Nuan Gan Jian暖肝煎

Warm the Liver Decoction

Regulating Qi 理气剂Promote the Movement of Qi 行气

Ingredients7 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

当Dang Gui当归Angelicae Sinensis Radix6g臣 DeputyNourishes Liver blood so the channel is not merely warmed but filled 枸Gou Qi Zi枸杞子Lycii Fructus9g臣 DeputySupplements Liver and Kidney essence, addressing the deficiency that let the cold in 小Xiao Hui Xiang小茴香Foeniculi Fructus6g君 ChiefWarms the Liver channel and settles pain in the lower abdomen and genitals 肉Rou Gui肉桂Cinnamomi Cortex3g君 ChiefWarms the Kidney and the Liver channel and drives out the settled cold 乌Wu Yao乌药Linderae Radix6g臣 DeputyMoves qi through the lower burner and relieves the dragging pain 沉Chen Xiang沉香木香亦可Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum3g臣 DeputyDirects qi downward and warms without drying; Mu Xiang may replace it 茯Fu Ling茯苓Poria6g佐 AssistantSupports the Spleen and leaches out the damp that cold leaves behind

Indications

Warms and tonifies the Liver and KidneyDisperses cold in the Liver channelMoves qi and stops pain

Cold congealing in the Liver channel on a base of Liver and Kidney insufficiency. Because the deficiency came first, dispersing alone gives only temporary relief; the formula warms and fills at the same time as it moves.

Clinical Manifestations

Cold, aching pain in the testicle or scrotum
Lower abdominal pain relieved by warmth
Recurrent hernial pain in a person who is easily cold
Cold lower abdomen with a pale complexion and low energy
Cold-type period pain in a constitutionally deficient patient

TonguePale with a white coating

PulseDeep and slow

Health Categories

Women's HealthFertility SupportMen's Health

Modern Applications

Inguinal hernia pain Chronic orchialgia Varicocele discomfort Dysmenorrhoea Chronic pelvic pain

Common adjustments

Cold severe with marked chill — add Wu Zhu Yu 吴茱萸 and Gan Jiang 干姜
Pain severe — add Yan Hu Suo 延胡索 and Li Zhi He 荔枝核
Marked Kidney yang deficiency with sore lower back — add Du Zhong 杜仲 and Ba Ji Tian 巴戟天
Blood deficiency prominent — increase Dang Gui 当归 and add Bai Shao 白芍
Chen Xiang unavailable — the source text allows Mu Xiang 木香 in its place

Contraindications

Not for damp-heat pouring into the lower burner, where the scrotum is hot, red and swollen, and not for yin deficiency with rising fire — the formula is warm and sweet and would aggravate both. Acute severe testicular pain remains a surgical emergency whatever the constitution, and needs assessment before any herbal treatment.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Contraindicated in pregnancy. Rou Gui is hot, Dang Gui and Wu Yao move blood and qi, and the whole prescription is directed at the lower burner. Cold lower abdominal pain in pregnancy should be assessed conventionally, not self-treated.

References

Source Jing Yue Quan Shu 《景岳全书》 · Ming

「治肝肾阴寒，小腹疼痛，疝气等证。」
— 《景岳全书》(classical source, public domain)

Classical source (public domain), cited in the source-quote section.
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— pattern analysis cross-checked.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.