Feed Your Head
An Analysis of Bu Nao Wan
Bu Nao Wan: A Formulation Analysis
Today I’m going to look at a popular premade (a.k.a. patent) formula and note the variations between manufacturers. I decided to fold in some things I picked up from taking a dui yao (herb combination) course with Mark Frost at A.C.T.C.M. for the doctoral program.
The formula is called Bu Nao Wan (Tonify the Brain Pills). It is a modern formulation which is used to calm the spirit and treat focus and memory issues. The brands I surveyed were Solstice (Chinese teapills available on Amazon), Kan, Herbal Times, Plum Flower, and Guang Ci Tang. There was a lot of overlap between the formulations, with the outlier being Guang Ci Tang. But most of the brands stuck to the core treatment principles, which are something that can be useful if one is looking for ideas for formulas or modifications to treat these sorts of issues.
Core treatment principles
Nourish Heart, Calm Spirit
This is a key treatment principle for this formula. Suan Zao Ren, Wu Wei Zi, Bai Zi Ren, Yuan Zhi are found together in almost all the formulations. Suan Zao Ren and Wu Wei Zi are both quite sour and so are good for countering scattered mental forms and keeping the Hun in check. I’ll touch on Yuan Zhi in a bit.
Supplement Yang & Blood to Boost Essence
One of the ideas I picked up from Mark Frost’s lectures is that to supplement jing-essence, combine yang tonics with blood tonics. Hu Tao Ren and Yi Zhi Ren are found in most of the Bu Nao Wan formulations, combined with Gou Qi Zi (which tonifies blood and essence) and Dang Gui. Since Hu Tao Ren and Yi Zhi Ren are sort of unofficially associated with the brain (Hu Tao Ren through doctrine of signatures, as it resembles a brain, and Yi Zhi Ren through its name, “seed to benefit intelligence”), the specific action in combining with the blood tonics can be seen as boosting the essence specifically in the sea of marrow (i.e., the brain). There has been research (Haider et al., 2011) that shows enhanced learning and memory with Hu Tao Ren/walnuts. Hu Tao Ren and Yi Zhi Ren and are both mild as yang tonics go, thus suitable for longer-term use.
Additions or substitutions of yang tonics in the different formulations include Rou Cong Rong and Suo Yang. Guang Ci Tang eliminates the yang tonics and Gou Qi Zi altogether, instead opting to nourish essence with Huang Jing, and adding Zhi Mu to clear deficiency heat.
Transform Phlegm & Open Orifices
These two categories are related in their acrid and aromatic tastes and their action of sweeping phlegm and turbidity from the heart and sensory orifices. This is important in treating “brain fog”, and almost all of the versions of this formula have a key dui yao combination for this function: Yuan Zhi and Shi Chang Pu. Shi Chang Pu is traditionally indicated for clouding and veiled sensorium and has been the subject of much research in which it is posited to be beneficial in treating neurodegenerative disorders (see for example Mao et al., 2015). Its combination with Yuan Zhi and blood tonics has likewise been studied for its effects on cognitive function (Park et al., 2015).
Most of the formulations also contain Tian Nan Xing and/or Tian Zhu Huang from the Transform Phlegm category. Tian Nan Xing disperses phlegm in the channels and Tian Zhu Huang clears phlegm-heat and cools the heart; both can be used to treat spasms and tremors due to wind-phlegm.
Anchor Yang & Extinguish Wind
Most of the formulations contain “heavy settlers” which anchor yang and calm the spirit, such as Hu Po and Long Gu, and/or herbs which extinguish wind like Tian Ma and Gou Teng. My notes from Mark Frost’s course say that Hu Po is more clarifying than anchoring, which I believe to be the case as it is sweet and neutral. It also quickens blood and promotes urination. It can be combined with Shi Chang Pu to good effect, and with Chuan Xiong can increase circulation of blood to the brain. Plum Flower switches out Hu Po for Zhen Zhu; on the Mayway website there is an explanation of problems with importation of Hu Po, which is regrettable since it is a favorite substance of mine.
From the Extinguish Wind category, Tian Ma is included in most formulations; Gou Teng is found in one (none of the brands pair the two). Tian Ma has a host of neuroprotective effects that I save for another post.
Additionally…
Herbal times includes Chuan Xiong and Bai Zhi, both of which help direct the actions of the formula to the head. Unfortunately, Herbal Times does not include Hu Po, which would give the Hu Po + Chuan Xiong combination noted above.
Here’s the comparison chart of the formulations:
Note: this newsletter is for information purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please seek the opinion of a health care professional for any specific medical issues you may have.
References
Haider, S., Batool, Z., Tabassum, S., Perveen, T., Saleem, S., Naqvi, F., Javed, H., & Haleem, D. J. (2011). Effects of walnuts (Juglans regia) on learning and memory functions. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands), 66(4), 335–340. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-011-0260-2
Mao, J., Huang, S., Liu, S., Feng, X.-L., Yu, M., Liu, J., Sun, Y. E., Chen, G., Yu, Y., Zhao, J., & Pei, G. (2015). A herbal medicine for Alzheimer’s disease and its active constituents promote neural progenitor proliferation. Aging Cell, 14(5), 784–796. https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.12356
Park, M. Y., Jung, Y. S., Park, J. H., Choi, Y. W., Lee, J., Kim, C. M., Baek, J. U., Choi, B. T., & Shin, H. K. (2015). PMC-12, a prescription of traditional Korean medicine, improves amyloid β-induced cognitive deficits through modulation of neuroinflammation.. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM, 2015, 768049. https://doi-org.ciis.idm.oclc.org/10.1155/2015/768049