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Herbsmith Rx Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San is a classical Chinese herbal formula recommended by holistic veterinarians to release the exterior, transform dampness, regulate the qi, and harmonize the middle burner in dogs, cats, and horses. Also known as Agastache Powder to Rectify the Qi or the Agastache Combination, this eleven-herb formula from the Song dynasty Imperial Grace Formulary (Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang, 1107 CE) addresses the summerheat-dampness pattern where external wind-cold or summerheat combines with internal dampness to disrupt the middle jiao, producing turbid dampness disturbing the spleen and stomach, stomach qi ascending counterflow, and the characteristic digestive and systemic signs of the summerheat-dampness pattern. The eponymous principal herb Huo Xiang (agastache, 15% of the formula) is the only classical herb that simultaneously releases the exterior pathogenic factor, transforms the internal middle jiao dampness, harmonizes the stomach, and redirects ascending stomach qi counterflow, making it uniquely suited as the lead herb for the combined exterior-interior summerheat-dampness presentation. The remaining ten herbs provide targeted exterior release (Zi Su Ye, Bai Zhi), middle jiao qi-regulating and dampness-transforming coverage (Hou Po, Chen Pi, Ban Xia, Da Fu Pi), spleen qi-strengthening and dampness-transforming support (Bai Zhu, Fu Ling), lung qi-diffusing direction (Jie Geng), and harmonization (Zhi Gan Cao). Well suited for dogs, cats, and horses presenting with the summerheat-dampness pattern, characterized by turbid dampness disturbing the middle jiao with loose stools or digestive upset from dampness accumulation, nausea and stomach qi ascending counterflow (expressed as vomiting or regurgitation in animals), abdominal distension and fullness from dampness obstructing the middle jiao qi, simultaneous exterior signs of mild chills, a pale or slightly red tongue with a thick white or greasy coating reflecting the dampness pattern, and a soft or slippery 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.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
For Dogs (Canine Blend Powder):
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.
Active Ingredients: Huo Xiang (Herba Agastaches seu Pogostemi), Hou Po (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis), Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae), Zi Su Ye (Folium Perillae Frutescentis), Bai Zhi (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae), Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae Ternatae), Da Fu Pi (Pericarpium Arecae Catechu), Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), Fu Ling (Sclerotium Poriae Cocos), Jie Geng (Radix Platycodi Grandiflori), Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis)
Inactive Ingredient: Flaxseed
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San is an eleven-herb formula organized into five functional groups: a principal exterior-releasing and interior dampness-transforming lead herb (Huo Xiang), an exterior-releasing support group (Zi Su Ye, Bai Zhi), a middle jiao qi-regulating and dampness-transforming group (Hou Po, Chen Pi, Ban Xia, Da Fu Pi), a spleen qi-strengthening group (Bai Zhu, Fu Ling), and the lung qi-diffusing and harmonizing herbs (Jie Geng, Zhi Gan Cao):
Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San contains Ban Xia (pinellia rhizome) in the ginger-processed form, which significantly reduces but does not eliminate alkaloid toxicity compared with raw pinellia; in animals on sedative medications, central nervous system depressants, or medications metabolized through the liver, the Ban Xia alkaloid content warrants monitoring. Da Fu Pi (betel husk) has mild stimulant properties from residual arecoline alkaloid content that warrants caution in animals on antiarrhythmic or cardiac medications, though the husk form contains substantially less arecoline than the nut itself. Gan Cao (licorice root) at sustained doses may interact with corticosteroids, diuretics, and antihypertensive medications. The formula's aromatic and dispersing character makes it a short-term pattern-clearing formula rather than a sustained tonification formula: it is appropriate for the active summerheat-dampness presentation and is not intended for long-term use once the summerheat-dampness pattern has resolved. It is not appropriate for yin-deficient or blood-deficient presentations where the formula's drying action would further deplete the yin and fluids, or for patterns without confirmed dampness accumulation in the middle jiao.
Medication categories warranting extra caution include sedative and CNS depressant medications (Ban Xia's alkaloid residue), cardiac and antiarrhythmic medications (Da Fu Pi's residual arecoline content), corticosteroids and antihypertensive medications (Gan Cao at sustained doses), and diuretics (Gan Cao's potential potentiation or antagonism depending on the diuretic type). Your authorizing veterinarian will determine appropriateness based on your animal's condition, current medications, and confirmation of the summerheat-dampness pattern through tongue quality, pulse character, and assessment of the exterior-interior combined dampness presentation.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San is indicated for the summerheat-dampness (shu shi) pattern, where external summerheat or wind-cold combines with internal dampness in the middle jiao to produce turbid dampness disturbing the spleen and stomach, stomach qi ascending counterflow, and the combined exterior-interior signs of the summerheat-dampness presentation. In TCVM, "summerheat" refers to the hot-season external pathogenic factor, and the summerheat-dampness pattern typically develops in animals exposed to summer heat and humidity, dietary changes involving excessive cold, raw, or difficult-to-digest food during hot weather, or environmental dampness combined with heat. The veterinarian confirms the summerheat-dampness pattern through tongue assessment (pale or slightly red tongue with a thick white or greasy coating reflecting the dampness), pulse character (soft or slippery pulse reflecting the dampness accumulation), and differentiation from patterns requiring other therapeutic formulas: spleen qi vacuity digestive disruption without the exterior component, damp-heat in the large intestine, or food stagnation patterns each require different formula approaches.
Mix the powder directly into food or grain at the dose recommended for your animal's species and body weight. 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. 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. Because Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San is an aromatic dampness-transforming and exterior-releasing formula rather than a constitutional tonification formula, it is typically used for shorter treatment courses timed to the active summerheat-dampness presentation and discontinued once the pattern has resolved; your authorizing veterinarian will determine the appropriate treatment duration based on your animal's tongue, pulse, and clinical response.
As an exterior-releasing and dampness-transforming formula addressing an acute or subacute summerheat-dampness pattern, Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San typically produces results relatively quickly compared to constitutional tonification formulas. Improvement in stomach qi counterflow signs (nausea, vomiting, regurgitation) and digestive disruption is often seen within 3 to 7 days, as the formula's aromatic herbs clear middle jiao dampness and redirect ascending stomach qi. Full resolution of the summerheat-dampness pattern, including restoration of normal tongue coating and pulse character, typically requires 2 to 4 weeks of consistent use. Your authorizing veterinarian will monitor the tongue coating (the dampness indicator), pulse character, and digestive signs throughout the treatment course to confirm the pattern is resolving and determine when to discontinue the formula or transition to a constitutional spleen qi-strengthening formula if the underlying spleen qi vacuity requires longer-term support.
In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, summerheat (shu) is the external pathogenic factor associated with late summer and the hot-humid season, characterized by heat and a tendency to combine with dampness to form the summerheat-dampness (shu shi) combined pattern. Unlike the other five external pathogenic factors (wind, cold, dampness, dryness, and fire), summerheat only occurs in the external form and is always associated with the hot season. In pets, the summerheat-dampness pattern develops when the hot, humid environment (summerheat) combines with internal dampness from dietary factors: excessive raw, cold, or rich food during summer, sudden dietary changes, or food that the individual animal's spleen qi cannot adequately transform given the concurrent heat burden. Outdoor animals, working animals, and animals with constitutionally weak spleen qi are particularly susceptible to the summerheat-dampness pattern during hot, humid weather. The pattern is distinguished from simple food stagnation by simultaneous exterior signs (mild chills alongside heat exposure and a slightly floating pulse component) and from damp-heat in the large intestine by prominent stomach qi counterflow and the combined exterior-interior nature of the presentation that Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San specifically addresses.
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