Treats the following symptoms:
Relaxed Wanderer is made by adding Cortex Moutan and Fructus Gardeniae to the basis of the Merry Life Formula, which nourishes Liver Blood and smooth Qi, Cortex Moutan and Fructus Gardeniae clear the Liver Fire. Therefore, Relaxed Wanderer has the effect of nourishing Liver Blood, smoothing Liver Qi and clearing Liver Fire. The occurrence of Liver Fire is mostly generated by long time Liver Qi Stagnation, so Relaxed Wanderer is widely used for the syndromes of Liver Stagnation, Blood Deficiency and Heat. For example acne, depression, moodiness, hyperactivity syndrome in adolescents and various liver diseases and liver detoxification and gynaecological diseases like PMS, irregular and early menstruation, with the symptoms of irritability, restlessness, dry mouth and red tongue.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that for mild to moderate depression with anxiety Relaxed Wanderer was as effective as Setraline (Zoloft), but its effect was felt sooner and was deemed to be safer and less expensive that its western medicine counterpart.
Another randomized, controlled study found that Relaxed Wanderer provided benefits to sleep quality comparable to benzodiazepine.
ACNE
Disease description:
Acne is the most common skin disease globally. It is primarily a hormone-related condition of the sebaceous glands which occurs mainly in adolescents during puberty and has various degrees of severity. Common acne symptoms are oily skin with pimples, pustules and blackheads that develop over time and persist, unlike normal pimples. They can also leave small red spots or scars. Acne occurs mainly on areas of the body with a particularly large number of sebaceous glands, such as the face, chest, neck, upper arms and back.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Teenagers, full of life vitality, have more chance to build up imbalance of Yin and Yang or Stagnation and Heat in the Lungs, Liver and Blood from fatty food or stress. The Heat blocks the surface of the face and body, which leads to symptoms of acne rash.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Kidney Yin Deficiency Heat
Recommended formulas to use:
Liver Stagnation and Yin and Yang imbalance
This pattern is similar to the one caused by Kidney Yin Deficiency Heat. The main difference is that acne worsens before or during menstrual periods or stress. Patient is also easily angry.
Recommended formulas to use:
Damp Heat
Patients usually suffer from red skin pimples with pustules and abscesses.
Recommended formulas to use:
Blood Stagnation
Recommended formulas to use:
DEPRESSION
Disease description:
Everyone knows a phase in life when you are sad and can’t be happy about anything. Certain signs indicate that it is a serious mental illness, a depression, and not only a temporary phase: a depressed mood, suffer from loss of interest and joylessness, exhaustion and lacking in drive, persist over a longer period. They affect central life functions and can lead to sleep disorders, concentration problems, loss of appetite and libido and can even develop into physical symptoms such as pain, stomach pressure or headaches.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chinese medicine believes that the occurrence of depression is mainly a Liver dysfunction which affects the Heart, Spleen, Kidney and other organs. It leads to Stagnation and reversal of Qi, retention of endogenous Phlegm, Blood Stasis and Shen disturbance.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Liver Qi Stagnation
Liver Qi Stagnation can disturb Spleen function and generate Phlegm or it can generate Heat or Blood Stagnation. It can lead to irritability, lack of social interest, breast distension, poor appetite.
Main Formula: Merry Life Formula
or Relaxed Wanderer if additionally, symptoms like increased irritability, red face, restlessness and dry mouth occur, which is a pattern of Liver Heat.
or Smooth Liver if stress related rib-side pain or stomach pain
Recommended formulas to use:
Phlegm Retention
Phlegm blocks the flow of Qi and disturbs Heart Shen, causing: depression, lack of social interest, significant changes in appetite and/or bodyweight, chest oppression, feeling of a lump in the throat, brain fog can occur.
Recommended formulas to use:
Liver Qi Stagnation and Kidney Yang Deficiency (often seen in old patients)
Liver Qi Stagnation and Kidney Yang Deficiency are leading to: depression, extreme tiredness, lack of social interest, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, back pain, cold feeling.
