Recommended by holistic veterinarians, Jing Tang Liver Happy is a Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) formula that soothes Liver Qi, clears Heat, and resolves stagnation to address Liver Qi stagnation with Heat patterns in dogs, cats, and horses. Also known as Shu Gan San, this formula is a modification of the classical Chai Hu Shu Gan, combining Liver Qi-soothing, Heat-clearing, Blood-nourishing, and Qi-moving herbs to address both the Liver Qi stagnation and the Heat that arises from prolonged stagnation. Available in concentrated powder, concentrated capsules, standard powder, tincture, and teapills. Dosing varies by species, body weight, and health condition; your authorizing veterinarian will determine the appropriate dose following a TCVM evaluation.
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What It Supports
- Liver Qi soothing: Smooths Liver Qi stagnation to address the constraint and emotional and physical symptoms of Liver Qi stagnation.
- Heat clearance: Clears Heat arising from prolonged Liver Qi stagnation, addressing the Heat component of the Liver Qi stagnation with Heat pattern.
- Stagnation resolution: Resolves Qi stagnation in the Liver and related channels, supporting smooth Qi flow and internal harmony.
- Blood nourishment: Nourishes Blood and Liver Blood to address the Blood deficiency that commonly accompanies Liver Qi stagnation patterns.
- Qi movement: Moves Qi through the Liver, Gallbladder, and middle Jiao channels to support smooth Qi flow and stagnation resolution.
TCVM Principles
- Primary action: Soothe Liver Qi, clear Heat, and resolve stagnation.
- Classical antecedent: Liver Happy (Shu Gan San) is a modification of Chai Hu Shu Gan from Jing Yue Quan Shu (Collected Treatises of Zhang Jing-Yue), written by Zhang Jie-Bin in 1624.
Available Forms
- 90g Concentrated Powder: Highly concentrated granule format; mix into food for easy daily administration. Comes with a double-sided scoop (large scoop holds approximately 1.2g; small scoop holds approximately 0.25g).
- 0.5g Concentrated Capsules (100 Count): Pre-measured concentrated capsule format for precise, convenient dosing.
- 0.2g Concentrated Capsules (50 Count): Smaller concentrated capsule option suited for cats and small dogs under 10 lbs.
- 7500mg Tincture (Whitefish-flavored): Liquid tincture format with whitefish flavoring for easy palatability. Each full dropper contains approximately 20 drops. Store refrigerated for best results.
- 200g Powder: Standard (non-concentrated) powder for flexible dosing; mix into food as a top dressing.
- 600g Powder: Larger standard powder supply for extended use or equine dosing; mix into food as a top dressing.
- Teapills (200 Count): Traditional small pill format; can be hidden in food or a soft treat for easy administration.
Ingredients
Active ingredients: Bai Shao Yao (Paeonia lactiflora), White peony root; Bo He (Mentha haplocalyx), Peppermint herb; Chai Hu (Bupleurum chinense), Bupleurum root; Chen Pi (Citrus reticulata), Tangerine peel; Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis), Dong quai root; Gan Cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), Licorice root; Mu Dan Pi (Paeonia suffruticosa), Moutan bark; Qing Pi (Citrus reticulata, unripe), Green tangerine peel; Xiang Fu (Cyperus rotundus), Cyperus rhizome; Zhi Zi (Gardenia jasminoides), Gardenia fruit.
Inactive ingredients: Depending on the preparation, inactive ingredients may include gluten-free maltodextrin, bovine gelatin, whitefish flavoring, vegetable glycerin, activated carbon, botanical wax, or talcum. Some formats contain no inactive ingredients.
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Active Ingredient TCVM Actions
Liver Happy (Shu Gan San) is a ten-herb formula built around a Liver Qi-soothing and Heat-clearing core, with Blood-nourishing, Qi-moving, and harmonizing deputies to address both the Liver Qi stagnation and the Heat arising from prolonged stagnation:
- Chai Hu (Bupleurum chinense), Bupleurum root: The chief herb; soothes Liver Qi, releases stagnation, and disperses the constrained Liver Qi that is the root of the pattern.
- Xiang Fu (Cyperus rotundus), Cyperus rhizome: Moves Liver Qi, resolves stagnation, and supports smooth Qi flow through the Liver and Gallbladder channels; works with Chai Hu as the primary Qi-moving pair.
- Mu Dan Pi (Paeonia suffruticosa), Moutan bark: Clears Heat, cools Blood, and invigorates Blood; addresses the Heat arising from Liver Qi stagnation and the Blood stasis that may accompany it.
