INGREDIENTS

Each pill contains the equiv. to dry:

 

White Peony, root 62.5mg

Wolfporia, fruit 62.5mg

Chinese Thorowax, root 46.9mg

Tree Peony, stem bark 46.9mg

Gardenia, flower, unopened 46.9mg

Dong Quai, root 31.2mg

White Atractylodes, rhiz. 31.2mg

Mint, leaf 15.6mg

Ginger, rhiz. 15.6mg

Licorice, root 15.6mg

 

 

Store below 30°C

Contains 200 x 200mg pills.

AUSTL 482236

Manufactured In Australia.

 

Indications: stressed, depressed, hot, irritable, someone sitting on your chest.

Actions: clear the heat, soothe the liver, calm the farm.

Dosages: 12 - 15 pills, 2 - 3 times per day, or as symptoms return. Take near food.

Children: 6 months an over 1 pill per year of age up to the age of 10 as directed above.

Over use, don’t under use. Treat sooner rather than later.

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Jia Wei Xiao Yao San – "Cool, Calm & Collected"

A classical Chinese herbal formula traditionally used when chronic stress begins to generate inflammation, irritability and hormonal imbalance.

 

What is Jia Wei Xiao Yao San?

Stress doesn't affect everyone in the same way.

Some people become withdrawn, exhausted and emotionally flat.

Others become...

• impatient

• snappy

• hot

• frustrated

• restless

• unable to switch off

 

They may notice headaches, facial flushing, acne, hot flushes, night sweats or worsening PMS.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recognised these two very different responses to stress centuries ago.

​

While Xiao Yao San ("Stress") is designed for the person whose energy becomes constrained and depleted, Jia Wei Xiao Yao San (加味逍遥散) is designed for the person whose stress has started to boil over.

​

At Chiron Medical we call it "Stressed, Hot & Irritable" because these three words immediately describe the people most likely to benefit from this remarkable formula.

 

A Formula Built Upon One of China's Greatest Prescriptions

Jia Wei Xiao Yao San is an evolution of Xiao Yao San, first recorded in 1107 CE during the Song Dynasty.

Physicians recognised that many patients initially responded well to Xiao Yao San, but over time developed additional signs of internal Heat.

​

Rather than creating an entirely new prescription, they added two herbs:

• Mu Dan Pi (Moutan Bark)

• Zhi Zi (Gardenia Fruit)

These additions transformed Xiao Yao San into a formula capable of addressing both stress and the inflammatory Heat that prolonged stress often creates.

 

Why We Call It "Stressed, Hot & Irritable"

 

Modern biology tells us that chronic stress activates:

• cortisol

• adrenaline

• inflammatory cytokines

• oxidative stress

• autonomic nervous system dysfunction

Chinese medicine described this centuries ago as Liver Qi Stagnation transforming into Heat.

 

Typical symptoms include:

• irritability

• frustration

• anger

• feeling hot

• headaches

• flushing

• acne

• red eyes

• poor sleep

• hot flushes

• night sweats

• PMS with anger

• breast tenderness

• constipation during stress

Unlike ordinary stress, this pattern has become inflammatory.

 

What Is It Traditionally Used For?

Traditionally, Jia Wei Xiao Yao San is prescribed for Liver Qi Stagnation with Heat.

 

Emotional Health

• chronic stress

• irritability

• frustration

• mood swings

• emotional reactivity

• anxiety with agitation

• burnout accompanied by anger

 

Women's Health

One of Chinese medicine's most widely prescribed formulas for:

• PMS

• painful periods

• breast tenderness

• irregular menstruation

• menopausal hot flushes

• emotional changes before menstruation

 

Skin Disorders

Stress-related:

• acne

• facial flushing

• inflammatory eczema

• rosacea (selected patterns)

 

Digestive Disorders

• stress-induced bloating

• constipation

• acid reflux aggravated by stress

• poor appetite with irritability

 

Other Applications

• tension headaches

• migraines

• stress-induced insomnia

• muscle tension

• emotional exhaustion with inflammatory symptoms

 

The Ten Herbs That Make the Formula

Jia Wei Xiao Yao San contains the complete Xiao Yao San formula plus two cooling herbs.

The Xiao Yao San Foundation

Chai Hu

Moves constrained Liver Qi.

