Gu Jing Wan (固经丸) — Stabilise the Menses Pill

By Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto — registered Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner (BAcC, RCHM) with over 25 years’ clinical experience.

On this page

1. Overview
2. TCM pattern
3. Key herbs
4. Formula actions
5. Conditions treated
6. Cautions
7. Frequently asked questions

Overview

Gu Jing Wan — the “Stabilise the Menses Pill” — is attributed to Zhu Dan-xi’s Yuan-dynasty Yi Fang Kao. It addresses heavy menstrual bleeding from Yin deficiency with rising deficient Heat that pushes the Blood out of the vessels. Distinguished from Spleen-Qi-deficient bleeding (use Gu Chong Tang) by: bright or dark red blood (not pale), shorter cycles, restlessness, irritability, dry mouth, red tongue. The formula nourishes Yin (Bai Shao), cools the deficient Heat (Huang Qin, Huang Bai), astringes the bleeding (Gui Ban, Xiang Fu Tan) and supports the Liver-Kidney axis.

I prescribe Gu Jing Wan as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.

TCM pattern

Gu Jing Wan is prescribed for Yin-deficient deficient-Heat heavy menstrual bleeding:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding, bright red or purplish dark
• Possibly with small clots
• Shorter menstrual cycle (often < 25 days)
• Restlessness, irritability
• Dry mouth, mild thirst
• Five-palm Heat, occasional flushes
• Tongue — red with scant coat
• Pulse — rapid, thin or wiry

Key herbs

1. Gui Ban (Plastrum Testudinis, 9–15g) — nourishes Yin; anchors the floating Yang; astringes leaking Blood
2. Bai Shao (Rx. Paeoniae Alba, 9–15g) — nourishes Liver Yin and Blood; softens the Liver
3. Huang Qin (Rx. Scutellariae, 6–12g) — clears Heat; cools Blood
4. Huang Bai (Cx. Phellodendri, 3–9g) — clears Kidney/lower-burner Heat
5. Chun Gen Pi (Cx. Ailanthi, 6–15g) — astringes Blood; specifically for uterine bleeding with Heat
6. Xiang Fu Tan (charred Cyperus, 3–9g) — spreads Liver Qi; helps stop bleeding from Blood-Heat with stagnation

Formula actions

1. Nourishes Yin and Blood
2. Clears deficient Heat from the Liver and Kidney
3. Astringes Blood; stops heavy menstrual bleeding

Conditions treated

1. Heavy menstrual bleeding from Yin-deficient Heat — see heavy periods
2. Short menstrual cycle with Yin-deficient pattern
3. Perimenopausal flooding with Yin-deficient Fire
4. Functional uterine bleeding with Heat pattern
5. Menstrual bleeding in hyperthyroid[6] patients

Cautions

Heavy menstrual bleeding always warrants medical investigation to exclude fibroids^[20], polyps, hyperplasia, malignancy or coagulation disorders.

Not appropriate for cold-pattern or Qi-deficient bleeding (use Gu Chong Tang or Ju Yuan Jian instead).

Sudden severe bleeding requires emergency care.

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the RCHM.

Prefer to be treated from home? Chinese herbal medicine online consultations are available throughout the UK and worldwide.

Frequently asked questions

What is Gu Jing Wan used for?

Gu Jing Wan is a classical Chinese formula traditionally used for heavy menstrual bleeding or flooding of the Yin-deficient, deficient-Heat type — bright or dark red blood, shorter cycles, restlessness, dry mouth and a red tongue. It is a complementary approach, and heavy bleeding should always be investigated medically.

How is Gu Jing Wan different from Gu Chong Tang?

They treat different patterns of heavy bleeding and are not interchangeable. Gu Jing Wan is for Yin-deficient Heat — red blood with heat signs such as restlessness and dry mouth. Gu Chong Tang is for Spleen-Qi deficiency — paler blood with fatigue and a weak pulse. A practitioner matches the formula to your pattern.

Does Gu Jing Wan contain animal products?

The classical formula includes Gui Ban (tortoise plastron) as its Yin-nourishing, blood-astringing chief herb. On animal-welfare and conservation grounds I do not use tortoise shell; instead I build the same strategy from plant-based Yin-nourishing herbs such as Han Lian Cao and Nu Zhen Zi, with a blood-cooling, bleeding-stopping herb such as Di Yu, within a bespoke prescription — keeping the action while remaining animal-free.

How long does Gu Jing Wan take to work?

Menstrual formulas are usually taken and reviewed over two to three cycles, with the prescription adjusted at each stage of the cycle. Acute heavy bleeding needs prompt attention rather than waiting; a practitioner will advise on timing and dosing.

When should I see a doctor about heavy periods?

Always have heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding assessed medically to rule out fibroids, polyps, hormonal causes, thyroid problems or clotting disorders. Sudden severe bleeding, soaking through protection hourly, dizziness or fainting need urgent care. Chinese herbal medicine is used alongside — not instead of — that investigation.

References

[6] Liu Y, Cheng L, Yan G, Gu J, Lyu Z, Ding J. Effectiveness and potential mechanism of Jiawei-Xiaoyao-San for hyperthyroidism: a systematic review. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Sep 18;14:1241962. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1241962. PMID: 37780612.

[20] Chen NN, Han M, Yang H, Yang GY, Wang YY, Wu XK, Liu JP. Chinese herbal medicine Guizhi Fuling Formula for treatment of uterine fibroids: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014 Jan 2;14:2. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-14-2. PMID: 24383676.