• Kan Essentials Harmonise the Qi liquid Chinese herbal formula

By Kan Essentials

Harmonise the Qi (Xiao Chai Hu Tang)

POA

Kan Essentials Harmonise the Qi (Xiao Chai Hu Tang) is a ready-to-use liquid traditional Chinese herbal formula based on the classical prescription. It is traditionally used to harmonise the Shao Yang pivot and restore regulatory balance in animals showing both excess and deficiency patterns.

In veterinary practice, this formula is commonly used in animals with inflammatory conditions that fluctuate over time rather than remaining fixed or predictable. These patients often show a mixture of excess and deficiency signs, with symptoms that wax and wane, worsen seasonally or fail to fully stabilise.

Rather than strongly tonifying deficiency or aggressively clearing excess, Xiao Chai Hu Tang helps restore smoother flow between the internal and external body, allowing regulation to become more stable over time.

 

 


In Australia, KAN herbal formulas can only be dispensed by a registered veterinarian.

KAN herbal formulas are most effective when selected for the individual animal. An in-person assessment with an integrative veterinarian is ideal, but telehealth can provide access when this is difficult or not possible.

If you are a registered veterinarian interested in accessing the KAN range, please get in touch via our contact page.

If you would like to access KAN herbal formulas for your animal, you can book a 15–30 minute phone or video consultation with Dr Tanya Meares BVSc.

Before your appointment, you will be asked to complete a form providing background information about your animal and their health concerns.

Consultation: $80
If herbal treatment is recommended, you will receive a $40 credit towards your first herbal order.

These formulas require practitioner dispensing under current regulatory guidelines.

How it Works

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the body constantly moves between Yin and Yang states throughout the day and across seasonal change. Xiao Chai Hu Tang is used when this regulatory “pivot” becomes stuck, preventing smooth movement of energy and circulation between the internal (organs) and external (skin and joints) body.

When this occurs, animals often develop fluctuating patterns where signs of excess and deficiency may coexist. Symptoms may wax and wane, worsen seasonally or appear inconsistent over time.

Rather than strongly tonifying deficiency or aggressively dispersing excess, Xiao Chai Hu Tang helps restore smoother ascent and descent of Qi so that regulation becomes more stable over time.

In modern veterinary practice, this pattern frequently manifests as inflammatory disease that fails to fully stabilise, often with waxing and waning symptoms, changing presentations or mixed inflammatory patterns.

Clinically, this formula is often considered in:
  • collapsing trachea and chronic inflammatory airway disease
  • acute liver inflammation
  • pancreatitis in patients that are not profoundly deficient
  • GDV-prone dogs with bloating tendency and altered motility
  • hip dysplasia or IVDD where inflammation fluctuates or worsens seasonally
  • immune-mediated disease, particularly where symptoms wax and wane
  • integrative support in some neoplastic conditions showing inflammatory instability
  • chronic inflammatory disease with fluctuating severity
  • inflammatory conditions associated with stress or seasonal change

Pulses are often wiry or tight. Tongue findings are variable but may show mild edge redness or subtle purpling in more constrained patterns.

Think: inflammatory disease that changes over time, fluctuates seasonally or fails to fully stabilise.

This formula is generally less appropriate where:
  • the patient is profoundly weak, cold or depleted
  • inflammation is severe, fixed or highly toxic in nature
  • heavy discharge, severe Damp accumulation or marked stagnation predominate
  • symptoms are static rather than fluctuating
Ingredients


Ginger cured pinellia rhizome

Bupleurum root

Chinese licorice root and rhizome

Chinese skullcap root

Ginger rhizome

Chinese red ginseng root and rhizome

Red jujube fruit
Dosing
4kg give 0.3mls twice daily
8kg give 0.45mls twice daily
12kg give 0.60mls twice daily
23kg give 0.9mls twice daily
32kg give 1.2mls twice daily
75kg give 1.8mls twice daily
Shipping

We currently ship only to Australia. Contact us if you are in NZ and interested in getting our products.  (Not Canada or USA)

For more information, click here >

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Shao Yang disharmony?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Shao Yang is described as a pivot between the exterior and interior of the body. When this pivot is not functioning smoothly, signs may fluctuate, recur or seem to move between different parts of the body. Xiao Chai Hu Tang is traditionally used to harmonise the Shao Yang and restore normal movement and regulation.
What signs might suggest Xiao Chai Hu Tang is appropriate?


A characteristic feature is a waxing and waning or changeable presentation. Signs may improve and then return, alternate in severity, or involve more than one body system. The animal may seem relatively well between episodes rather than showing a consistently severe or progressively worsening pattern.
Why is Xiao Chai Hu Tang often considered for recurrent or fluctuating problems?


Rather than simply clearing Heat or tonifying a deficiency, Xiao Chai Hu Tang is a harmonising formula. From a TCM perspective, it helps restore normal regulation when the body's response has become poorly coordinated. This makes it particularly relevant when problems repeatedly settle and flare again.
Is Xiao Chai Hu Tang an anti-inflammatory formula?

Xiao Chai Hu Tang can have significant anti-inflammatory effects, but it is more than simply an anti-inflammatory formula. In TCM it is considered a regulatory and harmonising formula, particularly suited to Shao Yang patterns where inflammation may be recurrent, fluctuating or poorly regulated. This is why the overall pattern is important when deciding whether Xiao Chai Hu Tang is appropriate.
Can Xiao Chai Hu Tang be used alongside conventional medications?

Chinese herbal formulas are often used as part of an integrative treatment plan alongside conventional veterinary care. However, suitability depends on the individual animal, its medications and underlying conditions. Veterinary advice is recommended, particularly for animals receiving prescription medications or treatment for significant disease.
When might Xiao Chai Hu Tang not be the right choice?

Xiao Chai Hu Tang is most appropriate when the overall presentation fits a Shao Yang pattern. A problem that is consistently hot and inflammatory, strongly deficient, or dominated by Dampness, Blood stagnation or another clear pattern may require a different formula. The pattern and behaviour of the condition over time are often more useful than the diagnostic label alone.