Dang Gui

Nourishes Blood.

Bai Shao

Relaxes the Liver while nourishing Blood.

Bai Zhu

Strengthens digestion.

Fu Ling

Supports digestion while calming the mind.

Gan Cao

Harmonises the formula.

Sheng Jiang

Supports digestive function.

Bo He

Relieves emotional constraint.

Together these herbs regulate stress, digestion and hormonal balance.

 

The Two Additional Herbs

 

Mu Dan Pi (Moutan Bark)

Traditional role

Clears Heat while invigorating Blood.

Biomedical actions

Research suggests:

• anti-inflammatory effects

• antioxidant activity

• vascular protection

• regulation of inflammatory cytokines

 

Zhi Zi (Gardenia Fruit)

Traditional role

Clears Heat and relieves irritability.

Biomedical actions

Research demonstrates:

• anti-inflammatory effects

• neuroprotective activity

• antioxidant properties

• modulation of stress pathways

 

These two herbs make all the difference.

They cool the inflammatory consequences of prolonged stress while preserving the balancing actions of Xiao Yao San.

 

How the Formula Works

Think of Xiao Yao San as restoring balance.

Think of Jia Wei Xiao Yao San as restoring balance after the engine has started overheating.

Modern research suggests the formula may influence:

• HPA axis regulation

• inflammatory cytokines

• oxidative stress

• autonomic nervous system activity

• liver metabolism

• gut microbiome

• reproductive hormone regulation

Rather than acting as a sedative, it appears to improve the body's ability to regulate stress while simultaneously reducing inflammatory activation.

 

What Does Modern Research Say?

Research has investigated Jia Wei Xiao Yao San for:

 

Women's Health

• PMS

• dysmenorrhoea

• menopause

• breast pain

• menopausal symptoms

 

Mental Health

• anxiety

• depression

• chronic stress

• burnout

 

Neurological Disorders

• migraine

• stress headaches

• sleep disturbance

 

Dermatology

• acne

• inflammatory skin disease

• rosacea

 

Gastrointestinal Disease

• functional dyspepsia

• IBS

• stress-induced digestive dysfunction

 

Experimental studies suggest effects involving:

• cortisol regulation

• inflammatory cytokines

• oxidative stress

• serotonin signalling

• immune regulation

• neuroplasticity

 

Although further high-quality trials remain necessary, the pharmacological evidence aligns closely with the formula's traditional indications.

 

Xiao Yao San vs Jia Wei Xiao Yao San

This is one of the most common questions patients ask.

Both formulas treat stress.

The difference lies in whether stress has generated Heat.

Xiao Yao San ("Stress") - Jia Wei Xiao Yao San ("Cool, Calm & Collected)

Stress with fatigue - Stress with irritability

Emotional tension - Anger and frustration

Bloating - Bloating with constipation

PMS - PMS with breast tenderness and anger

Mild anxiety - Anxiety with agitation

Low energy - Feeling "wired"

Pale complexion - Red face or flushing

Normal temperature - Feeling hot

Digestive weakness - Stress with inflammatory symptoms

 

A simple way to remember them:

Xiao Yao San restores balance.

Jia Wei Xiao Yao San cools the fire that prolonged stress has created.

 

Beyond Stress

Modern medicine increasingly understands that chronic stress is not only psychological.

 

Persistent stress can contribute to:

• systemic inflammation

• insulin resistance

• immune dysregulation

• hormonal imbalance

• cardiovascular disease

• digestive dysfunction

Chinese medicine recognised this transformation centuries ago.

​

It observed that unresolved emotional constraint gradually became Heat, producing many of the inflammatory symptoms we now associate with chronic stress.

Jia Wei Xiao Yao San was designed precisely for this transition.

 

For Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners

 

Classical Pattern

Liver Qi Stagnation transforming into Heat with Blood Deficiency and Spleen Qi Deficiency

Typical presentation:

• irritability

• headaches

• red eyes

• breast tenderness

• constipation

• PMS

• hot flushes

• wiry rapid pulse

• red tongue

 

Formula Strategy

Jia Wei Xiao Yao San:

• Harmonises Liver Qi.

• Nourishes Blood.

• Strengthens the Spleen.

• Clears Heat.

• Reduces irritability.

• Restores emotional regulation.

