Yi Gan San
Star抑肝散 (Restrain the Liver Powder)
Source: Bao Ying Cuo Yao — Xue Kai (1555)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Yi Gan San (Restrain the Liver Powder), from the Bao Ying Cuo Yao (Synopsis of Caring for Infants) by Xue Kai.
Actions: Calms the Liver and clears Liver heat; Nourishes Liver blood and strengthens the Spleen.
Presentation: Liver blood deficiency accompanied by Liver heat in infants and children: fever, being easily frightened and scared, muscle spasms and contraction, clenching of the teeth, nervousness, irritability, restlessness, insomnia, epilepsy, and alternating spells of fever and chills. Patients may also experience vomiting of saliva and sputum, and epigastric and abdominal fullness.
Pharmacological effects reported:
- Antidepressive and antinociceptive: 14 days of Yi Gan San (as well as Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang and Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang) showed both effects in mice
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 245.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chai Hu
as printed: Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri) 1.5g
|
1.5g | 8.62% | calms the Liver and clears Liver heat | |
|
Gou Teng
as printed: Gou Teng (Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis) 3g
|
3g | 17.24% | calms the Liver and clears Liver heat | |
|
Dang Gui
as printed: Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) 3g
|
3g | 17.24% | nourishes Liver blood and softens the Liver | |
|
Chuan Xiong
as printed: Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong) 2.4g
|
2.4g | 13.79% | nourishes Liver blood and softens the Liver | |
|
Bai Zhu
as printed: Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, chao (dry-fried)) 3g
|
3g | 17.24% | strengthens the Spleen | |
|
Fu Ling
as printed: Fu Ling (Poria) 3g
|
3g | 17.24% | strengthens the Spleen | |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Gan Cao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae) 1.5g
|
1.5g | 8.62% | harmonizes the herbs |
Energetics dose-weighted
The formula's overall nature, taste balance and channel reach, weighted by each herb's dose. Classical formulas often pair warm and cool herbs on purpose, so a net figure summarises the mix — it doesn't describe every herb in it.
Nature
Net neutral (+0.22)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cool 26%, neutral 26%, warm 48%.
Pairs warm and cool. 48% of the weighed grams are warm or hot and 26% cool or cold — the net is their average, not the whole story.
Taste
- pungent 27%
- sweet 52%
- bitter 13%
- bland 9%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Spleen 60%
- Liver 57%
- Heart 43%
- Pericardium 40%
- Lung 26%
- Stomach 26%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
Dose-weighted from each herb's recorded nature, taste and channels (missing values are left out, never counted as neutral). It describes the composition — it is not a recommendation.
Preparation
Prepare as a decoction.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- Chai Hu An Shen Tang = this formula + Xiao Chai Hu Tang + Da Huang Gan Cao Tang + Gui Zhi, Mu Li, Suan Zao Ren, Xi Yang Shen, Ye Jiao Teng and Zhi Zi
Each entry reads as the larger formula written out: “+” adds its other catalogue cores, then the herbs none of them hold. A catalogue formula counts as a core only when at least 80% of its herbs are present, no more than 1 is absent, and the absent herb is not its chief.
Formula Network
Formulas that share herbs with this one — the closer to the centre, the stronger the match. Click a node to explore.
Similar Formulas by composition
Match score combines dosage-weighted composition (cosine, 70%) with shared-herb overlap (Jaccard, 30%).
Traditional formula information is for educational purposes only. Herbal formulas should be prescribed by a qualified practitioner — dosages and combinations are individualized and can interact with medications.
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