Resolve (Lower)™

TCM herbal formula for uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, and pelvic pain — antiproliferative; antitumor; antineoplastic; analgesic; anti-inflammatory; dispels blood stasis and disperses nodules and masses; invigorates blood circulation and alleviates pain; supports female fertility

⚠️ Contains herbs with strong blood-invigorating functions — use with caution in patients with deficiencies; treat concurrently with tonic formulas (Kidney Tonic Yin, Kidney Tonic Yang, Imperial Tonic, Schisandra ZZZ, or Immune +). Contraindicated during pregnancy and nursing. Use with caution during menstruation — bleeding may be increased; reduce dosage by half or temporarily discontinue during period. Not the sole course of therapy — consider surgical intervention if multiple masses exist, if the cyst is large, or if fibroids do not respond to herbal therapy. Contains Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) — 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

* Fibrocystic disorders in the lower abdominal region: cysts and fibroids in the uterus and ovaries

* Masses, myomas, and benign tumors of the female reproductive organs

* Endometriosis

* Female infertility due to obstruction in the lower abdominal region (tubal obstruction)

* Pelvic pain due to obstruction in the lower abdominal region

* Scarring or blood stasis in the pelvic cavity from surgery

* Varicocele in men causing infertility

Background: Cysts, fibroids, masses, myomas, and endometriosis are all common gynecological disorders. Cysts are mucus-filled sacs. Fibroids are benign uterine growths of smooth muscles. Masses are abnormal growths of cysts and tumors. Myomas are smooth, benign tumors. Endometriosis is the growth of endometrial tissues outside the uterine cavity. In TCM, these abnormal tissues are diagnosed as "blood stasis and phlegm stagnation" in the lower jiao. Resolve (Lower) contains herbs that activate blood circulation, remove blood and phlegm stagnation, warm the abdomen, and relieve pain.

Clinical notes: Take every day of the month except during menstruation to avoid profuse bleeding — reduce dosage by half or temporarily discontinue during the period. If pain is present during the period, add Mense-Ease starting the first day of menstruation. If pain is present before the onset of each cycle, both formulas can be taken together. Take for 3 months prior to making an evaluation — if cysts, fibroids, or masses reduce in size, continue until completely resolved; if size remains constant, increase dosage by 30–50% and continue for another 3 months; if conditions still remain the same, consider other treatment options. Clinical study: one formula containing San Leng, E Zhu, Chi Shao, Zhe Bei Mu, Dang Gui, Bie Jia, and others showed an 81% rate of effectiveness for endometriosis in 58 patients.

Key herb-level clinical data:

— Bie Jia (Carapax Trionycis / Trionyx Turtle Shell): eliminates phlegm; softens abdominal masses; dissipates nodules; antiproliferative — inhibits proliferation of connective tissue and dissolves masses and nodules

— Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis / Angelica Sinensis / Dong Quai): activates circulation; removes blood stasis; relieves pain; anticancer — dose-dependent cell cycle arrest and apoptosis on various cancer types; cytotoxic and antiproliferative against colon cancer cells; analgesic — approximately 1.7× stronger than aspirin; anti-inflammatory — approximately 1.1× stronger than aspirin

— Fu Ling (Poria / Poria Cocos / Poria Mushroom): dispels phlegm; strengthens Spleen; prevents dampness formation; antineoplastic against a variety of cancer cells

— Yan Hu Suo (Rhizoma Corydalis / Corydalis / Yanhusuo): one of the strongest and most potent analgesic herbs — effective in both acute and chronic phases of pain and inflammation; analgesic potency comparable to morphine but much safer, with significantly fewer side effects, less risk of tolerance, and no evidence of physical dependence even with long-term use; treats chest and hypochondriac pain, epigastric and abdominal pain, hernial pain, amenorrhea or menstrual pain, and pain of the extremities; anticancer and antimetastatic — inhibits breast cancer metastasis via MAPK signaling

— Tao Ren (Semen Persicae / Peach Seed / Peach Kernel): unblocks blood vessels; removes blood stasis; promotes circulation; anti-inflammatory; antitumor — delays two-stage carcinogenesis in both in vitro and in vivo assays

— San Leng (Rhizoma Sparganii / Sparganium / Bur-Reed Rhizome): strong blood-invigorating function; dispels masses; alleviates pain; antineoplastic; antitumor; analgesic

