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            Dr. Pan's Clinic of TCM


 

TCM Pharmacological analysis of Ru Xiang and Mo Yao   By Heather Thompson

 

The combination of Ru Xiang and Mo Yao form a ¡°natural pair¡± frequently used together in formulas and combinations because their actions complement and reinforce one another. They are both in the ¡®Blood Invigorator¡¯ category of TCM Medicinal substances and share many common properties including that they enter the Heart, Liver and Spleen meridians.  Authors Chen & Chen in Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology, state ¡°Mo Yao, stronger in dispersing blood stagnation and eliminating blood stasis¡­¡± while ¡°Ru Xiang, stronger in activating blood circulation and relaxing tendons¡­¡±[1] Because of this synergy and the use of these two herbs so frequently as a pair they will be presented together rather than separately.

 

Chemical Elements:

Pin Yin

Ru Xiang

Mo Yao

Latin

Gummi Olibanum

Commiphora Myrrha

Common

Frankincense

Myrrha

Chemical Elements

a-boswellic acid

b- boswellic acid

olibanoresene

arabic acid

bassorin

pinene

dipentene

a-phellandrene

b- phellandrene

heerabomyrrholic acid

commmiphoric acid

commiphorinic acid

heerabomyrrhol

heeraborescene

commiferin

ergenol

m-cresol

cumin aldehyde

pinene

dipentene

limonene

cinnamic aldehyde

heerabolene

 

It is interesting to note that Ru Xiang and Mo Yao do have the chemical compounds of pinene and dipentene in common.

 

Pharmacological Effects:

Ru Xiang

Mo Yao

1.            Analgesic

¡°Ru Xiang has a demonstrated and marked effect in humans and laboratory animals¡±[2]

1.         Antihyperlipdemic

Has been shown to reduce blood cholesterol in humans and rabbits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clinical Research:

Ru Xiang

Mo Yao

No research was found that looked at Ru Xiang individually.

 

1.         Hyperlipdemia

Mo Yao was shown to reduce cholesterol when administered three times daily in a dose of 0.1 mg concentrated extract in capsule form. In this form it was 65.7% effective[3]

2.         Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

60 cases treated with ¡°Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang¡± showed a total effectiveness rate of 92%[4]

3.         Hypochondriac Pain

Patients with hypochondriac pain due to Hepatitis found topical application of a towel soaked in the herbs: Ru Xiang, Mo Yao Bie Jia and Wu Ling Zhi for one hour decreased pain. In 32 patients, 21 showed substantial improvement, 9 showed slight to moderate improvement and 2 had no response.[5]

 

4.         Pain analgesia

The combination of Ru Xiang and Mo Yao ¡°has demonstrated analgesic properties in treating chest pain, and colicky or sharp pain.¡±[6]

 

5.         Post Herpetic Neuralgia

40 cases were treated with decoction of ¡°Chai Hu Shu Gan Yin Modification¡± containing Chai Hu,
Zhi Shi, Ru Xiang, Mo Yao, Bai Shao, Yuan Hu, Chuang Xiong Xiang Fu, Xi Xin, and Gan Cao taken twice daily for 10 days. The total effective rate was 95%.[7] First published by Yang Hong, et al. Treating 40 cases of on postherpetic neuralgia with modified Chai Hu Shu Gan San. Hebei Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy. 1998;13(3):6.

 

6.         Chronic Endometriosis

A study done with 180 women divided into groups of 135 subjects and 45 control. The Test group were given the formula ¡°Zao Ci Ru Mo Tang¡± with or without modifications. The Control group were given antibiotics, hemostatics or sex hormones not the formula. Both groups were treated over three menstrual cycles and all the women were married aged 23 to 54. In the Test group the total effective rate was 96.3%  while in the Control group it was 67%[8]

 

7.         Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

A study of 92 cases by Fan et al.showed a total effectiveness of 97.9% using iontophoresis with the following herbs: Ru Xiang, Mo Yao, Xue Jie, Hong Hua, Dang Gui, Chi Shao, Xiang Fu, Gui Zhi, Hua Jiao, Bai Hua She She Cao, Pu Gong Yin, Bai Jiang Cao and Dan Shen[9]. Medterms.com defines Ionotophoresis as: A transdermal delivery system in which a substance bearing a charge is propelled through the skin by a low electrical current.

