When the limbs lack suppleness
Heavy limbs, tightness in the calves, a body that lacks suppleness on waking and takes time to get going, discomfort that increases in damp weather… In TCM, these signs may be associated with Sinews (Jin) that are not sufficiently nourished by the Blood and are weighed down by Dampness. According to tradition, the Liver, which stores the Blood, governs the Sinews: when they lack Blood, they tighten; when Dampness lingers in them, they grow heavy.
Mu Gua Wan is a formula from the Chinese pharmacopoeia, built around Chinese quince (Mu Gua), which the tradition regards first and foremost as a fruit for the Sinews. It explains this affinity by its flavour: sourness goes to the Sinews (酸能走筋). Our formula combines it with four herbs that nourish the Blood, move it and set Qi in motion again.
Softening with sourness, moving with pungency
Three herbs in equal parts form the base of the formula. Quince and white peony, both sour, relax the Sinews and nourish the Liver; bitter orange moves Qi. Spatholobus vine nourishes the Blood while moving it, and magnolia bark, more aromatic, dries the Dampness of the centre.
Supports joint comfort and suppleness: Quince relaxes the Sinews and opens the “connecting vessels”, the small vessels that link the meridians: according to tradition, this is its primary action.
Relaxes the sinews: White peony nourishes Liver Blood, which in turn nourishes the Sinews; sour and sweet, it helps what is tight to release.
Helps transform Dampness: Quince transforms Dampness and harmonises the Stomach; magnolia bark, bitter and warm, dries the Dampness that weighs down the centre and the limbs.
Harmonises the Qi and Blood: Spatholobus vine nourishes the Blood and moves it, bitter orange moves Qi: the Blood reaches the Sinews better when Qi carries it along.
