Calm™

Unified Search · Symptom Finder · Herb Reference · Drug–Herb · Lab Test

TCM herbal formula based on Xiao Yao San (Rambling Powder) for stress, anxiety, irritability, and PMS — spreads Liver qi; nourishes Liver blood; clears heat; harmonizes middle jiao; calming; anxiolytic; analgesic; adaptogenic

⚠️ Calm is a qi-regulating formula — prolonged use (4–6 months) may cause qi deficiency in some patients. Those with stressful lifestyles who cannot be without Calm should also take a qi tonic formula such as GI Tonic or Cordyceps 3 at 1–2 capsules daily to maintain optimal qi levels. Contains Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), which invigorates blood circulation — patients on anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapies such as Coumadin (warfarin) should use with caution or not at all due to higher risk of bleeding and bruising.

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

* Stress, anxiety, nervousness, restlessness

* General symptoms associated with stress such as poor appetite, headache, tension, and insomnia

* Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) with breast distension, irritability, and/or mood swings

Background: Stress is a normal physical and psychological reaction to the demands of life. When confronted with stress, the body responds with a burst of hormones — the “fight-or-flight” response. Once the stress is gone, the body is supposed to return to a normal relaxed state. Unfortunately, the nonstop stress of modern life often keeps the body in a constant stressed state. Over time, this leads to serious health problems affecting the brain (feelings and emotions), heart (hypertension, arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease), muscles (stiffness and pain), stomach (acid reflux, peptic ulcer disease, irritable bowel syndrome), and immune system (weakened immune system, frequent infection). According to the Five-Elements Theory, the Liver is the most sensitive of all organs to emotional distress — stress and pressure easily lead to Liver qi stagnation, which can overact on the Spleen and Stomach (Wood overacting on Earth). The treatment protocol is to spread the Liver qi, harmonize the middle jiao, and nourish the blood.

Key herb-level clinical data:

— Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri): enters the Liver and disperses stagnant qi; calming; adaptogenic; analgesic and anti-inflammatory (saikosaponins); antihyperlipidemic; stimulates humoral and cellular immunity

— Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba): nourishes blood; softens Liver; analgesic and spasmolytic (paeoniflorin); antihyperlipidemic; clinically with Gan Cao: neck pain, back pain, sciatica, leg cramps, menstrual cramps, neuralgia, dysmenorrhea

— Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis): nourishes blood; analgesic and anti-inflammatory — potency ≥ aspirin; antiarrhythmic; lowers cholesterol and triglycerides; decreases atherosclerosis risk; immunostimulant

— Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae): strengthens Spleen and Stomach; adaptogenic; dual GI regulation (constipation or diarrhea); anti-inflammatory (TNF-α↓, NO↓); immunostimulant (WBC↑, lymphocytes↑, IgG↑)

— Fu Ling (Poria): strengthens Spleen and Stomach; adaptogenic

— Bo He (Herba Menthae): disperses Liver qi stagnation

— Sheng Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens): disperses Liver qi stagnation

— Zhi Gan Cao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae Praeparata): analgesic; gastroprotective — 100 patients with gastric/duodenal ulcers, 90% effectiveness; antiarrhythmic; improves cognitive function and memory (BACE1 inhibitor)

— Zhi Zi (Fructus Gardeniae): clears heat; reduces irritability and anger; calming; antihypertensive; gastroprotective (H. pylori↓); anti-inflammatory (TNF-α↓)

— Mu Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan): clears heat; reduces irritability and anger

WESTERN THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Calming / anxiolytic — Chai Hu; Zhi Zi (antihypertensive); Zhi Gan Cao (cognitive function↑, memory↑)

* Adaptogenic — Chai Hu; Bai Zhu; Fu Ling

* Analgesic / anti-inflammatory — Dang Gui (≥ aspirin); Bai Shao + Gan Cao (15+ pain conditions); Chai Hu; Bai Zhu; Zhi Zi

