Bofutsushosan (BFT) is also known as Fangfengtongshengsan in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is a traditional Japanese Kampo herbal formula containing 18 medicinal herbs. It is widely used in Asia to manage obesity, metabolic syndrome, and constipation.
BFT dramatically increased the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia, which was mainly associated with a bloom of Akkermansia muciniphila (AKK) and reducing gut lining vulnerability, according to PubMed Central NIH reports (1).
Data from this mice study shows that BFT modifies the gut microbiota with an increase in Akkermansia, which can improve gut barrier function and preventing diet-induced inflammation and glucose intolerance (2).
While further research is needed to verify efficacy, BFT has the potential to provide relief for obesity-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common cause of chronic liver failure in modern countries (3).
14 Plant and Botanical Herbs of Bofutsushosan:
- Saposhnikovia Root (Saposhnikoviae Radix / Fang Feng): dispels wind and clear the body.
- Ephedra Herb (Ephedrae Herba / Ma Huang): Promotes sweating, relieves spasms, and stimulates metabolism.
- Schizonepeta Spike (Schizonepetae Spica / Jing Jie): vents the skin.
- Mentha Herb (Menthae Herba / Bo He): Field mint, clears the head and eyes.
- Angelica Root (Angelicae Radix / Dang Gui): Japanese angelica root, improves blood circulation.
- Peony Root (Paeoniae Radix / Shao Yao): White peony root, blood flow and pain reduction.
- Cnidium Rhizome (Cnidii Rhizoma / Chuan Xiong): blood flow and reduces stagnation.
- Gardenia Fruit (Gardeniae Fructus / Zhi Zi): drains dampness.
- Forsythia Fruit (Forsythiae Fructus / Lian Qiao): detoxifies the system.
- Ginger Rhizome (Zingiberis Rhizoma / Sheng Jiang): digestion and stomach health.
- Rhubarb Rhizome (Rhei Rhizoma / Da Huang): mild laxative.
- Atractylodes Rhizome (Atractylodis Rhizoma / Bai Zhu): spleen, and dries dampness.
- Platycodon Root (Platycodi Radix / Jie Geng): Balloon flower root, for throat and lungs.
- Scutellaria Root (Scutellariae Radix / Huang Qin): Chinese skullcap, which clears damp-heat and fire toxins.
- Glycyrrhiza Root (Glycyrrhizae Radix / Gan Cao): Licorice root, used to harmonize all the herbs in the formula.
3 Minerals and Mineral Compounds:
- Gypsum (Gypsum Fibrosum / Shi Gao): Calcium sulfate, clears extreme internal heat.
- Talcum (Kasseki / Hua Shi): Hydrated magnesium silicate, supports urination.
- Sodium Sulfate (Natrii Sulfas / Mang Xiao): Glauber’s salt, softens hardness and clear accumulation in the bowels (4).
1) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7099031/
2) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-62506-w
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