Calm (Jr)™

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TCM herbal formula for ADD and ADHD in children and adults — extinguishes Liver wind; nourishes Liver yin; tranquilizes the shen (spirit); cognitive effect to improve memory and learning; neuroprotective; anxiolytic; detoxifying

⚠️ Discontinue once the condition is stabilized or desired effects are achieved. Contraindicated during pregnancy and nursing. Contraindicated in individuals with yang deficiency or coldness.

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

* ADD (attention deficit disorder)

* ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

* Hyperactivity, anxiety, impulsiveness, difficulty focusing, inattentiveness, restlessness

Background: ADD/ADHD is a developmental condition in which the affected person is unable to concentrate and is easily distracted, with or without accompanying hyperactivity. Onset of symptoms must occur before age seven with significant social or academic impairment. Incidence is 3–7% in school-age children and 2–7% in adults. In children, ADD/ADHD is 3–5 times more common in boys than girls. At least 15–20% of children with ADD/ADHD will maintain the full diagnosis in adulthood; up to 65% will have ADD/ADHD or residual symptoms as adults. The pathology is not fully clear — findings suggest that areas of the brain related to attention are deficient in neural transmission involving dopamine and norepinephrine. According to TCM, ADD/ADHD is diagnosed as Liver wind rising with shen disturbance arising from Liver yin deficiency — treatment requires both calming and nourishing herbs to restore normal balance.

Key herb-level clinical data:

— Mu Li (Concha Ostreae): extinguishes Liver wind; calms Liver yang rising; neutralizes mood — addresses irritability, hyperactivity, and short temper

— Jue Ming Zi (Semen Cassiae): extinguishes Liver wind; calms Liver yang rising; obtusifolin — marked effect to improve learning and attenuate scopolamine-induced memory impairment; neuroprotective against dopaminergic neuron toxicities involved in Parkinson’s disease

— Gou Teng (Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis): extinguishes Liver wind; calms Liver yang rising; neuroprotective against chemical-induced neuronal damage and acute hypoxia; marked anxiolytic effect — calms anxiety and hyperactivity

— Bie Jia (Carapax Trionycis): tonifies Liver yin; assists in extinguishing Liver wind

— Gui Ban (Plastrum Testudinis): tonifies Liver yin; assists in extinguishing Liver wind

— Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba): addresses yin deficiency; softens the Liver; relieves spasms and stiffness; paeoniflorin — enhances aging-induced learning deficit; balances CNS; reverses drug-induced excitation

— Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae): addresses yin deficiency; neuroprotective — ameliorates cognition deficits and oxidative damage in the brain; treats Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s (catalpol); regulates the endocrine system

— Mai Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis): addresses yin deficiency; sedates Heart fire to relieve shen disturbance; balances CNS; reverses drug-induced excitation

— Shi Chang Pu (Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii): disperses phlegm obstructing the orifices; restores cognitive and sensory functions; dose-dependent memory improvement; beta-asarone — neuroprotective against neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus induced by beta-amyloid; clinically with Yuan Zhi: effective in managing 90 of 100 children with hyperactivity disorders; 30 children with low IQ showed mild to moderate improvement in classroom performance

— Yuan Zhi (Radix Polygalae): disperses phlegm obstructing the orifices; restores cognitive and sensory functions; neuroprotective — dose-dependent protection against Abeta-induced neuronal damage; inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE); beneficial cognitive effect on memory impairment from scopolamine or cholinergic dysfunction

— Yu Jin (Radix Curcumae): clears Heart heat; opens orifices; promotes consciousness; hepatoprotective

— Tai Zi Shen (Radix Pseudostellariae): neutral — tonifies both qi and yin

— Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong): promotes blood circulation; ferulic acid — reduces cerebral infarct area and minimizes neurological deficit following focal cerebral ischemia; balances CNS; reverses drug-induced excitation

— Zhi Gan Cao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae Praeparata): nourishes the Heart; harmonizes the formula; detoxifying — treats drug poisoning, food poisoning, and environmental toxins; hepatoprotective; cognitive effect — ameliorates memory impairment (BACE1 inhibitor)

WESTERN THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Cognitive / memory — Shi Chang Pu (dose-dependent memory↑); Bai Shao (paeoniflorin, learning deficit↑); Jue Ming Zi (obtusifolin, memory impairment↓); Zhi Gan Cao (BACE1 inhibitor); Yuan Zhi (AChE inhibition)

* Neuroprotective — Gou Teng (chemical-induced neuronal damage, hypoxia); Shi Chang Pu (Abeta-induced apoptosis↓); Yuan Zhi (Abeta-induced neuronal damage↓); Di Huang (catalpol, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s); Jue Ming Zi (dopaminergic neurons); Chuan Xiong (ferulic acid, cerebral ischemia)