* Cardiovascular — Dang Gui (antiarrhythmic, cholesterol↓, atherosclerosis↓); Zhi Gan Cao (antiarrhythmic); Bai Shao + Chai Hu (antihyperlipidemic)

* Gastroprotective — Zhi Gan Cao; Zhi Zi (H. pylori↓); Bai Zhu (dual GI regulation)

* Immunostimulant — Chai Hu; Dang Gui (macrophages↑); Bai Zhu (WBC↑, IgG↑)

CHINESE THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Spreads Liver qi (Chai Hu, Bo He, Sheng Jiang)

* Nourishes Liver blood (Bai Shao, Dang Gui)

* Clears heat; reduces irritability and anger (Zhi Zi, Mu Dan Pi)

* Harmonizes middle jiao; strengthens Spleen and Stomach (Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, Zhi Gan Cao)

DOSAGE

Standard: 3–4 capsules three times daily on an empty stomach with warm water. May increase to 6–8 capsules three times daily for a few days. Once stabilized, reduce back to 3–4 capsules three times daily.

Supplementary formulas: Stomach pain, heartburn, ulcers — add GI Care. Severe stress, anger, neurosis — use Calm (ES). Stress with insomnia and deficiency — use Calm ZZZ. Worrying with excessive dreams — add Schisandra ZZZ. Hypertension — add Gastrodia Complex or Gentiana Complex. Depression — add Shine or Shine (DS). Menopausal hot flashes — add Balance (Heat). Vaginal dryness — add Balance Spring. Infertility due to stress — use Blossom (Phase 1–4). Breast lumps from prolonged Liver qi stagnation — use Resolve (Upper). Dysmenorrhea — add Mense-Ease. Hyperthyroidism — add Thyrodex. Acute headache — add Corydalin (AC). Chronic headache — add Corydalin (CR). ADD/ADHD — add Calm (Jr). IBS due to stress — add GI Harmony. Ulcerative colitis — add GI Care (UC). Excess heat — add Gardenia Complex. Blood stagnation — add Circulation (SJ). Hormonal acne — add Dermatrol (Clear).

Nutrition: Diet high in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins B and E — easily depleted by stress. Eat apricots, asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, brown rice, salmon, garlic, green leafy vegetables, and soy products. Avoid sugars, fermented foods, dairy, heat-producing fruits, stimulants, spicy/aromatic vegetables, and processed meats. PMS — one week before onset, consume ginger, green onions, fennel, orange peel, spinach, walnuts, hawthorn berries, cinnamon, and Chinese date. Restlessness — tea of wheat bran, licorice root, and dates three times daily.

Lifestyle: Regular exercise, adequate rest, and normal sleep patterns reduce stress. Relax through meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, tai chi chuan, and qi gong. Noise above 65 dB causes psychological disturbance; above 90 dB emotional damage; above 120 dB nervous system damage. Look at changes as challenges rather than threats.

CASE STUDIES

— 74F (B.C.): Insomnia, irritability, neck/shoulder tension; Liver qi stagnation. Calm 4 caps 3x. Result: able to relax and sleep; neck and shoulders much looser.

— 42F (S.P.): Insomnia, restlessness; Type A; Liver depression affecting Heart. Result: emotions balanced; slept better.

— 55F (S.S.): Menopause — hot flashes, irritability, insomnia, acid reflux; yin deficiency + Liver qi stagnation. Balance (Heat) 3 caps 3x + Calm 3 caps 3x. Result: no more hot flashes; sleep and acid reflux improved.

— 32M (S.F.): Stress, anger; Liver qi stagnation. Calm up to 8 caps. Result: less stressed, decreased anger.

— 57F (J.C.): Nervousness, insomnia, anxiety, night sweats; Kidney yin deficiency + Liver qi stagnation. Calm + Shine + Nourish. Result after 6 months: improved sleep; calmer and more balanced.

