Have you ever experienced issues that seem unrelated and random, but they also coincide? Maybe you have a hard time falling asleep and turning your brain off at night, but you also experience stress during the day?  What if you need digestive support at the same time? Does one have anything to do with the other? Even if it seems like these symptoms are unrelated, the good news is that from a Chinese medicine perspective, a lot of the time it all makes sense!

The beauty of Chinese medicine is that it thinks of symptoms as an underlying imbalance in the whole body. Symptoms usually don’t start immediately. Chronic issues start out as nagging symptoms, and as time goes on, an underlying pattern develops in how the body’s energies and organs interact. Chinese medicine works from the inside out to treat the root, which corrects internal imbalances in the body to change the pattern, and in turn positively affect the symptoms.

One of my favorite things about Chinese herbal medicine is how you can use one formula to treat a number of different symptoms. DAO Labs’ popular Mental Tranquility is known and loved for helping sleepers who have a racing mind at night establish a regular sleep pattern so you can get quality sleep and feel refreshed in the morning. But, this is not the only thing Mental Tranquility can be used for!

How does Mental Tranquility work?

Mental Tranquility is based on the classic Chinese medicine formula called Return to Spleen (Gui Pi Tang). Return to Spleen is a formula that benefits and nourishes Spleen Qi and Heart Blood. By treating this specific pattern, this formula can be used for a variety of symptoms that all fit in this underlying imbalance.

In Chinese medicine, the Spleen and Stomach are the organs that work together to ensure proper digestion. These organs receive food that we eat, and in the process of digestion, the Spleen extracts Qi and uses some of it to produce Blood. This Qi is the starting point for the production of all Qi and Blood in the body. Qi is energy that we need for the body’s internal systems to properly function, and Blood is a vital nourishing substance in the body. Blood is also important for anchoring the Spirit at night for calm and peaceful sleep.

Mental Tranquility benefits the mental aspects of the Spleen and Heart. The Spleen influences Thought, which is our capacity for thinking, studying, concentrating, focusing and memorizing. The Heart is associated with the Spirit, which is vital for all cognitive functioning and quality sleep. Overthinking and excessive worrying can cause imbalance in Spleen Qi and Heart Blood.

When these are not in balance, you lose the ability to concentrate and can become forgetful.

What Are Other Benefits of Gui Pi Tang (Mental Tranquility)?

Altogether, this makes Mental Tranquility a great choice for improving mental clarity during the day. This formula is perfect for focusing on a work project or presentation, studying for finals, or any time you need an extra boost of concentration. In addition to the sleep benefits, Mental Tranquility is also helpful for anxiety, poor memory, fatigue, low appetite and poor digestion.

The power in Chinese herbal medicine lies in its ability to treat a variety of seemingly unrelated symptoms. As long as you are working on an underlying pattern, formulas can be used for many different issues. Mental Tranquility can be used for day or night. Take before bed for a better night’s sleep, and during the day for increased productivity and mental performance!

References

Barolet, R., Bensky, D., Ellis, A., & Scheid, V. (1990). Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas &

Strategies, 2nd Edition. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press, Inc.

Maciocia, G. (1989). The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists. Edinburgh, London: Churchill Livingstone.

Dr. Jennifer Tom, DACM, L.Ac. is a licensed acupuncturist with a private practice in Carlsbad, CA. She is passionate about providing practical, down to earth health care using acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. When she’s not seeing patients, you can usually find her rock climbing or cooking. Follow her on Instagram at @jenntom_acu.