LIU, Jian

WANG, Xiao-yun

XU, Ying

Elsevier - Publisher Connector 

 Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, March 2010, Vol. 30, No. 1 
 
44 
 
 
 
Prof. WANG Xiao-yun’s Experience in Treating Climacteric Syndrome 
from the Pathogenesis of Kidney Deficiency and Liver Stagnancy  
 
XU Ying 许英 1, LIU Jian 刘建 2 & Supervisor: WANG Xiao-yun 王小云 3  
1Doctoral Student of Grade 2007, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 
Guangdong 510405, China  
2Doctoral Student of Grade 2009, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 
Guangdong 510405, China  
3Department of Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 
Guangdong 510120, China  
 
 
Prof. WANG Xiao-yun, a chief physician in the 
Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou TCM 
University (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of TCM), 
is a leading physician, professor, and the supervisor 
of doctoral students in the national key subject of 
TCM gynecology. Having been engaged in TCM 
gynecological clinical practice and scientific 
researches for about 30 years, Prof. WANG has 
obtained rich experience in the treatment of obstinate 
and miscellaneous diseases of gynecology, especially 
in the analysis of pathogenesis and differential 
treatment of climacteric syndrome. Based on the 
TCM theory and clinical experience, Prof. WANG 
holds that deficiency of the kidney and stagnancy of 
the liver should be the main pathogenesis for 
climacteric syndrome, which should be treated by 
tonifying the kidney and soothing the liver. The 
commonly used herbs may include Bai Shao (白芍
Radix Paeoniae Alba), Chi Shao (赤芍 Radix 
Paeoniae Rubra), Bai Zhu ( 白 术 Rhizoma 
Atractylodis Macrocephalae), Yu Jin (郁金 Radix 
Curcumae), Shan Yu Rou (山萸肉 Fructus Corni), 
Qian Hu (前胡 Radix Peucedani), Dang Shen (党参
Radix Codonopsis), Huai Shan Yao (淮山药 Rhizoma 
Dioscoreae), Shu Di (熟地 Radix Rehmanniae 
Preparata), Fu Shen (茯神 Poria cum Ligno Hospite), 
Chuan Duan (川断 Radix Dipsaci), Dang Gui (当归
Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Xiang Fu (香附 Rhizoma 
Cyperi), Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan Radicis), Di Yu (地
榆 Radix Sanguisorbae), Di Gu Pi (地骨皮 Cortex 
Lycii), Gan Jiang (干姜 Rhizoma Zingiberis), Sang 
Bai Pi (桑白皮 Cortex Mori), and Duan Mu Li (煅牡
蛎 calcined Concha Ostreae, etc.). By following Prof. 
WANG in clinical practice, the authors have summed 
up the experience in use of Chinese herbs for treating 
climacteric syndrome, and introduced as follows.  
Tonifying the Kidney Should Better Tonify both 
the Liver and Kidney, and Treat Yin and Yang at 
the Same Time1 
For patients with deficiency of the kidney, Prof. 
WANG often uses Xian Ling Pi (仙灵脾 Herba 
Epimedii), Shu Di ( 熟 地 Radix Rehmanniae 
Preparata) and Du Zhong (杜仲 Cortex Eucommiae), 
because they can enter both the Liver and Kidney 
Channels, with the effects for both the liver and 
kidney. In order to obtain a perfect effect of 
nourishing the kidney-yin, the herbs for warming the 
kidney-yang should be properly added. Prof. WANG 
points out that most of the patients with climacteric 
syndrome may tend to have the symptoms of tidal 
fever with flushed face, dizziness and vertigo, 
tinnitus, and soreness and weakness of the waist and 
knee joints, for which the differential treatment 
should be mainly nourishing yin and tonifying the 
kidney. However, it was described in Su Wen (素问
                                                        
Correspondence to: Prof. WANG Xiao-yun, Department of 
Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional 
Chinese Medicine, 111 Dadelu, Guangzhou 510120, China 
Email: zp@gdivdc.com  Tel: 86-20-81887233-36703 
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, March 2010, Vol. 30, No. 1 
 
