:Hachimijiogan:
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Ba-Wei-Wan
Six Flavor Teapills

:Hachimijiogan is a traditional Chinese herbal formula used to treat cataracts, containing 8 herbs in the following ratios: Alismatis rhizome (6), Rehmanniae root (12), Cornus fruit (6), Dioscoreae rhizome (6), Hoelen (6), Moutan bark (5), Cinnamon bark (2), and Aconite root (1). The combination is taken 150 to 300 mg per day.

Hachimijiogan may also contain:

• Rehmannia root
• Poria whole plant
• Dioscoreae rhizome (Chinese yam root)
• Asiatic dogwood aerial part
• Barrenwort aerial part
• Water plantain aerial part
• Astragalus root
• Cassia bark.

The Six Flavor formula is the basis of many other formulas, and is one of the most important formulas in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Six Flavor tea pills are taken for Liver and Kidney Yin deficiency, which can be due to an over-active or excessive lifestyle. Symptoms include low back pain, weak back and knees, pain in the heel or sole of the foot, excessive thirst, mental restlessness, headache, dizziness, blurry vision, night sweats, burning and frequent urination, and dark rings under the eyes.

In one study of mice with hereditary cataracts, the formula delayed cataract formation by an equivalent of 13.9 human years. It improved regulation of potassium and sodium within the lens, acted as a slight antioxidant, and dramatically stimulated the sodium-potassium ATP-ase pump, which helps prevent cataracts.

Kamei A, et al. The evaluation of therapeutic efficacy of hachimi-jio-gan (traditional Chinese medicine) to mouse hereditary cataract. J Ocul Pharacol 4(4):311-9, 1988.

Rat studies also have shown beneficial effects including delay of diabetic-type cataracts, with improvements in regulation of sodium, potassium and calcium.

Kamei A, et al. The evaluation of therapeutic efficacy of hachimi-jio-gan (traditional Chinese medicine) to rat galactosemic cataract. J Ocul Pharmacol 3(3):239-48, 1987.

Research has shown that proper glutathione levels prevent free radical oxidation and prevent hardening in the lens of the eye. Hachimijiogan has been used for hundreds of years for preventing cataract formation. Research confirms that Hachimijiogan increases the level of the antioxidant glutathione in the crystalline lens of the eye.

Haranaka R, et al. Pharmacological action of Hachimijiogan (Ba-wei-wan) on the metabolism of aged subjects. Am J Chinese Med 24:59-67, 1986.

One published study on humans showed that 60% of patients improved on this formula, while 20% showed no progression of their cataracts, and only 20% continuing to progress.

Fujuhara K. Treatment of cataracts of Ba-wei-wan. J Soc Oriental Med Japan 24:465-79, 1974.

Hachimijiogan was shown in one study to benefit female infertility. Two infertile women (one with and one without a pituitary adenoma) who were resistant to medical treatment, were given Hachimijiogan which subsequently reduced the serum prolactin level, and resulted in a normal ovulatory cycle and pregnancy, without side effects.

Treatment with hachimijiogan, a non-ergot Chinese herbal medicine, in two hyperprolactinemic infertile women. Usuki S; Kubota S; Usuki Y Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1989, 68 (5) p475-8

:Other Publicatons:

Usuki, S. Effects of Hachimijiogan, Tokishakuyakusan and Keishibukuryogan on estrogen and progesterone secretions by rat preovulatory follicles. Am. J. Chin. Med. 14: 161-170, 1986.

Usuki, S. Effects of Hachimijiogan, Tokishakuyakusan and Keishibukuryogan on progesterone secretion by corpus luteum. Am. J. Chin. Med. 15: 109-115, 1987.