Along with Sheng Di Huang it also clears heat

• Deng Xin Cao clears heat from the heart and withChe Qian Zi helps drain damp heat throughurination and stops hot, urgent, painful urination.

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Resolve and Stabilize• Therapeutic Actions: courses the liver and

rectifies the qi, quickens the blood andtransforms stasis, clears heat, nourishesthe blood, and quiets the spirit.

• Possible indications: recalcitrant,nonhealing insomnia, possibly emotionaldepression and anxiety

• Use in pregnant women ONLY if thepatient’s pattern warrants it.

Resolve and Stabilize• E Jiao and Suan Zao Ren both nourish blood; one

the liver and one the heart. E Jiao enriches kidneyyin and Suan Zao Ren enriches heart yin.

• Dan Shen both quickens and nourishes the bloodand clears heat from the blood layer. He Huan Pialso quickens blood, but at the same time calmsthe spirit. A small dose of Chuan Niu Xi and ChuanXiong further quickens the blood.

• Xia Ku Cao cools liver heat and Chai Hu relievesthe surface, together out-thrusting depressive heat.

• Long Gu with Hu Po quiet the spirit and stoppalpitations.

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Ultimate Immortals• Since perimenopausal syndrome

often include a number of possiblepsycho-emotional complaints, thisformula addresses several of thosequite nicely, including:– Agitation and restlessness– Insomnia– Depression and irritability

Ultimate Immortals• Therapeutic actions: nourishes the

blood and enriches yin, supplementskidneys and invigorates yang, clearsheat and resolves depression,fortifies the spleen and supplementsthe heart, downbears counterflow,settles and quiets the spirit, astringesthe surface to stop sweating

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Ultimate Immortals• Possible indications: hot flashes,

night sweats, heart palpitations,anxiety, depression, fatigue,insomnia, and irritability

• Spirit-quieting medicinals includeGan Cao, Fu Ling, Long Gu, Mu Li,Fu Xiao Mai, He Huan Pi, Ye JiaoTeng, and Da Zao.

Other Formulas• Any formula that clears heat, harmonizes

the liver-spleen, supplements the qi andnourishes the blood, and recitifies qistagnation and quickens blood stasis, willgive an automatic improvement to apatient’s psycho-emotional condition.

• In the Blue Poppy Originals line, there areseveral other formulas that do thesethings in various amounts and variousways.

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For example…• Cystiquell courses the liver, rectifies the qi,

clears heat and eliminates dampness,supplements qi and quiets the spirit

• Supplement Yin and Change and Enrichboth harmonize the liver-spleen, nourishblood and quiet the spirit

• Anti-Nue Boost the Qi supplements qi,nourishes yin, clears heat, and recifies theqi.

A reminder…• If you have patients who come to you

with diagnosed Clinical Depression,Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, or someother severe psycho-emotional condition,make sure they are under the care of anMD, request their medical records, andrefer to county health officials if you heareven a hint of suicidal tendency.

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However, for milder conditions…

• Blue Poppy Originals has manyformulas specifically designed tosoothe psycho-emotional symptoms,whether as part of their specificindications or as a happy side effectbecause of the disease mechanismsthey treat.

Thanks for attending!

• Email me if you have any questionsabout these formulas.

• I do hope you’ll give them a try withyour patients.

• All good wishes to you!