When there is not enough Blood to nourish rest
Light, broken sleep, nights filled with dreams, waking up without feeling rested, a pale complexion, a mind that worries over nothing, mild warmth in the evening… In TCM, these signs may be associated with Blood and Yin deficiency of the Heart, Liver and Kidney. According to tradition, the Heart houses the Spirit (Shen) and the Blood anchors it: when Blood runs short, the Spirit no longer finds a place to settle, and the night shows it.
Yang Xue An Shen Wan is a modern preparation from the Chinese pharmacopoeia. Its name states its method: yang xue, nourishing the Blood, an shen, calming the Spirit. Like Suan Zao Ren Wan, it nourishes before it calms; but where the classical formula relies on a single seed, this one brings together rehmannia in both its forms, raw and prepared, and fleeceflower vine, which tradition associates with the passage from day to night.
Nourish first, and the Spirit settles
Four herbs nourish: the two rehmannias, eclipta and millettia vine replenish the Blood and Yin of the Liver and Kidney. Two herbs calm: fleeceflower vine and silk tree bark help the Spirit withdraw in the evening. Agrimony, the most abundant herb, supports strength and, being astringent, retains what the formula replenishes.
Calms the Shen: Silk tree bark releases what is constrained and calms the Spirit; tradition likens its leaflets, which fold up at dusk, to the mind withdrawing in the evening.
Nourishes the Blood and supports the Heart: Prepared rehmannia and millettia vine nourish the Blood, which the Heart governs in TCM.
Nourishes deep internal resources (Yin & Blood): Raw rehmannia and eclipta nourish the Yin of the Liver and Kidney and temper the mild warmth that accompanies dwindling Yin.
Contributes to peaceful sleep: Fleeceflower vine nourishes the Blood of the Heart and Liver, and accompanies the body through the passage from day to night.
