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Kan Traditionals Calm Dragon Formula is a classical Chinese herbal formula recommended by holistic veterinarians to harmonize the Shao Yang level, anchor and subdue rising liver yang, calm the Ethereal Soul (Hun) and Spirit (Shen), clear liver heat, and support emotional and behavioral equilibrium in animals presenting with liver yang rising and unsettled Shen with heat. Also known by its classical name Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang (Bupleurum, Dragon Bone, and Oyster Shell Decoction), this twelve-herb formula is a classical modification of Minor Bupleurum Decoction (Xiao Chai Hu Tang) with Long Gu (dragon bone) and Mu Li (oyster shell) added to anchor and pull downward the Shao Yang-harmonizing properties of the base formula to the level of primal yin and yang, and with Gui Zhi replacing the original formula's Tai Yang-releasing strategy and Zhi Zi replacing Da Huang to clear heat from all three burners through the urine rather than through strong purgation. The formula addresses a range of liver qi stagnation and constraint patterns marked by an uprising of liver yang affecting all three yang channels simultaneously: the Tai Yang level (where Yang qi circulation is disrupted), the Shao Yang level (where the liver-gallbladder pivot is blocked and heat accumulates), and the Yang Ming level (where heat and dampness accumulate in the stomach and intestines). Calm Dragon Formula drains and disperses the uprising qi while supporting the middle burner and tonifying the normal qi through Bai Ren Shen; it clears heat, settles the emotions, supports healthy fluid metabolism through Ban Xia and Fu Ling, dredges the liver, resolves constraint, harmonizes the Shao Yang pivot, and unblocks and opens up the three burners. Its combination of warm and cold, supplementing and draining ingredients restores equilibrium to body and mind by regulating the Triple Burner (San Jiao) mechanisms. This formula is indicated for excess patterns only and is not appropriate for deficiency patterns; a TCVM veterinarian must confirm the pattern. Available as a liquid extract and tablet. Dosing varies by species and body weight, and your authorizing veterinarian will provide specific guidance.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Active Ingredients: Chai Hu (Bupleurum chinense, root), Jiang Ban Xia (Pinellia ternata, ginger-cured rhizome), Hong Zao (Ziziphus jujuba, red fruit), Zhi Zi (Gardenia jasminoides, fruit), Mu Li (Ostrea gigas, calcined shell), Fu Ling (Poria cocos), Gui Zhi (Cinnamomum cassia, twig), Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis, root), Bai Ren Shen (Panax ginseng, white root and rhizome), Dai Zhe Shi (Haematitum, hematite), Long Gu (Os Draconis, fossilized bone), Gan Jiang (Zingiber officinale, dried rhizome)
Inactive ingredients vary by form; liquid extracts contain alcohol and water; tablets may contain excipients standard to tablet manufacturing.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Calm Dragon Formula (Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang) is a classical modification of Minor Bupleurum Decoction (Xiao Chai Hu Tang) with Long Gu and Mu Li added to anchor the liver yang and calm the Shen, and Gui Zhi, Dai Zhe Shi, and Zhi Zi incorporated to address the Tai Yang level and three-burner heat through the urine rather than purgation. The formula combines warm and cold, supplementing and draining ingredients across twelve herbs:
Calm Dragon Formula has a notable drug interaction profile because of its combination of heavy mineral yang-anchoring herbs, the Shao Yang-harmonizing and hepatically active Chai Hu and Huang Qin, the anticoagulant-relevant Gui Zhi and Bai Ren Shen, and its overall strong draining strategy. The three heavy mineral herbs (Long Gu, Mu Li, Dai Zhe Shi) have significant calcium and iron mineral content that can interfere with the absorption of oral medications, including certain antibiotics (tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones), thyroid medications, and other medications where mineral binding affects bioavailability; these medications should be timed separately from this formula under veterinary guidance. Gui Zhi's coumarin content and Bai Ren Shen's ginsenoside antiplatelet effects together create a combined anticoagulant concern warranting review in animals on warfarin, heparin, aspirin, clopidogrel, or other anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications. Huang Qin's baicalin content warrants monitoring in animals on hepatically metabolized medications through CYP enzyme pathways. Bai Ren Shen warrants monitoring in animals on stimulant medications, immunosuppressive drugs, and antidiabetic medications. This formula is contraindicated in pregnant animals (Gui Zhi contraindication) and is not for use in deficiency patterns.