* Anxiolytic / CNS balancing — Gou Teng (anxiolytic, hyperactivity↓); Mai Dong, Bai Shao, Shi Chang Pu, Chuan Xiong (CNS balance, drug-induced excitation reversal)

* Cardiovascular harmonizing — Mai Dong, Bai Shao, Chuan Xiong

* Detoxifying / hepatoprotective — Zhi Gan Cao (broad-spectrum detoxification); Yu Jin (hepatoprotective)

* Endocrine regulation — Di Huang (endogenous hormone production and release)

CHINESE THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Extinguishes Liver wind; calms Liver yang rising (Mu Li, Jue Ming Zi, Gou Teng)

* Tonifies Liver yin (Bie Jia, Gui Ban, Bai Shao, Di Huang, Mai Dong)

* Tranquilizes the shen; improves focus and concentration (Shi Chang Pu, Yuan Zhi, Yu Jin)

* Tonifies qi and yin (Tai Zi Shen)

* Promotes blood circulation; relieves channel stagnation (Chuan Xiong)

* Nourishes the Heart; harmonizes formula (Zhi Gan Cao)

DOSAGE

Adults: 3–4 capsules three times daily on an empty stomach. Children: refer to the Strategic Dosing Guidelines to determine the proper dose based on age or body weight. Take herbs for three months continuously prior to evaluating progress. Use only as needed during school — not necessary during vacations (summer and winter).

Supplementary formulas: Poor memory or forgetfulness — use Enhance Memory. Anger and/or insomnia — add Calm (ES). Stress — add Calm. Stress and insomnia with underlying deficiency — add Calm ZZZ. Depression — add Shine or Shine (DS). Muscle stiffness, cramps, and spasms — add Flex (SC). Acute headache — add Corydalin (AC). Chronic headache — add Corydalin (CR). Constipation — add Gentle Lax (Excess) or Gentle Lax (Deficient). Fatigue or restless sleep from blood deficiency — add Schisandra ZZZ. Liver and Kidney yin deficiencies — add Nourish. Chronic exposure to chemical or toxic substances — add Herbal DTX. Blood stagnation — add Circulation (SJ). Hyperactivity and impulsivity from excess heat — add Gardenia Complex.

Nutrition: Ensure adequate calcium and magnesium — they have a calming effect. Cold-water fish (tuna, salmon, herring) are excellent sources of DHA, essential for proper brain development. Increase complex carbohydrates (fresh vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains); decrease simple carbohydrates (sugars, processed grains). Avoid exposure to chemical and toxic substances, food additives, colorings, and allergens. Eliminate sugar, candy, junk food, artificial color and flavor, fried foods, antacids, cough drops, and carbonated beverages. Avoid warm/hot-natured foods: heat-producing fruits (mango, durian), stimulants, and spicy/aromatic vegetables. Avoid artificial coloring and processed meats. Incorporate ¼ cup of fresh or frozen blueberries into breakfast daily for 2–4 weeks.

Lifestyle: Psychosocial support is extremely important — approaches include contingency management, parent training, clinical behavior therapy, and cognitive-behavioral treatment. Encourage reading, meditation, qi gong, and tai chi chuan. Discourage video games and television. Educate and/or treat over-anxious parents — Calm or Calm (ES) can be used to calm the shen of the parents.

CASE STUDIES

— 36M (B.K.): ADD with poor memory; Liver yin deficiency. Calm (Jr) 3–4 caps 3x × 3 months. Result: calmer, more focused; memory improved.

— 9M (J.S.): Unable to complete tasks, unable to focus on school work, irritability, restlessness, easily angered, insomnia; ADHD; Liver wind rising, Liver yin deficiency, shen disturbance. Calm (Jr) + acupuncture. Result: great improvement in ability to stay on tasks; less irritability and anger outbursts; sleep improved.

— 5F (S.A.): Seizure attacks; placed on Tegretol (carbamazepine); developed stomachaches; Liver wind. Calm (Jr) + cranio-sacral therapy. Result: able to decrease Tegretol dosage; seizures diminishing in frequency and intensity.

Related Reading

Also see: Enhance Memory – poor memory and forgetfulness | Calm – stress and Liver qi stagnation | Calm (ES) – anger and insomnia | Calm ZZZ – stress and insomnia with deficiency | Shine – depression | Shine (DS) – depression with stress and Liver qi | Nourish – Liver and Kidney yin deficiencies | Schisandra ZZZ – fatigue and restless sleep from blood deficiency | Gardenia Complex – hyperactivity from excess heat | Herbal DTX – chronic exposure to toxic substances | Corydalin (AC) – acute headache | Flex (SC) – muscle stiffness, cramps, and spasms | Circulation (SJ) – blood stagnation | Brain Health & Neurological Support Collection | Stress, Anxiety & Sleep Support Collection.

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