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Herbsmith Rx Xiang Lian Wan is a classical Chinese herbal formula recommended by holistic veterinarians to support gastrointestinal health and provide targeted relief of acute damp-heat digestive presentations in dogs, cats, and horses. Comparable to Traveler's Aid and Saussurea and Coptis, it is a quick-acting formula for temporary relief of abdominal cramping and diarrhea. A focused three-herb formula, it clears heat and resolves toxicity from the intestines, regulates qi movement, and relieves diarrhea arising from damp-heat accumulation in the large intestine, with signs such as sudden-onset diarrhea, loose or watery stools with urgency, abdominal cramping, and signs of heat such as thirst and a rapid pulse. Available as a concentrated powder mixed into food; cats and dogs use the Canine Blend, while horses use the Equine/Horse Blend. Dosing varies by species and body weight, and your authorizing veterinarian will provide specific guidance.
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What It Supports
- Damp-heat clearance from the intestines: Clears heat and resolves toxicity from the large intestine, addressing the damp-heat accumulation that drives sudden-onset diarrhea, urgency, and intestinal cramping in pets with acute gastrointestinal presentations.
- Qi regulation and cramping relief: Regulates qi movement in the intestines and middle burner, relieving the intestinal cramping and abdominal distension caused by qi stagnation that accompanies damp-heat obstruction in the large intestine.
- Diarrhea resolution: Stops diarrhea by clearing the damp-heat root cause, restoring normal intestinal function and reducing the urgency and frequency of loose stools associated with the acute damp-heat pattern.
- Stomach fire moderation: Includes Wu Zhu Yu to moderate the cold and bitter nature of Huang Lian, preventing its strongly cold action from injuring the stomach qi while sustaining its heat-clearing and qi-regulating effects.
TCVM Principles
- Primary action: Clears damp-heat and fire toxicity from the large intestine using a high proportion of Huang Lian (75%), the most potent heat-clearing and toxicity-resolving herb in the formula, directly addressing the root cause of the acute damp-heat diarrhea pattern.
- Secondary action: Regulates qi and relieves intestinal cramping with Mu Xiang (20%), and moderates Huang Lian's strongly cold nature with a small amount of Wu Zhu Yu (5%) to protect the stomach qi and prevent Huang Lian from overcooling the middle burner during treatment.
Available Forms
- Powder - Canine Blend (for dogs and cats): Available in 75 g, 150 g, 500 g, 900 g, and 1200 g sizes; mix into food at the recommended dose for your pet's weight. Cats and dogs both use this blend.
- Powder - Equine/Horse Blend (for horses only): Available in 150 g, 500 g, 900 g, and 1200 g sizes; mix into grain at the recommended dose for your horse.
Suggested Use
For Dogs (Canine Blend Powder):
- Under 30 lbs: ½ tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
- 30-80 lbs: 1 tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
- 80-120 lbs: 1½ tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
- Over 120 lbs: 2 tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
For Cats (Canine Blend Powder): ¼ tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
For Horses (Equine/Horse Blend, 1,000 lb horse): Two tablespoons twice daily for 20 days, then two tablespoons once daily in grain. If the horse initially refuses, start with a small amount mixed into grain and gradually increase until the horse is accustomed to the taste. Most horses will readily accept the herbs in their grain.
Ingredients
Active Ingredients: Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome) (75%), Mu Xiang (Costus Root) (20%), Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia Fruit) (5%)
Inactive Ingredient: Flaxseed
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Active Ingredient TCVM Actions
Xiang Lian Wan is a tightly focused three-herb formula in which each herb plays a precise and complementary role in clearing damp-heat from the intestines, regulating qi, and protecting the stomach qi during treatment:
- Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome) - Coptis Rhizome (75%): Principal herb at a high proportion; strongly clears heat and resolves toxicity, dries dampness, and clears fire from the heart, stomach, and large intestine; the primary driver of this formula's action against damp-heat diarrhea, directly addressing the heat and toxicity in the intestines that cause sudden-onset loose stools, urgency, and intestinal cramping. Its strongly bitter and cold nature is highly effective for acute damp-heat patterns but must be balanced by the other herbs to prevent overcooling the stomach.
- Mu Xiang (Costus Root) - Costus Root (20%): Moves qi, relieves intestinal cramping and abdominal distension, strengthens the spleen, and prevents qi stagnation; directly addresses the qi obstruction component of the damp-heat diarrhea pattern, relieving the cramping and urgency that accompany large intestine qi stagnation, and preventing Huang Lian's cold and cloying nature from further obstructing qi movement in the middle burner.
- Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia Fruit) - Evodia Fruit (5%): Warms the middle burner, descends rebellious qi, relieves cramping, and moderates Huang Lian's strongly cold and bitter action; used in a small proportion specifically to prevent Huang Lian from injuring the stomach yang and middle burner during the course of treatment, while also contributing its own cramping-relieving action to support the formula's overall gastrointestinal effect.
Potential Drug Interactions
Xiang Lian Wan contains Huang Lian (Coptis) at a high proportion (75%), which has well-documented effects on multiple drug-metabolizing enzymes, glucose metabolism, and cardiovascular function. Pets on prescription medications, particularly those being treated for diabetes, cardiac conditions, or infections, should use this formula under close veterinary supervision, as herb-drug interaction research in dogs and cats remains limited and Huang Lian's high concentration warrants careful monitoring.
Medication categories warranting extra caution include hypoglycemic or insulin therapies, cardiac medications, antibiotic or antimicrobial medications, anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications, and immunosuppressive drugs. Your authorizing 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 Xiang Lian Wan used for in TCVM?
In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Xiang Lian Wan is indicated for damp-heat accumulation in the large intestine, presenting as sudden-onset diarrhea; loose or watery stools with urgency; abdominal cramping; and signs of heat such as thirst and a rapid pulse. Comparable to Traveler's Aid and Saussurea and Coptis, it is a quick-acting formula intended for temporary relief of acute damp-heat diarrhea patterns in dogs, cats, and horses, and is particularly appropriate when the digestive presentation has a clear heat and urgency quality rather than a cold or deficiency character.
How is Xiang Lian Wan administered to dogs, cats, and horses?
Mix the powder directly into food or grain at the dose recommended for your pet's species and body weight. Both dogs and cats use the Canine Blend; horses use the Equine/Horse Blend. Dogs and cats receive the formula twice daily; horses receive two tablespoons twice daily for the first 20 days, then once daily for maintenance. Your authorizing veterinarian will confirm the appropriate dose, schedule, and duration for your individual pet, as this is intended as a targeted, time-limited formula for acute presentations.
How quickly does Xiang Lian Wan work?
As a quick-acting formula designed for acute damp-heat diarrhea, Xiang Lian Wan is intended to provide relatively rapid improvement in stool consistency, urgency, and abdominal cramping when the pattern is well matched. Many pets show improvement within a few days to one week of consistent use. Because this formula is intended for temporary relief of an acute pattern, your veterinarian will guide you on the appropriate duration of use and whether a different formula is needed if the digestive signs persist or change in character.
Can Xiang Lian Wan be combined with other TCVM formulas or conventional medications?
Combination with complementary TCVM formulas may be appropriate and should be guided by your authorizing veterinarian based on your pet's full pattern diagnosis. Because this formula contains Huang Lian at a high proportion (75%), which has known effects on glucose metabolism, cardiac function, and drug-metabolizing enzymes, veterinary oversight is especially important if your pet is on insulin or hypoglycemic medications, cardiac drugs, or antibiotics, to monitor for additive effects and ensure your pet's response is appropriate throughout treatment.
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