Summary of Modern Studies on Huafen Yuxiao (Sugar Controller Formula™) Capsule

Chinese Use: Diabetes.

This product is indicated in consumptive thirst disease caused by deficiency of qi-yin which should be treated by invigorating qi, nourishing yin, replenishing fluid to arrest thirst.

In the recipe, Rhizoma Dioscoreae is sweet-plain, pertains to the spleen-lung-kidney channels, and is capable of invigorating qi, nourishing yin, strengthening spleen-lung-kidney, replenishing fluid to arrest thirst and keeping spirit. Fructus Corni is sour-punckery and warm, pertains to the liver-kidney channels, capable of replenishing yin and yang. Concerted application of both can prevent the essence of food from descending downward. Radix Rehmanniae preparata is sweet-warm, pertains to the liver-kidney channels, capable of nourishing essence. Concerted use of the above three can tonify all 3 yin channels. Fructufs Lycii is sweet-plain, pertains to the liver-kidney channels, capable of tonifying the liver and kidney, replenishing essence-blood, arresting thirst. Radix Astragali seu Hedysari is sweet-lightly warm, pertains to the spleen-lung channels, capable of benefiting the interior, invigorating qi, tonifying the lung, arresting sweating. Radix Ginseng rubra is sweet-bitter-warm, pertains to the heart-lung-spleen channels, capable of invigorating qi, keeping blood; when used with Fructus Lycii, Radix Astragali seu Hedysari, the action of invigorating qi and replenishing fluid can be strengthened. The above 6 ingredients are used as main (monarchal) ingredients, the action of which is invigorating qi, nourishing yin, replenishing fluid, arresting lung-stomach channel, capable of clearing stomach heat, nourishing stomach yin, replenishing fluid, arresting thirst, and is applied as ministerial ingredient. Radix Puerariae is cool, pertains to spleen-stomach channels, capable of clearing heat and exciting stomach function to ascend, replenishing fluid and arresting thirst. Rhizoma Anemarrhenae is bitter-sweet-cold, pertains to the lung-stomach-kidney-channel, capable of nourishing yin, moistening dryness, replenishing fluid, arresting thirst. Radix Asparagi is sweet-bitter-cold, pertains to the lung-kidney channels, capable of nourishing yin of lung-kidney, clearing lung, moistening dryness, decreasing the asthenic fire. The above 3 ingredients can strengthen the action of nourishing yin, replenishing fluid, arresting thirst. Fructus Schisandrae is sour-sweet-warm and moist, can astringe, moisten. Its action is astringing lung qi, nourishing kidney, invigorating qi, replenishing fluid, arresting thirst. Poria is sweet-plain, capable of strengthening the spleen. Concerted use of both can further strengthen its action of strengthening the spleen. Endothelium Corneum (fried) is sweet-plain, can strengthen the functions of spleen-stomach and prevent the stagnant action of ingredients of nourishing yin and also strengthening the kidney, astringing the spirit. The above six ingredients are applied as adjuvant and servant ingredients. The product can consolidate the action of treating consumptive thirst and can be administered for a long period.

Modern pharmacological studies reveal that Rhizoma Dioscoreae, Radix Ginseng rubra, Fructus Lycii, Radix Rehmanniae, Rhizoma Anemarrhenae, Radix Puerariae, and Fructus Corni lower the level of blood sugar. Solution of Rhizoma Dioscoreae lowers the blood glucose in mice, prevents and treats diabetes induced by pyrimidine, antagonizes the rise of blood sugar due to adrenalin in mice. Radix Ginseng rubra contains polypeptide which can inhibit the hyperglycemia in mice induced by adrenalin, tetra-oxy-pyrimidine; and the GS Ginseng polypeptide yields the same result. Radix Rehmanniae and its decoction, extract and alcohol extract lowers normal blood glucose in rabbit, and hyperglycemia due to adrenalin, ammonium chloride. Gastric infusion of LBP lowers the blood glucose in normal mice, prevents and treats hyperglycemia induced by tetra-oxy-pyrimidine. Rhizoma Anemarrhenae polysaccharide, when given by gastric perfusion, markedly lowers blood sugar and hepatic glycogen, but yields no effect on blood lipid. Fructus Corni alcohol extract yields marked effect of lowering blood sugar in diabetes animal models induced by adrenalin and tetra-oxy-pyrimidine, lowers the platelet aggregation and viscosity of whole blood. Its ether and ethyl acetate extracts lowers the blood glucose in rat induced by streptozotocin, its active ingredient being ursolic acid. Radix Trichosanthis elevates the blood glucose in rabbit, especially in hungry status. It also increases the contents of myoglycogen and heptoglycogen in hungry rabbit. The application of this ingredient is to tackle the hungry sensation of the patient. In addition, Poria, Radix Astragali seu Hedysari, and Fructus Schisandrae all increase the immunity so as to fight against the disease.

Clinically, this product was applied in diabetes mellitus, thirst in vegetative nervous disturbance.

1. Diabetes mellitus: 396 cases were treated. The effect of ameliorating the symptoms was better than oral hypoglycemic agents with satisfactory effect on lowering blood and urine glucose, the rate of marked effect being 21%, amelioration rate 63.1%, total effective rate being 84.1%.

2. Dry thirst due to disturbance of autonomous nervous system: this product is effective for symptoms like thirst, limosis, emaciation, frequent micturation, red tongue, feeble pulse

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.