 

Another study of chronic pelvic inflammation found that combined antibiotic therapy with a retention enema and topical application of Chinese herbs was more effective than antibiotic therapy alone. The herbs used in the topical application were: Wu Jia Pi, Ru Xiang, Mo Yao, Dang Gui Wei, Fang Feng, Qiang Huo, Sang Ji Sheng, Chi Shao, Ai Ye, Hua Jiao, Xue Jie, Hong Hua, Tou Gu Cao, Du Huo, and Qian Nian Jian.[10]

 

8.         Hyperplasia  of the Mammary Glands

78 cases were treated with decoction of ¡°Chai Hu Shu Gan Yin Modification¡± of which Ru Xiang and Mo Yao were constituents. The decoction was given 2-3 times daily for one month. ¡°32 cases were resolved, another 33 showed significant improvement, 11 cases showed some improvement and 2 cases did not improve.¡±[11]

 

Another 56 cases were treated with the modified formula with a total effective rate of 96.4%.[12]

 

9.         Peyronie's disease

In a study by Zhang Bao-xing and Zhang Hai of 30 cases of Peyronie¡¯s disease were treated for 3 months with ¡°Chu Jie Tang¡± which contains Ru Xiang and Mo Yao. The men involved in the study were between 20 and 60 years old. The total effective rate for this treatment was 100% at least in part based on the definitions for ¡®cure¡¯ as ¡°disappearance of sclerosis and nodulation, no curvature of the penis during erection, and no aching or pain¡±[13] and ¡®marked effect¡¯ as ¡°partial softening and lessening of penile sclerosis and nodulation, improvement in any aching and pain, and curvature of the penis during erection¡±[14] The study was originally published in Shan Xi Zhong Yi (Shanxi Chinese Medicine), #4, 2001, on page 43.

 

10.     External injury

Once or twice daily topical application of a herbal paste made from Ru Xiang and Mo Yao in equal proportions and 30% rubbing alcohol ¡°showed satisfactory results in patients suffering from acute sprain of the lower back and legs¡±[15]

 

 

Known Cautions, Contraindications and Toxicities:

 

1.                  Both Ru Xiang and Mo Yao need to be used with caution in patients with sensitive stomachs because the bitter taste can induce nausea and vomiting in sensitive individuals.

 

2.                  Generally the dose of Mo Yao is lowered when it is combined with Ru Xiang. The current general guideline for dosages is 3-10 g each.

 

3.                  Use of both Ru Xiang and Mo Yao are contraindicated in pregnancy.


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References:

Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology: Chen, John K., Chen, Tina, T.; Art of Medicine Press, 2001.

 

Shanxi Journal of TCM. 2000;16(2):60. Fan Mei Xia, et al. ¡®Treating 92 cases of chronic pelvic inflammation by iontophoresis with Chinese herbs.¡¯ Weblink: http://content.nhiondemand.com/moh/media/TCMHC1.asp?objID=100973&ctype=tcmhc#fn113866

 

 

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients; 8/1/2003; Flaws, Bob. ¡®Chinese medicine & diabetic acromelic gangrene.(Chinese Medicine Update)¡¯. (Abstracted and adapted from The Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus With Chinese Medicine by Bob Flaws, Lynn Kuchinski, and Robert Casanas, Blue Poppy Press, Boulder, CO, 2003). Weblink: http://www.highbeam.com/library/docfree.asp?DOCID=1G1:107201192&ctrlInfo=Round19%3AMode19a%3ADocG%3AResult&ao=

 

Gansu Journal of TCM. 1995;8(4):34. Li Zheng Qing. ¡®60 cases of chronic pelvic inflammation treated with Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang (Decoction for removing blood stasis in the chest).¡¯ Weblink: http://content.nhiondemand.com/moh/media/TCMHC1.asp?objID=100973&ctype=tcmhc#fn113866

 

 

Hebei Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy. 1998;13(3):6. Yang Hong, et al. ¡®Treating 40 cases of on postherpetic neuralgia with modified Chai Hu Shu Gan San.¡¯ weblink: http://content.nhiondemand.com/moh/media/TCMF1.asp?objID=101006&ctype=tcmf

 

Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients December 2004, Chinese Medicine Update, Flaws,Bob. Shan Xi Zhong Yi (Shanxi Chinese Medicine), #4, 2001, p 43. Zhang Bao-xing and Zhang Hai.,¡®The Treatment of 30 Cases of Penile Sclerosis & Nodulation with Chu Jie Tang (Eliminate Nodulation Decoction)¡¯, weblink: http://www.townsendletter.com/Dec2004/chinesemed1204.htm

 

Journal of Guiyang College of TCM. 2000;22(1):27-29. Zhu Xiu Xia. ¡®128 cases of pelvic inflammation treated with a combination of Chinese and Western medicine.¡¯  Weblink: http://content.nhiondemand.com/moh/media/TCMHC1.asp?objID=100973&ctype=tcmhc#fn113866

 

(ACTA CHINESE MEDICINE AND PHARMACOLOGY, Vol.28 No.133 Page24 the 5th issue in 2000/10) Clinical Observation on 180 cases of Chronic Endometritis treated by "Zao Ci Ru Mo Tang" Weblink:  http://www.sbcom.edu/main/main_tr4.html

 


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[1] Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology: Chen, John K., Chen, Tina, T.; Art of Medicine Press, 2001. P 629

[2] Ibid p 627

[3] Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology: Chen, John K., Chen, Tina, T.; Art of Medicine Press, 2001. P 629

[4] http://content.nhiondemand.com/moh/media/TCMHC1.asp

[5]Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology: Chen, John K., Chen, Tina, T.; Art of Medicine Press, 2001. P 629

[6] Ibid

[7] http://content.nhiondemand.com/moh/media/TCMF1.asp?objID=101006&ctype=tcmf Yang Hong, et al. Treating 40 cases of on postherpetic neuralgia with modified Chai Hu Shu Gan San. Hebei Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy. 1998;13(3):6.

[8] Clinical Observation on 180 cases of Chronic Endometritis treated by "Zao Ci Ru Mo Tang" http://www.sbcom.edu/main/main_tr4.html

[9] http://content.nhiondemand.com/moh/media/TCMHC1.asp

[10]  Zhu Xiu Xia. 128 cases of pelvic inflammation treated with a combination of Chinese and Western medicine. Journal of Guiyang College of TCM. 2000;22(1):27-29. http://content.nhiondemand.com/moh/media/TCMHC1.asp?objID=100973&ctype=tcmhc#fn113866

[11] http://content.nhiondemand.com/moh/media/TCMF1.asp?objID=101006&ctype=tcmf ; He Xiao Li. Treating 78 cases of hyperplasia of mammary glands with modified Chai Hu Shu Gan Tong. Yunnan Journal of TCM and Chinese Drug. 1999;20(3):26.

[12] http://content.nhiondemand.com/moh/media/TCMF1.asp?objID=101006&ctype=tcmf ; He Zeng Fu. Clinical observation on treating 56 cases of hyperplasia of mammary glands with modified Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang. Yunnan Journal of TCM and Chinese Drug. 1997;18(3):26-27

[13] http://www.townsendletter.com/Dec2004/chinesemed1204.htm

[14] ibid

[15] Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology: Chen, John K., Chen, Tina, T.; Art of Medicine Press, 2001. P 627

 

Last modified: 12/13/10