— E Zhu (Rhizoma Curcumae / Curcuma / Zedoary Rhizome): strong blood-invigorating function; dispels masses; alleviates pain; antineoplastic; antitumor — induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of human cervical cancer cells in vitro and in vivo in a dose-dependent manner; furanodiene (sesquiterpene) — strong growth inhibition on cervical cancer, uterine cervical cancer, and other human cancer cell lines; antiangiogenic — blocks formation of new blood vessels to suppress tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis

— Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi / Cinnamon Twig): unblocks blood vessels; removes blood stasis; promotes circulation; warms the abdomen

— Hong Hua (Flos Carthami / Carthamus / Safflower): unblocks blood vessels; removes blood stasis; promotes circulation; anti-inflammatory — heme oxygenase-1 induction

— Chi Shao (Radix Paeoniae Rubrae / Red Peony Root): unblocks blood vessels; removes blood stasis; promotes circulation; relieves pain

— Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong / Chuanxiong / Ligusticum): activates circulation; removes blood stasis; analgesic; anti-inflammatory

— Mu Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan / Tree Peony Bark / Moutan): activates circulation; removes blood stasis; strong anti-inflammatory — inhibits prostaglandin synthesis and decreases permeability of blood vessels

— Pu Huang (Pollen Typhae / Cattail Pollen / Typha): excitatory action on the uterus; invigorates blood; relieves pain; eliminates blood stasis

— San Qi (Radix et Rhizoma Notoginseng / Notoginseng / Tienchi Ginseng): invigorates blood circulation; stops bleeding; prevents hypermenorrhea; anti-inflammatory — inhibits nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production

— Mu Li (Concha Ostreae / Oyster Shell): eliminates phlegm; softens abdominal masses; dissipates nodules

— Zhe Bei Mu (Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii / Fritillaria Thunberg Bulb): eliminates phlegm; softens abdominal masses; dissipates nodules

WESTERN THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Antiproliferative / antitumor / antineoplastic — Bie Jia (connective tissue, masses, nodules); Dang Gui (cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, colon cancer); Fu Ling (cancer cells); Yan Hu Suo (anticancer, antimetastatic, breast cancer MAPK); Tao Ren (two-stage carcinogenesis); San Leng + E Zhu (antineoplastic, antitumor); E Zhu (cervical cancer, furanodiene, antiangiogenic)

* Analgesic — Yan Hu Suo (morphine-comparable, acute and chronic pain); San Leng (analgesic); Dang Gui (1.7× aspirin); Chuan Xiong (analgesic)

* Anti-inflammatory — Mu Dan Pi (prostaglandin synthesis↓, blood vessel permeability↓); San Qi (nitric oxide↓, prostaglandin E2↓); Tao Ren + Hong Hua (anti-inflammatory); Dang Gui (1.1× aspirin); Chuan Xiong (anti-inflammatory)

* Blood circulation / stasis removal — Gui Zhi, Tao Ren, Hong Hua, Chi Shao (unblock vessels, remove stasis); Chuan Xiong, Dang Gui, Mu Dan Pi (activate circulation); Pu Huang (uterine excitation, blood stasis); San Qi (invigorates blood, stops bleeding)

* Phlegm / mass dissolution — Zhe Bei Mu, Mu Li, Bie Jia (soften masses, dissipate nodules); Fu Ling (dispels phlegm, strengthens Spleen); San Leng, E Zhu (dispel masses)

CHINESE THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Dispels blood stasis and disperses nodules and masses (Gui Zhi, Tao Ren, Hong Hua, Chi Shao, Chuan Xiong, Dang Gui, Mu Dan Pi, Pu Huang, San Leng, E Zhu, San Qi)

* Eliminates phlegm stagnation; softens and dissolves abdominal masses (Zhe Bei Mu, Mu Li, Bie Jia, Fu Ling)

* Invigorates blood circulation and alleviates pain (Yan Hu Suo, San Leng, Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong)

* Warms the lower jiao (Gui Zhi)

DOSAGE

Standard: 3–4 capsules three times daily on an empty stomach with warm water. In cases of large fibroids, dosage may be increased up to 8–10 capsules twice or three times daily. Take every day of the month except during menstruation. Take continuously for 1–2 months prior to making a progress evaluation; 3 months for full assessment.

