Geng Nian An

Functions

According to traditional Chinese medicine, this formula replenishes vital essence, clears away heat, relieves restlessness, and calms the mind. It is used to treat the following conditions that accompany menopause: hot flashes, sweating, dizziness, tinnitus, insomnia, restlessness, and fluctuating blood pressure.

Dosage Info

Sugar-coated tablets (0.3g/tablet). Oral administration: 6 tablets a time, 2-3 times daily. 5:1 concentrated extract: 9 grams/day.

Ingredients

Precautions

Acute toxicity test: Administering Geng Nian An by oral feeding to young mice 25.2g/kg daily (about 360 times the adult oral dosage) for 3 consecutive days results in no death in the one-week observation period immediately following treatment. (1)

Pharmacology

This formula calms the mind, enhances memory, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, and stimulates estrogen-like activity. It also improves the body’s resistance to fatigue, and enhances immunity and has antioxidant properties.

Calming the mind: Oral-feeding young mice the water decoction of Geng Nian An, 7g/kg daily for 7 consecutive days, significantly prolongs the pentobarbital sleep time of both unsexed and pseudo-unsexed young mice and reduces their autonomic activities. The formula can also counteract excitation brought on by benzedrine. (2)

Memory: As indicated in platform jumping, spatial resolution learning, and memory tests, oral-feeding young mice the water decoction of Geng Nian An, 7g/kg daily for 7 consecutive days, significantly enhances the memory of both unsexed and pseudo-unsexed young mice. (3)

Blood pressure and cholesterol: The formula has been reported to significantly lower the spontaneous high blood pressure in hamsters. It has also been reported to lower the content of triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and increase the content of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, in hamsters with hyperlipemia. (4)

Stimulating estrogen-like activity: Oral-feeding young female mice Geng Nian An at a dosage 50 times the adult oral dosage for 14 consecutive days or administering by hypodermic injection, a water-based Geng Nian An extract at a dosage 15 times the adult oral dosage for 4 consecutive days results in 50-70% cornified epithelial cells in 90%-unsexed female mice as shown in vaginal smear tests, indicating that the formula may have estrogenic activity. (5)

Fatigue: Swimming experiments indicate that Geng Nian An may improve young mice’s fatigue-resisting ability. (6)

Enhancing immunity: Oral-feeding young mice Geng Nian An suspension, 110-120mg/kg for 7 consecutive days results in a celiac macrophage activation in normal young mice, an increase in the percentage of phagocytosis and in the phagocytic index, and an increase in the number of FC-receptors on macrophage surface. Delayed hypersensitivity tests (DRH) indicates that Geng Nian An may enhance cells’ immunization function. (7)

Antioxidant: Administering Geng Nian An decoction to young mice, 3.5g/kg or 7g/kg daily for 30 consecutive days, reportedly inhibited lipid peroxide from forming in the brain, heart, and liver homogenate or in the blood serum, and it may inhibit lipofuscin from forming in the brain, heart, and liver homogenate, increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. (8)

Clinical Applications

Zhang has used this formula to treat 382 patients suffering the menopausal syndrome, and reported an overall effective rate of 98.2%. (9) Ten days to one month into the treatment, the patients started showing improvement in mood swings, sleeping, appetite, blood pressure fluctuation, hot flashes, sweating, dizziness, and forgetfulness. (10)

Ren, et al. have treated 30 Menopausal syndrome patients with irregular coordination of the heart and the kidney, and reported 23 cases resolved and 7 improved. (11)

Further, Xing has used a modified version of this formula to treat 35 Menopausal syndrome patients with hyperactivity of yang due to yin deficiency, and reported 8 cases resolved, 20 significantly improved, 6 improved, and 1 without response, achieving an overall effective rate of 97.14%. (12)

References

  1. Chen Qi (ed). Pharmacology and Clinical Application of Famous Chinese Pattern Formulas. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House; 1998.
  2. Zhang Ting Xin, et al. Zhong Cheng Yao Yan Jiu. 1987;(3):22.
  3. Zhang Ting Xin, et al. Zhong Cheng Yao Yan Jiu. 1987;(3):22.
  4. Wang Yu Fen, et al. Zhong Yao Xin Yao Yu Lin Chuang Yao Li. 1995;6(1):37-39.
  5. Zhang Li Rong. Combining Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine to Treat the Menopausal Syndrome. Beijing: Chinese Medical Science Press; 1988.
  6. Zhang Li Rong. Combining Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine to Treat the Menopausal Syndrome. Beijing: Chinese Medical Science Press; 1988.
  7. Li Jun, et al. Tianjin Zhong Yi Xue Yuan Xue Bao. 1989;(2):37.
  8. Wang Yu Fen, et al. Zhong Yao Xin Yao Yu Lin Chuang Yao Li. 1994;5(1):30.
  9. Zhang Li Rong. Combining Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine to Treat the Menopausal Syndrome. Beijing: Chinese Medical Science Press; 1988.
  10. Wang Yu Fen, et al. Zhong Yao Xin Yao Yu Lin Chuang Yao Li. 1995;6(1):37-39.
  11. Ren Jing Ping, et al. Shanxi Zhong Yi. 1998;14(5):20-21.
  12. Xing Yan Ling. Tianjin Zhong Yi. 1999;16(4):41-42.