Combine Tonic Yang with either Merry Life or Smooth Liver
Recommended formulas to use:
EARLY MENSTRUATION (CYCLE LESS THEN 21 DAYS)
Typical symptoms:
early menstruationDisease description:
Menstruation refers to the days when the menstrual blood flows from the vagina. A cycle is the time from the first day of menstruation to the last day before the next menstruation. This is different for every woman but normally takes happens about every 21 to 35 days. Usually, menstrual bleeding occurs 28 days after the last period. Normally menstruation starts with heavier bleeding, which becomes lighter over the next few days. The light red blood becomes darker and darker. The menstrual period lasts three to six days and at the end, there may well be spotting with old, brownish blood. As a rule, women lose a total of about 50-60 millilitres of blood during menstruation.
Cycle disturbances or irregularities in the female cycle can occur, which relate to the frequency, duration and strength/heaviness of menstruation. They are normal immediately after the first menstrual period, as menstruation and hormonal changes must first settle down.
There are many causes of cycle disturbances. Since the cycle is hormonally controlled, hormonal disorders, as well as diseases of the female sexual organs, are most often the cause of changes. Moreover, medication, genetic disposition, physical or psychological stress can also be the cause of cycle problems.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Qi and Blood is an important factor in maintaining the menstrual cycle. No matter what causes Qi and Blood Disorders, it will lead to early menstruation. If there is Heat in the Blood, it will disrupt the natural flow of the Blood making it overflow from the vessels. The Spleen works to restrict the Blood to run in the Blood vessels, therefore a weak Spleen won’t be able to control the Blood, leading to the Blood will overflowing. Congenital Kidney Qi Deficiency can also manifest as early menstruation because Kidney Qi is the basis for maintaining menstruation.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Blood Heat
Early periods which are heavy with bright red or dark red blood, can also be associated with anxiety, irritability, mental restlessness, red face, thirst, dark urine, dry stools, a sensation of heat, sweating.
Recommended formulas to use:
Qi and Blood Deficiency
Early periods, pale watery blood, shortness of breath, loose stools, epigastric distension, fatigue.
Recommended formulas to use:
Kidney Qi Not Firm
Early periods, pale watery blood, low back pain, dizziness, nocturia, feeling of cold.
Recommended formulas to use:
IRREGULAR MENSTRUATION (CYCLE LENGTH CHANGES)
Typical symptoms:
irregular menstruationDisease description:
Menstruation refers to the days when the menstrual blood flows from the vagina. A cycle is the time from the first day of menstruation to the last day before the next menstruation. This is different for every woman but normally takes happens about every 21 to 35 days. Usually, menstrual bleeding occurs 28 days after the last period. Normally menstruation starts with heavier bleeding, which becomes lighter over the next few days. The light red blood becomes darker and darker. The menstrual period lasts three to six days and at the end, there may well be spotting with old, brownish blood. As a rule, women lose a total of about 50-60 millilitres of blood during menstruation.
Cycle disturbances or irregularities in the female cycle can occur, which relate to the frequency, duration and strength/heaviness of menstruation. They are normal immediately after the first menstrual period, as menstruation and hormonal changes must first settle down.
There are many causes of cycle disturbances. Since the cycle is hormonally controlled, hormonal disorders, as well as diseases of the female sexual organs, are most often the cause of changes. Moreover, medication, genetic disposition, physical or psychological stress can also be the cause of cycle problems.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
The Liver, Spleen and Kidney are most closely related to menstruation. The main reason for the Liver to cause irregular menstruation is the poor smooth function of Liver Qi. The Kidney is the other organ which is closely related to menstruation. Kidney Deficiency can cause less menstruation and a cold feeling. The Cold, Heat and Dampness are disturbing Liver and Kidney and Spleen functions, blocking the blood flow and cause irregular and delayed menstruation.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Liver Qi Stagnation
Scanty bleeding, clots, abdominal and breast distension, premenstrual tension, depression, sighing, irritability.
Merry Life Formula or if symptoms like restlessness or vivid/ bright red period blood, use: Relaxed Wanderer
Recommended formulas to use:
Kidney Yang Deficiency
Recommended formulas to use:
Kidney Yin Deficiency
Scanty periods, dizziness, blurred vision, night sweating, thirst.