Medication categories warranting extra caution: anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications (Gui Zhi coumarin and Bai Ren Shen ginsenoside combined effects), oral medications with mineral absorption sensitivity (Long Gu, Mu Li, Dai Zhe Shi combined mineral content - administer separately), hepatically metabolized medications (Huang Qin baicalin CYP interactions), stimulant and immunosuppressive medications (Bai Ren Shen ginsenoside interactions), sedatives and anxiolytics (coordinate with veterinarian given the formula's Shen-calming and yang-anchoring actions), and thyroid medications (mineral binding from heavy mineral herbs). Your authorizing veterinarian will determine appropriateness based on your pet's condition, current medications, tongue quality, and pulse character.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Calm Dragon Formula (Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang) addresses liver yang rising with Shao Yang blockage and an unsettled Shen and Hun pattern, an excess pattern involving blockage at all three yang levels simultaneously. The formula is indicated for emotional and behavioral signs that reflect excess heat disturbing the Shen: occasional anxiety, agitation, irritability, or restlessness from heat disturbing the spirit; disturbed sleep with vivid dreaming from Shen and Hun unsettled by heat; occasional insomnia; occasional fullness or discomfort in the chest from qi constraint and phlegm-heat; and occasional fatigue or lethargy from the qi-blocking effect of the Shao Yang constraint. The confirming tongue and pulse signs are critical for pattern differentiation: a red tongue body with a greasy, white or yellow coating and swollen edges (confirming heat and dampness at the Shao Yang level) and a wiry, rapid or tense, slippery and flooding pulse (confirming liver qi constraint, excess heat, and phlegm-dampness). A pale tongue with a weak or thin pulse indicates a deficiency pattern and contraindicates this formula. This formula is for excess patterns only; your authorizing veterinarian must confirm the pattern before you begin using it.
Calm Dragon Formula is available in concentrated liquid extract (1 oz, 2 oz, or 8 oz) and 500 mg tablets (60, 120, or 300 count). You can mix the liquid directly into food or administer it with a dropper; you can give the tablets directly or hide them in food or a soft treat for easy administration. Dosing varies by species and body weight, and your authorizing veterinarian will provide specific dosing guidance. Because this formula contains Gui Zhi (mild anticoagulant effects) and Bai Ren Shen (antiplatelet effects) together, veterinary review of all current medications is important before use in animals on anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications. Animals on medications sensitive to oral mineral absorption (antibiotics, thyroid medications) should take those medications separately from this formula, given the combined mineral content of Long Gu, Mu Li, and Dai Zhe Shi. This formula is not for use in pregnant animals and is not appropriate for deficiency patterns.
As a formula addressing an excess liver yang rising and Shao Yang blockage pattern rather than a deep deficiency pattern, Calm Dragon Formula's strong draining, heat-clearing, and yang-anchoring strategy can provide relatively faster improvement in the acute excess signs compared to tonification formulas. You may see some improvement in emotional and behavioral signs (reduced agitation, improved sleep, decreased restlessness) within 2 to 4 weeks of consistent use as the liver yang is progressively anchored and the Shao Yang constraint is released. The formula's phlegm-transforming and heat-clearing components may also improve chest fullness and digestive signs within a similar timeframe. Because this is an excess pattern formula with strong draining herbs, long-term use requires ongoing veterinary monitoring to ensure the pattern has not shifted toward deficiency over time, at which point the formula would need to be modified or changed. Your authorizing veterinarian will monitor tongue quality, pulse character, and behavioral signs throughout the treatment course.
Calm Dragon Formula may be used for occasional anxiety in dogs and cats when the anxiety arises specifically from the Shao Yang or liver phlegm-heat pattern or internal blockage of yang qi - that is, when the anxiety is accompanied by the signs of excess heat disturbing the Shen: a red tongue with greasy coating, a wiry-rapid or slippery pulse, agitation or irritability alongside the anxiety, disturbed or vivid dreaming, and the constitutional profile of a reactive, high-energy animal whose anxiety manifests with heat signs rather than fearful withdrawal. This formula is not appropriate for anxiety arising from deficiency patterns, such as heart blood vacuity anxiety (pale tongue, thin pulse, timid and clingy behavior) or kidney yin vacuity with vacuity heat (red tongue with little coating, restless at night). Using an excess-pattern formula in a deficiency pattern can deplete the normal qi and worsen the condition. Because pattern differentiation is essential for selecting the correct formula, your authorizing veterinarian must confirm the liver yang rising with Shao Yang heat pattern through tongue and pulse examination before recommending Calm Dragon Formula for anxiety support.
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