This is the basic formula for tonifying the blood and regulating menstruation, for which it is very effective. It can be used (with appropriate modification) in treating a wide variety of problems associated with menstruation or birth in which the nails are lusterless, the tongue is pale, and the pulse is thin. This is blood deficiency, primarily of the Liver. When the Liver blood is deficient it is unable to rise and supply nourishment to the head. This manifests as dizziness and a lusterless complexion. The Liver\'s ability to supply its associated sensory organ (eyes) and tissue (sinews) is also impaired, which leads to blurred vision or chronic eye strain and generalized muscle tension. The health of the Liver is reflected in the nails; when the Liver blood is deficient, the nails become soft, dry, and lusterless (described as being \'wretched\'). A normal menstrual cycle depends on the Liver to provide and shut off the flow of blood at the appropriate times. When the Liver blood is deficient, the menses are typically irregular with a scanty flow. The may even be amenorrhea. However, when the blood becomes disordered, menorrhagia may occur. When the blood is deficient it does not move well, and there is a tendency for blood stasis to develop. This commonly manifests as periumbilical and lower abdominal pain, often occurring at the onset of menstruation, which is due to stasis and insufficiency of blood in the womb. This same process can also lead to hard abdominal masses with recurrent pain, restless fetus, or lochioschesis. The Heart is also dependent on the Liver blood; when it is deficient, one may experience palpitations. The pale tongue reflects blood deficiency, as does the thin pulse. The wiry or choppy quality of the pulse, which almost always accompanies this condition, signals the stasis of blood and demonstrates the link between blood deficiency and stasis. --Bensky: Chinese Herbal Medicine Formulas and Strategies.