 

Common Clinical Modifications

Frequently adapted for:

• menopausal syndrome

• PMS

• acne

• rosacea

• chronic stress

• migraines

• stress-related hypertension

• inflammatory digestive disorders

 

For Medical Doctors

 

Proposed Biomedical Actions

Research suggests multiple interacting mechanisms involving:

• HPA axis regulation

• reduction of inflammatory cytokines

• antioxidant activity

• immune modulation

• autonomic nervous system regulation

• gut–brain axis modulation

• endocrine regulation

Major bioactive compounds include:

• saikosaponins

• paeoniflorin

• paeonol

• geniposide

• ferulic acid

• glycyrrhizin

These influence pathways including:

• NF-κB

• BDNF

• HPA axis

• MAPK

• Nrf2

• inflammatory cytokines

 

Potential Herb–Drug Considerations

Clinical monitoring is appropriate when patients are taking:

• antidepressants

• anxiolytics

• hormonal therapies

• corticosteroids

• antihypertensive medications

• anticoagulants (general precaution)

 

As with Xiao Yao San, prolonged cumulative liquorice intake should be considered in patients with uncontrolled hypertension, heart failure or hypokalaemia.

 

When Stress Starts to Burn

Stress is not always quiet.

Sometimes it becomes loud.

​

It appears in our words, our relationships, our digestion, our skin and our hormones.

The body begins to behave as though the accelerator is stuck down.

​

Jia Wei Xiao Yao San was created for exactly this situation.

It doesn't simply calm stress.

It helps cool the physiological "fire" that prolonged stress can create while restoring the body's ability to regulate itself.

​

That is why we call it "Stressed, Hot & Irritable."

Because sometimes the problem isn't simply stress.

It's what stress has become.

 

Key Takeaways

• Jia Wei Xiao Yao San is an enhanced version of Xiao Yao San, created by adding Mu Dan Pi and Zhi Zi to address inflammatory Heat associated with chronic stress.

• At Chiron Medical it is called "Stressed, Hot & Irritable" because it is traditionally prescribed when emotional stress is accompanied by irritability, flushing, headaches, acne, hot flushes or inflammatory symptoms.

• It is widely used in Chinese medicine for PMS, menopausal symptoms, stress-related headaches, digestive dysfunction and emotional tension with Heat signs.

• Modern research suggests anti-inflammatory, neuroregulatory, endocrine and gut–brain axis effects that complement its traditional use.

• The choice between Xiao Yao San and Jia Wei Xiao Yao San depends not on the diagnosis, but on the pattern: if stress is accompanied by obvious signs of Heat and inflammation, Jia Wei Xiao Yao San is often the more appropriate traditional prescription.

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Clinical Insights

 

Stress That Has Become Overheating

Cool, Calm & Collected is designed for people whose stress has progressed beyond simple emotional tension and begun affecting their physical health.

Typical symptoms include:

• irritability

• frustration

• feeling overwhelmed

• emotional outbursts

• poor concentration

• headaches

• disturbed sleep

• hot flushes

• hormonal imbalance

• fatigue

 

Rather than simply calming the mind, the formula helps regulate the body's stress response while reducing the excessive inflammatory activity that prolonged stress can create.

 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Long-standing stress frequently progresses to physical exhaustion.

When patients experience:

• persistent fatigue

• poor recovery

• reduced stamina

• post-viral exhaustion

• burnout

practitioners frequently combine:

• Energy & Recovery (Sheng Mai San)

• Restore Healthy Circulation (Tao Hong Si Wu Tang)

 

This combination reflects the progression from emotional stress to depleted energy reserves and impaired circulation. While Cool, Calm & Collected reduces ongoing stress-driven inflammation, the companion formulas help restore vitality and tissue recovery.

 

Low Mood with Digestive Symptoms

Many people with chronic stress develop both emotional and digestive symptoms.

When low mood is accompanied by:

• nausea

• indigestion

• bloating

• reflux

• poor appetite

practitioners commonly combine:

• Angry Gallbladder (Wen Dan Tang)

This recognises the close relationship between emotional wellbeing and the gut-brain axis, helping restore both digestive function and emotional resilience.

 

Stress Headaches

Persistent stress commonly presents with:

• tension headaches

• migraines

• neck tightness

• pain behind the eyes

practitioners frequently combine:

• Headache Relief (Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao Tang)

This improves circulation through the head and neck while Cool, Calm & Collected addresses the emotional tension and inflammatory stress response driving the headaches.

 

Stress-Related Insomnia

When emotional pressure progresses to:

• racing thoughts

• difficulty falling asleep

• frequent waking

• restless sleep

practitioners frequently combine:

• The Chill Pill (An Shen Ding Zhi Tang)

This combination calms nervous system overactivity while addressing the chronic stress that often underlies persistent insomnia.

 

Menopausal Transition

Hormonal changes frequently amplify emotional sensitivity.

Where menopause is accompanied by:

• irritability

• mood swings

• hot flushes

• disturbed sleep

• emotional instability

practitioners commonly combine:

• Hot Flushes (Er Xian Tang)

• Menopuse (Zhi Bai Ba Wei Tang)

Together these formulas support hormonal adaptation, healthy ageing and emotional balance during the menopausal transition.

 

Premenstrual Syndrome

Many women experience increasing emotional sensitivity before menstruation.

When symptoms include:

• irritability

• breast tenderness

• mood swings

• bloating

• menstrual discomfort

practitioners frequently combine:

• Free Flow (Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang)

This recognises that prolonged Qi stagnation may eventually progress to Blood Stasis, contributing to more severe PMS and painful menstruation.

 

Understanding the Chiron Medical Emotional Health Network

One of the central teachings of the Chiron Formula Network is that stress evolves through predictable stages.

Stress (Xiao Yao San)

The body's adaptive response begins to struggle under ongoing emotional pressure.

↓

Cool, Calm & Collected (Jia Wei Xiao Yao Tang)

Stress becomes "heated."

The person is no longer simply busy or worried—they become increasingly:

• irritable

• emotionally reactive

• hormonally affected

• inflammatory

↓

Choose the dominant pathway

→ Free Flow (Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang)

When stress begins producing muscle tension, digestive discomfort and painful Qi stagnation.

↓

→ Happy Heart Formula (Gan Mai Da Zao Tang)

When emotional exhaustion, anxiety and tearfulness become dominant.

↓

→ The Chill Pill (An Shen Ding Zhi Tang)

When nervous system overactivity produces chronic anxiety, racing thoughts and insomnia.

↓

→ Sleep (Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan)

When prolonged stress and poor sleep gradually deplete the body's deeper reserves.

 

Women's Health Progression

Stress also influences hormonal regulation.

Stress (Xiao Yao San)

↓

Cool, Calm & Collected (Jia Wei Xiao Yao Tang)

Inflammatory Heat develops alongside hormonal imbalance.

↓

Free Flow (Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang)

Qi stagnation begins producing pain and emotional fluctuation.

↓

Period Pain (Tong Jing Tang)

Circulatory changes begin affecting menstruation.

↓

Cysts & Fibroids (Gui Zhi Fu Ling Tang)

Long-standing stagnation progresses to structural pelvic disease.

 

Fatigue Progression

Chronic stress rarely remains emotional.

Cool, Calm & Collected (Jia Wei Xiao Yao Tang)

↓

Energy & Recovery (Sheng Mai San)

The body's energy reserves become depleted.

↓

Energy Pills (Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang)

Long-standing fatigue progresses to constitutional deficiency.

↓

Immunity (Yu Ping Feng San)

Recovery is consolidated by rebuilding long-term immune resilience.

 

When Stress Becomes Inflammation

One of the most important concepts behind Cool, Calm & Collected is that chronic stress is not only an emotional experience—it becomes a biological one.

​

Modern research has shown that prolonged activation of the stress response can alter inflammatory signalling, disrupt hormonal balance, impair digestion, reduce sleep quality and increase fatigue. Chinese medicine recognised this progression centuries ago, describing it as Qi stagnation transforming into Heat.

​

Cool, Calm & Collected is designed for this stage of disease. It is no longer enough to simply "relax"; the body's stress response has become self-perpetuating. By calming emotional reactivity while reducing the physiological consequences of chronic stress, the formula helps interrupt this cycle before it progresses to more complex hormonal, digestive and inflammatory disorders.

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This is why it occupies such an important position in the Chiron Formula Network—it represents the transition from functional stress to stress-induced inflammatory disease, making it one of the key intervention points for preventing long-term chronic illness.