— 27F (S.T.): PMS — severe cramping, moodiness; Liver qi and blood stagnation. Mense-Ease + Calm. Result after 1 cycle: less pain, less moodiness.

— 36F (L.S.): Upper back tension, neck stiffness; Liver qi stagnation. Calm 3 caps/day × 1 week. Result: tension lifted; muscles more relaxed.

— 52F (S.M.): Irritability; Liver qi stagnation. Calm 3 caps 3x + acupuncture. Result after 2 days: much calmer.

— 42F (S.F.): Diarrhea with urgency, worse with stress; Liver overacting on Spleen. GI Harmony + Calm. Result: well-formed stools.

— 18M (D.H.): Stress, anxiety; Liver blood and qi stagnation. Calm + counseling. Result after 1 week: less stressed, less anxious.

— 35M manager: Stress, anger; Liver qi stagnation + Liver yang rising. Calm 4 caps 2x. Result: significant improvement; regression without herbs.

— 27F cook: Stress, inability to relax; Liver qi stagnation. Calm × 2 weeks. Result: much more relaxed.

— 40F housewife: Migraines, stress, poor sleep; Liver qi stagnation with heat rising. Calm + Corydalin (AC). Result at 4 weeks: headaches very mild; no longer needed Western medications.

— 38F administrator: Insomnia, TMJ, depression; Liver fire rising. Calm + acupuncture. Result: much calmer and more relaxed.

— 42F (S.C.): Constipation, bloating, insomnia, sadness; Liver qi stagnation. Calm. Result: neck tension, insomnia, constipation, and sadness gone.

— 41F (M.M.): Heat flushes, mood swings, anxiety; Liver stagnation + yin deficiency. Calm + Balance (Heat). Result: calmer; sound sleep.

— 37F (L.A.): Insomnia, neck/shoulder stiffness, TMJ; Liver qi stagnation. Calm. Result: tension eased; TMJ resolved after 8 acupuncture treatments. Added Schisandra ZZZ — slept through the night.

— Female (unnamed): PMS, loose stool, muscle tension; Liver qi stagnation. Calm 3 caps 3x before period. Result: nerves calmed, emotionally stable.

— 45F (D.S.): Insomnia, mood swings, fatigue; Spleen qi and blood deficiency. Nourish + Calm + Schisandra ZZZ. Result: sleep improved; moods balanced.

— 36F: Anxiety, irritability, insomnia; Liver qi stagnation. Calm 3 caps 3x. Result: less irritable; better focus; slept better.

— 44F (J.W.): Infertility, PMS, stress; Liver qi stagnation + Kidney yang deficiency. Calm. Result: stress decreased within 1 week; energy increased; tongue changed from purple to pink.

— 32F (E.P.): Vertigo, insomnia, palpitations, IBS; Liver fire. Calm + Gentiana Complex. Result at 3 weeks: IBS resolved. Switched to Schisandra ZZZ — sleep improved from 5–6 interrupted to 6–7 uninterrupted hours.

Related Reading

Also see: Calm (ES) – severe stress, anger, neurosis | Calm ZZZ – stress with insomnia and deficiency | Schisandra ZZZ – worrying and excessive dreams | Shine – depression | Shine (DS) – depression with stress and Liver qi | Gastrodia Complex – hypertension | Gentiana Complex – hypertension with Liver fire | Mense-Ease – dysmenorrhea and PMS | Balance (Heat) – menopausal hot flashes | GI Care – stomach pain and ulcers | GI Harmony – IBS due to stress | Corydalin (AC) – acute headache | Resolve (Upper) – breast lumps | Gardenia Complex – excess heat | Stress, Anxiety & Sleep Support Collection | Brain Health & Neurological Support Collection.

Not sure if this is the right formula? Start with our Unified Search — or use the Symptom & Formula Finder — or check the Drug & Herb Alternative Reference Guide — or use our Lab Test & Formula Reference.