- Zhi Zi (Gardenia jasminoides), Gardenia fruit: Clears Heat, drains Fire, and supports the formula's Heat-clearing action alongside Mu Dan Pi.
- Bo He (Mentha haplocalyx), Peppermint herb: Disperses Wind-Heat, clears the head, and assists Chai Hu in soothing Liver Qi and dispersing stagnation.
- Qing Pi (Citrus reticulata, unripe), Green tangerine peel: Strongly moves Liver Qi, breaks Qi stagnation, and disperses accumulation in the Liver and Gallbladder channels.
- Chen Pi (Citrus reticulata), Tangerine peel: Moves Qi, dries Dampness, and harmonizes the middle Jiao; supports smooth Qi flow through the Spleen and Stomach alongside Qing Pi.
- Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis), Dong quai root: Nourishes and invigorates Blood, supports Liver Blood, and moistens dryness; addresses the Blood deficiency that commonly accompanies Liver Qi stagnation.
- Bai Shao Yao (Paeonia lactiflora), White peony root: Nourishes Blood and Yin, softens the Liver, and moderates Liver Qi to prevent over-coursing; works with Dang Gui as the Blood-nourishing pair.
- Gan Cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), Licorice root: Tonifies Spleen Qi, harmonizes the formula, and moderates the actions of the other herbs.
Potential Drug Interactions
Liver Happy contains Liver Qi-moving and Heat-clearing herbs (Chai Hu, Xiang Fu, Mu Dan Pi, Zhi Zi, Qing Pi) alongside Blood-nourishing herbs (Dang Gui, Bai Shao Yao) that may interact with certain medications. Pets on prescription medications should use this formula under veterinary supervision, as herb-drug interaction research in dogs and cats remains limited.
Medication categories warranting extra caution include anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications, hepatic medications, hormone-modulating drugs, and pets managing multiple concurrent prescriptions. Your veterinarian can determine appropriateness based on your pet's condition, current medications, and laboratory results.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions is Liver Happy used for in TCVM?
Liver Happy is most commonly recommended for dogs, cats, and horses with TCVM patterns of Liver Qi stagnation with Heat, where prolonged Liver Qi constraint has generated internal Heat. Holistic veterinarians frequently prescribe it for pets with Liver-related patterns including digestive disruption, emotional imbalance, irritability, and systemic signs of Liver Qi stagnation with Heat. The manufacturer lists no contraindications or warnings for this formula.
How is Liver Happy administered, and what are the recommended doses?
Dosing varies by species, body weight, and health condition; your authorizing veterinarian will determine the appropriate dose following a TCVM evaluation. For dogs and cats using 0.5g concentrated capsules, the general guideline is one capsule per 20 to 40 lbs of body weight twice daily. For cats and small dogs using 0.2g concentrated capsules, one capsule once daily for cats and one capsule per 10 to 20 lbs twice daily for dogs is typical. For the 90g concentrated powder, the dose for dogs and cats is approximately 0.25g per 10 to 20 lbs twice daily; the small scoop holds approximately 0.25g, and the large scoop holds approximately 1.2g. For the tincture, the general guideline is 10 drops per 5 to 10 lbs of body weight twice daily; each full dropper contains approximately 20 drops, and the tincture should be stored refrigerated. For horses, the standard dose is 3g (approximately 2.5 large scoops of concentrated powder) twice daily.
What makes Liver Happy different from Xiao Yao San?
Both Liver Happy (Shu Gan San) and Xiao Yao San address Liver Qi stagnation, but they differ in emphasis. Xiao Yao San focuses on Liver Qi stagnation with Spleen deficiency and Blood deficiency, combining Liver-soothing herbs with Spleen-strengthening and Blood-nourishing agents. Liver Happy is a modification of Chai Hu Shu Gan that adds Heat-clearing herbs (Mu Dan Pi, Zhi Zi) and stronger Qi-moving agents (Xiang Fu, Qing Pi) to address the Heat that arises from prolonged Liver Qi stagnation. Your holistic veterinarian will determine the most appropriate formula based on your pet's specific TCVM pattern.
Can Liver Happy be combined with other TCVM formulas or medications?
Liver Happy is sometimes used alongside other TCVM formulas as part of a comprehensive Liver Qi and Heat support protocol, but your authorizing veterinarian should always guide combination use. If your pet is on prescription medications, particularly anticoagulants or hepatic medications, your veterinarian will evaluate whether Liver Happy is appropriate given your pet's full health picture and current treatment plan. The manufacturer lists no contraindications or warnings for this formula.