Gu Jing Wan: A Classic Chinese herbal medicine for Women's Health

Gu Jing Wan, also known as the "Menses-Securing Pill," is a time-honored prescription from Danxi's Heart Method, authored by Zhu Danxi, a prominent physician of the Yuan Dynasty.

Renowned in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) gynecology, this Chinese herbal medicine formula is designed to address irregular and heavy menstrual bleeding, particularly when caused by Yin deficiency and blood heat. Over centuries, TCM practitioners have extensively studied and applied Gu Jing Wan, affirming its effectiveness in promoting women’s reproductive health.

固經丸

What is Gu Jing Wan?

Chinese herbal medicine, Gu Jing Wan is a gentle yet powerful herbal blend that nourishes Yin, clears excess heat, regulates menstruation, and stops abnormal bleeding.

It targets conditions like heavy periods, prolonged bleeding, or spotting, especially when linked to internal imbalances. By restoring harmony to the body’s Yin and blood systems, it supports women’s health holistically.

Key Ingredients and Their Roles

Following the TCM principle of "monarch, minister, assistant, and envoy," Gu Jing Wan’s ingredients work together to achieve balanced healing:

• Monarch Herbs (Main Herbs):

  • Scutellaria Baicalensis: Clears heat, cools blood, and stops bleeding. It targets heat in the upper body, particularly the lungs, which helps reduce heat-related bleeding in the intestines.

  • White Peony Root: Nourishes Yin and blood, softens the liver, and relieves pain caused by Yin deficiency and heat.

• Minister Herbs (Supporting Herbs):

  • Tortoise Shell (Gui Ban): Nourishes liver and kidney Yin, suppresses deficiency fire, and strengthens the body’s core vitality.

  • Phellodendron Amurense (Huang Bai): Clears heat and dampness in the lower body, addressing disruptions in the Ren meridian that cause bleeding.

• Assistant Herbs:

  • Chinese Toon Root Bark: Clears heat, cools blood, and enhances the formula’s ability to stop bleeding.

  • Cyperus Rotundus: Soothes liver Qi, regulates menstruation, and relieves pain by ensuring smooth Qi and blood flow.

This synergistic blend tackles both symptoms and root causes, promoting menstrual health and overall balance.

How Chinese herbal medicine Gu Jing Wan Works

Understanding the Pathogenesis

Gu Jing Wan addresses menstrual irregularities caused by Yin deficiency and blood heat. In TCM, Yin deficiency leads to insufficient cooling and nourishing energy, allowing internal heat to build up.

This heat disrupts the Chong and Ren meridians, which govern menstruation, causing:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)

• Prolonged periods or spotting

• Dark, purple, or clotted menstrual blood

• Vaginal bleeding (metrorrhagia)

These symptoms are often accompanied by Yin deficiency signs, such as lower back pain, warm palms and soles, a red tongue, and a rapid pulse.

Treatment Approach

Gu Jing Wan restores balance through a multi-faceted approach:

1. Nourish Yin: White Peony Root and Tortoise Shell replenish Yin to cool the body and address deficiency.

2. Clear Heat: Scutellaria and Phellodendron reduce blood heat, calming the meridians and stopping excessive bleeding.

3. Regulate Menstruation: Cyperus Rotundus ensures smooth Qi flow, reducing pain and stabilizing periods.

4. Stop Bleeding: Chinese Toon Root Bark and Scutellaria cool and stabilize blood to prevent abnormal bleeding.

This comprehensive strategy not only relieves symptoms but also strengthens the body’s foundation.

固經丸

Benefits of Gu Jing Wan

Gu Jing Wan is highly effective for women experiencing:

• Heavy or Prolonged Periods: Reduces excessive menstrual flow and shortens bleeding duration.

• Irregular Bleeding: Stops spotting or metrorrhagia caused by heat and Yin deficiency.

• Pain and Discomfort: Eases menstrual pain and symptoms like lower back soreness or warm extremities.

• Holistic Balance: Restores Yin-Yang harmony, improving overall reproductive health.

In clinical settings, it’s commonly used for conditions like functional uterine bleeding and chronic adnexitis, where heavy bleeding or spotting stems from Yin deficiency and blood heat.