Supplementary formulas: Benign breast disorders — use with Resolve (Upper). PMS or irritability — use with Calm. Stress and insomnia with deficiency — add Calm ZZZ. Dysmenorrhea — use Mense-Ease. Infertility — use Blossom (Phase 1–4). Hot flashes in menopausal patients — combine with Balance (Heat). Genital area infection — add V-Support. Hardness and nodules in chest area — combine with Resolve (AI). Severe varicocele or varicose veins — add Circulation (SJ). Edema, water retention, or leg swelling — add Herbal DRX. Cancer with extreme weakness unable to tolerate chemo/radiation — use CA Support. Minimize side effects of chemo/radiation — combine with C/R Support.

Nutrition: Avoid red meat, tap water, processed foods, junk foods, alcohol, dairy products (except unsweetened low-fat yogurt), and produce sprayed with pesticides. Avoid hormone-treated meats — may stimulate fibroid growth. Eliminate coffee — may contribute to fibroid growth. Avoid cold and raw foods (watermelon, citrus, sushi) and cold beverages (ice water).

Lifestyle: Avoid or reduce exposure to radiation whenever possible (microwave, television, computer monitors). Relaxation, maintaining a positive outlook, and regular exercise are important to recovery and to progress in resolving fibroids and cysts, and for preventing recurrences.

CASE STUDIES

— 44-year-old female (G.E.): Painful menstruation that starts and stops, excessive flow with clotting, pain on abdominal palpation; deep strong wiry pulse; menorrhagia; blood stasis. Mense-Ease + Resolve (Lower). Result: herbs resolve the pain each time — kept on hand as ongoing management.

— 48-year-old female (N.K.): Lower quadrant pain, constipation; bilateral ovarian cysts confirmed by gynecologist — left cyst 8.65/5.6/5.5 inches; qi, blood, and phlegm accumulation in lower abdomen. Resolve (Lower) 6 capsules 3x/day (patient took 3 capsules 2–3x/day). Result at 6 months: constipation improved, right cyst no longer visible, left cyst varying in size.

— 34-year-old female (N.T.): Told she couldn't have children; polycystic ovarian disease and fibroids; post-thyroidectomy on levothyroxine; constipation, poor sleep, heavy menses, cramps, fatigue, weight gain; phlegm and blood stagnation. Resolve (Lower) 4 capsules 3x/day + acupuncture and cupping 1–3x/week. Result at 3 months: unexpectedly became pregnant.

— 36-year-old female: Extreme headaches and lower abdominal cramping one week before period, heavy bleeding; blood stagnation in lower jiao and chong (thoroughfare) and ren (conception) channels; fibroids and endometriosis confirmed by gynecologist; laparoscopy found fibroid tumors in both ovaries. Resolve (Lower) 4 capsules 3x/day + acupuncture 1–2x/week for 5 months. Result at 4 cycles: headaches and abdominal cramping abated; periods no longer painful.

— 42-year-old female medical doctor: Uterine fibroids, painful menses, dark clots; wiry pulse, light purple tongue; blood and phlegm stagnation. Resolve (Lower). Result: menstrual pain and excessive bleeding lessened; clots smaller; fibroids felt to be dwindling in size.

— 27-year-old female (office worker): Lower abdominal pain before and during menses, occasional bloody stools; history of chronic yeast infections and endometriosis resolved by surgeries; blood and qi stagnation with damp-heat in lower jiao. Mense-Ease + Resolve (Lower). Result: menstrual pain reduced, rectal bleeding abated.

— 28-year-old female dental hygienist: Palpable lump near Zigongxue (Uterus point), severe PMS, large dark clots, one week of constant dull grabbing/shooting left lower abdominal pain after period; history of candida, hypothyroidism, hay fever; right ovary removed 1995, endometriosis removed 1999; cysts on left ovary; scar tissue from hernia operation; damp-heat in lower jiao with Spleen qi deficiency. Mense-Ease + Resolve (Lower) 3–5 capsules each 3x/day. Result: less emotional, fewer cramps month 1, no pain month 2; lower abdominal pain reduced in intensity, frequency, and area; after 3 months — surgery removed 2 inches of tissue; ultrasound confirmed complete absence of ovarian cysts; Doppler ultrasound showed favorable pulsatility index for uterine blood flow; no blockages in reproductive system.

Related Reading

Also see: Mense-Ease – for dysmenorrhea and menstrual pain | Resolve (Upper) – for benign breast disorders | Resolve (AI) – for hardness and nodules | Blossom (Phase 1–4) – for female infertility | Balance (Heat) – for menopausal hot flashes | Circulation (SJ) – for blood circulation and varicocele | V-Support – for genital infections | Calm – for PMS and irritability | Women's Health & Hormonal Support Collection.