Summary of modern studies on Longhu Yugan(LiverEase™) Capsule

Chinese Use: Chronic hepatitis, hepatofibrosis.

The indication for this product include injury of Yin-yang-blood–Qi on the basis of the spleen-liver-kidney injured by protracted damp-heat accumulation, resulting in the condition of “retained damp-heat pathogens with stagnant liver and deficiency of both Qi and Y in”. The treating principles is clearing heat, eliminating dampness, soothing the liver, activating the blood circulation, nourishing Yin and benefiting Qi.

In this herbal formula, Herba Gentian is heavily bitter and cold and pertains to the liver-gallbladder channels. It clears the excessive fire in liver and gallbladder, reduces the damp-heat there; being the main ingredient. Rhizoma Polygoni cuspidate is bitter and cold, pertaining to the liver-gallbladder channel. It also reduces its damp-heat. Radix curcuma is pungent, pertaining to the liver-gallbladder channel. Its nature is active and dispersing, activating blood circulation and Qi flowing to arrest pain, It also clears the damp-heat in liver and gallbladder, soothing the liver. Both ingredients strengthen the action of Herba Gentiana and served as ministerial ingredient. Radix Salviae miltiorrhzae is bitter and cold, it cools blood and activated blood circulation, clears stagnant heat; Radix Paeoniae rubra is bitter cold, pertains to the liver channel, has affinity to the blood level. Radix Angelic sinensis is sweet and warm; it is an essential blood tonic. It nourishes blood, activates blood circulation to arrest pain. It expels pathogens without harming the body. The above three herbs strengthen the action of activating Qi flowing and arresting pain by Radix Curcuma and are the adjuvant ingredients. Herba Abri is sweet, slight bitter and cool. It clears the damp-heat, disperses blood stasis to arrest pain, and strengthen the action of ministerial ingredients and it is also an adjuvant ingredient. Radix Bupleuri is pungent and cold, pertains to the liver channel. It disperses and eliminates heat, soothing the liver, descends the clear Yang and checks collapse, especially good to disperse the pathogens in the semi-superfacial-semi-interio level. Since liver has a Yang function and substantial Yin, it is averse to stagnation and fond of dispersion. When the damp-heat is stagnant in the interior, large amount of bitter-cold drugs should to be applied. To avoid the inhibition of Qi of liver-gallbladder, Radix Bupleuri is applied as an adjuvant to cushion the bitter-cold ingredients from over-reducing and over-descending. It also ushers the other ingredients to the liver. In order to avoid hurting the spleen and kidney by large amount of bitter-cold drugs, also in order to avoid injuring the metal (lung) by the wood and fire which may worsen the Qi and Yin, hence, Radix Atractylodes macrocephali and Rhizoma Polygonati are applied to strengthen the spleen and kidney; Carapax Trinycis and Fructus Schisandrae are applied to nourish Yin and benefit Qi. In short, this formula is reducing and benefiting, expelling pathogens without injuring the body. All of these ingredients work together to yield the effect of clearing heat, eliminating dampness, soothing the liver, activating blood circulation, nourishing Yin and benefiting Qi.

Modern pharmacological studies show that Herba Gentiana is capable of protecting the liver, facilitating bile discharge, strengthening body immunity. Its decoction, when injected to mice, can protect it from acute injury to the liver induced by CCl₄, ameliorate the liver tissue injury, increase the content of glycogen. It also facilitates the bile discharge in dog and rat. Radix Curcuma, Rhizome Polygoni cuspidate yield anti B-hepatitis virus effect. Experiments show that the decoction of Rhizome Polygoni cuspidate inhibits the B-hepatitis antigen. The extract of Radix Curcuma protects the liver from injury due to CCl₄, its volatile oil constracts the gallbladder to promote bile discharge and decrease the urobilin in urine. Radix Bupleuri, Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae, Radix Angelica sinensis, Radix Paeoniae rubra and the Fructus Schisandra are all of liver-protective effects. The saikosaponin in Radix Bupleuri yields action of stabilizing the cellular membrane of liver cell, promotes the recovery of tissues and regeneration of liver cell after injury. The decoction of Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae improves the regeneration of liver cells and DNA synthesis, normalizes the flowing ability of cellular membrane of liver cell. It protects liver by promoting the microcirculation, inhibiting fibrosis, restraining the TXA2 and TXB2, regulating immunity and fighting free radical. Radix Angelica sinensis and Radix Paeoniae rubra increase rats’ survival rate by markedly protecting the injured liver induced by D-galactosamine, Radix Angelica sinensis also improves the regeneration of liver cell. The oral intake of the decoction of Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae by mice protects the liver injury due to CCl₄, decreases the necrosis and degeneration of hepatic cell, lowers the elevated content of alanine aminotransferase. The active ingredients include schisandrin B and C in Fructus Schisandra can lessen the injury of liver induced by CCl₄ in animal. Rhizoma Polygonati and Herba Abri lower the inflammation reaction and improve immunity.

These twelve herbal ingredients work together to yield coordinated action of protecting liver, facilitating bile discharge and improving the recovery of liver injury.

Excerpt from A Guide to TCM Products, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2003

This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases.