Ganpikang Jiaonang: A Chinese Patent Medicine for Hepatitis and Early Cirrhosis

Ganpikang Jiaonang is a Chinese patent medicine. Its herbal composition is: Chaihu (Bupleurum), Huangqi (Astragalus), Baishao (White Peony), Qingpi (Green Tangerine Peel), Baizhu (White Atractylodes), Fuling (Poria), Jineijin (Chicken Gizzard Lining, stir-fried), Sanqi (Pseudoginseng), Jianghuang (Turmeric Rhizome), Yujin (Curcuma), Shuizhi (Leech), Banlangen (Isatis Root), Xiongdan-fen (Bear Bile Powder), and Shuiniujiao-nongsuo-fen (buffalo horn concentrated powder).

Ganpikang soothes the liver and fortifies the spleen, activates blood and resolves toxicity. It treats hypochondriac distending pain, oppression in the chest and epigastrium, poor appetite and lack of appetite, fatigue and weakness, a dim complexion, and a hard mass below the ribs, caused by liver depression and spleen deficiency with internal retention of toxin and stasis. It is now mostly used for chronic hepatitis and early cirrhosis presenting with the above patterns, and may also serve as an adjunct for hepatobiliary tumors with the above symptoms.

When treating viral hepatitis, it may be used together with antiviral drugs; when treating cirrhosis, it may be used together with Biejia Ruangan Pian or Renshen Biejia Jian Wan; when treating liver tumors or metastases, it may be used together with Chinese patent medicines such as Xihuang Wan, Huachansu, Fufang Banmao Jiaonang, and Fule. However, this product has a blood-activating and blood-breaking action, so patients with the above diseases who have a potential bleeding risk should not take it; it is forbidden in pregnancy.

Ganpikang Jiaonang is derived by modifying Shugan San. In the formula, Chaihu and Yujin soothe the liver and resolve depression; Qingpi moves qi and breaks accumulations; Baishao softens the liver and relieves pain; Baizhu and Fuling fortify the spleen and drain dampness; Jineijin strengthens the stomach, promotes digestion, and breaks up concretions; Sanqi, Jianghuang, Shuizhi, and Yujin are all herbs that activate blood, resolve stasis, reduce swelling, and disperse nodulation; Banlangen, bear bile powder, and buffalo horn powder clear heat and resolve toxicity. Combined, these herbs can in a targeted way relieve some clinical symptoms of viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, or liver tumors.

But most of these Chinese patent medicines play only an adjunctive role; treating hepatitis, cirrhosis, or hepatobiliary tumors solely with such medicines has very limited effectiveness, and comprehensive treatment should be adopted.