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Modern Applications

Modern research highlights Gu Jing Wan’s pharmacological benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-regulating effects, which align with its traditional uses. In contemporary TCM, it’s widely prescribed for:

• Functional uterine bleeding

• Chronic adnexitis with heavy or irregular periods

• Menstrual disorders linked to Yin deficiency and heat

By addressing both symptoms and underlying imbalances, Gu Jing Wan improves quality of life and supports long-term wellness.

Precautions and Considerations

Gu Jing Wan is most effective when used correctly. Key points to note:

• Syndrome Differentiation: It’s designed for metrorrhagia and menorrhagia caused by Yin deficiency and blood heat. Look for signs like dark, thick menstrual blood, a red tongue, and a rapid, stringy pulse.

• Dosage: Typically, take 6g twice daily with warm water, or as a decoction per the original formula’s proportions. Follow a practitioner’s guidance.

• Contraindications: Avoid in cases of excessive cold, dampness, or weak spleen and stomach, as the formula’s cooling nature may worsen these conditions.

• Adverse Reactions: Some may experience mild gastrointestinal discomfort or allergic reactions. Stop use and consult a doctor if these occur.

Always consult a qualified TCM practitioner to ensure the formula suits your condition.

Conclusion

Gu Jing Wan is a cornerstone of TCM gynecology, offering a natural and effective solution for menstrual irregularities caused by Yin deficiency and blood heat. With its blend of nourishing, cooling, and regulating herbs, it not only stops heavy bleeding but also restores balance to the body’s vital systems. Whether addressing heavy periods or supporting overall reproductive health, Gu Jing Wan remains a trusted remedy, bridging ancient wisdom with modern wellness.

Chinese Name	固經丸
Phonetic	Gu Jing Wan
English Name	Menses-Securing Pill
Classification	Astringent formulas
Source	《Teachings of [Zhu] Dan-xi》Dan Xi Xin Fa《丹溪心法》
Combination	Scutellariae Radix (Huang Qin dry-fried) 1 liang (30g), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Bai Shao dry-fried) 1 liang (30g), Testudinis Plastrum (Zhi Gui Ban vinegar-fried) 1 liang (30g), Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex (Huang Bai dry-fried) 3 qian (9g), Ailanthi Cortex (Chun Gen Pi) 7.5 qian (22.5g), Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiang Fu) 2.5 qian (7.5g)
Method	Grind the medicinals into a fine powder, sieve and blend together. Use water to form the powder into pills. Take 6g as a draft twice a day and swallow with warm, boiled water. This formula can also be prepared as a decoction by adjusting the medicinal quantities based on the original ratios.
Action	Enriches yin and clears heat, consolidates the channels and stanches bleeding.
Indication	Gu Jing Wan is designed for flooding and spotting due to yin deficiency and blood heat. The symptoms include flooding and spotting or profuse menstruation that is dark or purple, feverish sensation in the palms and soles, weakness and soreness in the loins and knees, a red tongue body, and a rapid pulse.
Pathogenesis	The corresponding disorders treated by this formula are mostly caused by liver and kidney yin deficiency and intense ministerial fire that impair the chong mai and ren mai, causing them to push out blood. Qi stagnation and blood stasis due to liver constraint, together with blood heat, result in purple-black menstrual clots. Yin deficiency results in vigorous fire that leads to a feverish sensation in the palms and soles and weak, sore loin and knees. Red tongue body and a wiry pulse indicate constrained heat. Therefore, the treatment should aim at enriching yin and clearing heat, regulating menstruation, and stanching bleeding.
Application	1. Essential pattern differentiation Gu Jing Wan is commonly used for flooding and spotting or profuse menstruation due to blood heat. This clinical pattern is marked by dark red or purple-black, sticky menses, red tongue, wiry, rapid pulse. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders when the patient shows signs of yin deficiency and blood heat signs: dysfunctional uterine bleeding, profuse or prolonged scanty uterine bleeding resulted from chronic adnexitis.
Remark	Reeves' Terrapin (Chinemys reevesii / Mauremys reevesii) is listed as "Endangered" in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Also, it is listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix III. Its trade is regional control and subject to permits or certificates of origin.