Recommended formulas to use:
ITCHY SKIN RASHES
Typical symptoms:
itchy skin rashDisease description:
An acute or intermittent redness of the skin is called a skin rash. Skin rashes are itchy and discolour the skin red in a very short time, can affect anyone and usually come as a surprise. There are as many manifestations as there are causes. Possible causes include children’s diseases, allergies, intolerance to medicines and general infectious diseases.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chinese medicine believes that itching skin is caused by Wind Evils interfering with the Ying and Wei functions of skin (Ying is nutrition stay under the skin which nourishes Wei, and Wei is a function of skin). The occurrence of Wind Evil can be an External Wind, Damp, Heat, or Cold which attack the skin and take advantage of the Qi Deficiency, resulting in impaired Ying and Wei function; or due to Blood Heat or Blood Deficiency and Blood Dryness, which generate Wind, Qi and Blood disorder and interfere with the skin’s Ying and Wei function.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Disharmony of Ying and Wei
Itchy skin, possible rashes that worsen after exposure to wind or cool wind in the morning.
Recommended formulas to use:
Wind-Heat
Red, itchy skin rashes that worsen in hot weather.
Recommended formulas to use:
Damp Heat
Pale red skin that weeps after scratching, vesicular rashes, erosion.
Recommended formulas to use:
Blood-Heat & Dryness
Chronic red, itchy, scaly rashes, telangiectasia, reddening of the face, a sensation of heat, worse before and after menstruation.
Recommended formulas to use:
OEDEMA
Typical symptoms:
water retention (oedema)Disease description:
Oedema is a condition where fluid leaks from the vessels and accumulates in the surrounding tissue, resulting in swelling in those areas. Most often, the arms or legs are affected, since the fluid is most likely to accumulate there due to gravity. Mild oedema often occurs after prolonged sitting or standing. During pregnancy or just before menstruation, hormone-induced oedema may appear. Injuries may also lead to oedema, but they disappear on their own. Causes of water retention can also be numerous diseases and metabolic disorders. This is particular for generalised oedema, where fluid accumulates and swells throughout the body.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
In Chinese Medicine the metabolic process of aqueous fluid is centred on the Spleen, Lung and Kidney. After the liquid is generated, it is first transferred by the Spleen’s ascending function to the Lung. The Lung receives the water from the Spleen and spreads it all over the body. Kidney Yang maintains the metabolism of water and fluid and promotes the function of the Spleen and Lung in the metabolism of water and fluid. If any of the three organs, Spleen, Lung or Kidney malfunctions, it can cause obstacles in the distribution and excretion of water, causing water to stay in the body and produce oedema.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Heart and Lung Qi Deficiency and Damp with Water Retention
Oedema of whole body or legs, fatigue, shortness of breath, pale complexion, palpitations.
Recommended formulas to use:
Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water Retention
Recommended formulas to use:
Liver Qi Stagnation and Water Retention
Oedema of whole body or legs, irregular period, premenstrual syndrome.
Expel Water Retention + Merry Life Formula or Relaxed Wanderer
Recommended formulas to use:
PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME (PMS)
Typical symptoms:
abdominal pain, depression, fatigue, headache, irritability, low libido, mood swings, water retention (oedema)Disease description:
Many young women in particular, have sometimes severe symptoms before or at the beginning of their menstruation, which is called “premenstrual syndrome” (PMS). Strong hormonal changes and other physical processes around the menstrual period are the cause, but in most women, these decrease over the years. Possible physical symptoms include for example headaches and chest tightness, abdominal pain, circulation problems, weight gain, oedema and indigestion. Psychological symptoms include lack of concentration, exhaustion, listlessness, hypersensitivity, irritability and mood swings.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
The occurrence of PMS is closely related to the Liver, Spleen and Kidney, with the Liver being the most important. The Liver is the most prone to be affected through the Spleen due to Liver Qi Stagnation, and Liver Blood needs the nourishment of Kidney Essence. Therefore, the clinical common pathological conditions are Liver Qi Stagnation, Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency, Phlegm Fire harassing upwards.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Liver Qi Stagnation and Blood Deficiency
Abdominal and breast swelling, irritability, moodiness, depression, restlessness, insomnia, weepiness, tiredness, hypochondriac pain and swelling.
Merry Life Formula or, if very restlessness and irritated, sweating, hot feeling use: Relaxed Wanderer