45 
 
Plain Questions) by SHANG Ying-zong that ‘the 
yang-qi is rooted in yin, and the yin-qi is rooted in 
yang. Yang can not be generated without yin, and yin 
can not be formed without yang’. Therefore, the use 
of Xian Ling Pi (仙灵脾 Herba Epimedii) and / or 
Rou Cong Rong (肉苁蓉 Herba Cistanches), the 
herbs for warming and tonifying the kidney-yang, is 
aimed at ‘seeking yin from yang’. Moreover, the 
herbs of cold nature for nourishing yin are liable to 
cause stagnation of qi. So, suitably adding of the 
herbs of warm nature can invigorate yang-qi, so as to 
soothe the stagnated liver-qi.  
Herbs Used in Pairs 
In clinical practice, Prof. WANG often uses the herbs 
in pairs, for example, Han Lian Cao (旱莲草 Herba 
Ecliptae) with Nü Zhen Zi (女贞子 Fructus Ligustri 
Lucidi); Shu Di (熟地 Radix Rehmanniae Preparata) 
with Bai Shao (白芍 Radix Paeoniae Alba); Bai Shao 
(白芍 Radix Paeoniae Alba) with Xiang Fu (香附
Rhizoma Cyperi); Bai Shao (白芍 Radix Paeoniae 
Alba) with Chi Shao (赤芍 Radix Paeoniae Rubra); 
Dang Gui (当归 Radix Angelicae Sinensis) with Bai 
Shao (白芍 Radix Paeoniae Alba); and Xiang Fu (香
附 Rhizoma Cyperi) with Dang Gui (当归 Radix 
Angelicae Sinensis), etc.. These pairs of herbs may 
show synergistic actions with better therapeutic 
effects.  
1) The compatible use of Han Lian Cao (旱莲草
Herba Ecliptae) and Nü Zhen Zi (女贞子 Fructus 
Ligustri Lucidi): These two herbs can enter both the 
Liver and Kidney Channels, and tonify yin of the 
liver and kidney. The joint use of the two can treat 
both the liver and kidney to exert specific and 
stronger action. Prof. WANG thinks that the two 
herbs, being nutritious but not greasy, can be 
administered for a long time to give slow lasting 
tonification, so they are suitable for patients with 
climacteric syndrome who need long-term herbal 
regulation.  
2) The compatible use of Shu Di (熟地 Radix 
Rehmanniae Preparata) with Bai Shao (白芍 Radix 
Paeoniae Alba): Being sweet in taste and warm and 
moistening in property, Shu Di ( 熟 地 Radix 
Rehmanniae Preparata) may show the effects of 
tonifying the kidney, replenishing the essence, and 
nourishing the blood. Being sour in taste and slightly 
cold in nature, Bai Shao (白芍 Radix Paeoniae Alba) 
has the specific action of entering the liver to nourish 
and enrich the blood. Since the essence and blood are 
of the same source and are mutually generating, the 
compatible use of these two herbs can strengthen the 
effects of treating both the liver and kidney, and 
generating the essence and enriching the blood.  
3) The compatible use of Bai Shao (白芍 Radix 
Paeoniae Alba) with Xiang Fu (香附 Rhizoma 
Cyperi): With a sour and bitter taste and slightly cold 
in nature, Bai Shao (白芍 Radix Paeoniae Alba) has 
the special effects of nourishing yin and softening the 
liver. Xiang Fu (香附 Rhizoma Cyperi) has the effect 
of relieving the depressed liver and is good at 
activating the circulation of qi, so it is called ‘the 
commanding herb for qi diseases’. The compatible 
use of these two herbs, with one for reinforcing and 
one for reducing, will benefit both qi and blood, 
which is suitable for climacteric syndrome with 
disorder of qi, blood, yin, and yang.  
4) The compatible use of Bai Shao (白芍 Radix 
Paeoniae Alba) with Chi Shao (赤芍 Radix Paeoniae 
Rubra): Bai Shao (白芍 Radix Paeoniae Alba) has the 
effect of nourishing the blood and astringing the yin 
fluid, while Chi Shao (赤芍 Radix Paeoniae Rubra) 
has the effect of cooling the blood and activating the 
blood flow. When used together, the two herbs can 
supplement each other to yield the effects of 
nourishing yin without astringing the pathogens, and 
activating the blood flow without injuring the 
vital-qi.  
5) The compatible use of Dang Gui (当归 Radix 
Angelicae Sinensis) with Bai Shao (白芍 Radix 
Paeoniae Alba): Dang Gui (当归 Radix Angelicae 
Sinensis) can activate the blood flow and dominate 
motion, while Bai Shao (白芍 Radix Paeoniae Alba) 
can astringe yin and dominate stillness. When used 
together, the two herbs can supplement each other in 
balancing motion and stillness, and activation and 
astringency.   
 Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, March 2010, Vol. 30, No. 1 
 
