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"Sparganium 12 is based on modern Chinese clinical approaches to treating uterine fibroids (or other abdominal masses) with prescriptions comprised of herbs to regulate the circulation of qi and blood. A good example is Xiaoliu Fang (prescription for reducing masses) which is similar to Sparganium 12. In this formula, zedoaria and sparganium are the basic pair of blood vitalizing herbs for resolving masses. These are supplemented by other blood regulating herbs, namely vaccaria, achyranthes, tang-kuei, and persica, and by qi regulators, mainly bupleurum and cyperus. Oyster shell is included for resolving masses and dipsacus is included as a warming tonic that also vitalizes blood. According to Chinese studies of fibroid treatment, fibroids are easier to shrink if they are small, and the effect of treatment is to alleviate symptoms of fibroids even if the amount of shrinkage is not substantial. The most difficult symptom is excessive bleeding caused by exposure of blood vessels, pushed by the fibroid to the surface of the uterine wall. Blood vitalizing herbs can cause some increase in bleeding until the fibroid is reduced in size. Herbs that inhibit bleeding, such as Tien-chi Ginseng Tablets (Pine Mountain) or Imperata 10 may be given at the same time to minimize this problem. Sparganium 12 can be used for any abdominal mass that is deemed to be a blood stasis type (however, a fluid mass, as occurs with ovarian cysts, is treated differently; see Cinnamon/Rehmannia). The structure of this formula is similar to that of Blue Citrus Tablets, used for breast lumps, except that breast lumps are considered a combination of phlegm mass and blood stasis, whereas the uterine fibroid is considered a blood stasis mass only." |