46 
 
6) The compatible use of Xiang Fu (香附 Rhizoma 
Cyperi) with Dang Gui (当归 Radix Angelicae 
Sinensis): With the pungent and circulating, the bitter 
and descending properties, Xiang Fu (香附 Rhizoma 
Cyperi) acts on the Liver Channel and is good at 
relieving the stagnated liver-qi, so it is called ‘the 
commander in chief for women diseases’. Dang Gui 
(当归 Radix Angelicae Sinensis), pungent, sweet and 
warm in nature, and specially acting on the blood, 
can give the effects of nourishing and regulating the 
blood, and activating the blood flow. When used 
together, the two herbs can supplement each other to 
treat qi and blood at the same time, and promote the 
circulation of qi and blood without damaging the 
blood.  
Regulating Deficiency and Excess of the Liver and 
Kidney Should Be in According with the 
Characters of Zang-fu Organs   
As described in FU Qing-zhu’s Obsterics and 
Gynecology, ‘the character of the liver is 
quick-tempered, and the liver-qi should be made calm; 
otherwise, there would appear hyperactivity of the 
liver-qi’. For stagnation of the liver-qi, the herbs for 
relieving the stagnated liver-qi, nourishing the blood 
and softening the liver are often used, such as Xiang 
Fu (香附 Rhizoma Cyperi), Bai Shao (白芍 Radix 
Paeoniae Alba), and Yu Jin (郁金 Radix Curcumae). 
Chai Hu (柴胡 Radix Bupleuri) should be used 
cautiously in case the liver-yin might be injured.  
Consideration Given to the Local Climate  
The climate in the Guangdong and Guangxi area of 
China is warm, wet and rainy. So, patients there with 
climacteric syndrome would have the symptoms 
mingled with heat and damp. For this kind of patients, 
Prof. WANG often adds some herbs in the 
prescription for eliminating damp, such as Su Mi Xu 
(粟米须 tassels of Semen Setariae) and Chun Sha 
Ren (春砂仁 Fructus Amomi). Prof. WANG has 
special experience in the use of Su Mi Xu (粟米须
tassels of Semen Setariae), which, with light clear 
flavor and light sweet taste, has the effects of 
removing dampness and promoting diuresis, perfectly 
suitable for the cases of climacteric syndrome 
mingled with the symptoms of dampness.  
Attention Paid to the Emotions  
Prof. WANG holds that the patients with climacteric 
syndrome tend to have abnormal emotional 
manifestations, such as irritability and peevishness, 
depression, and susceptibility to grief. For this case, 
psychologically counseling the patients to relieve the 
abnormal emotional state is very important.  
The first step: Guide the patient to say what is on her 
mind without reservation. The doctor may have 
heart-to-heart talks with the patient, so as to learn the 
cause of the illness.  
The second step: Guide the patient to unbosom 
herself at will. The doctor may ask the patient to 
relax her emotion by watching some tragic films, so 
as to let out the harmful substances resulted from bad 
emotions along with tears.  
The third step: Making joy prevailing over grief. The 
patients with climacteric syndrome tend to have the 
emotion of grief and sorrow. For such patients, we 
should make full use of the positive action of 
emotions, using one emotion triumphing over the 
other, that is, ‘joy’ triumphing over ‘grief’.  
In treating climacteric syndrome, based on the TCM 
pathogenesis of kidney-deficiency round the men- 
opausal period, Prof. WANG always pays great 
attention to the liver stagnancy shown in women of 
the modern times. And by sticking to the treating 
principle of tonifying the kidney and soothing the 
liver, Prof. WANG has obtained satisfactory 
therapeutic effects.  
 (Translated by WANG Xin-zhong 王新中) 
Received November 19, 2009
  


Prof. WANG Xiao-yun's Experience in Treating Climacteric Syndrome from the Pathogenesis of Kidney Deficiency and Liver Stagnancy 

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Prof. WANG Xiao-yun's Experience in Treating Climacteric Syndrome from the Pathogenesis of Kidney Deficiency and Liver Stagnancy

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