Radix Bupleuri and Radix Paeoniae Alba are two commonly used traditional Chinese medicines(TCM) in the treatment of internal diseases. The former could relieve the heat and exterior syndrome

relieve liver and resolve depression

and raise Yang Qi. The latter could nourish Yin

emolliate liver

relieve pain and stabilize liver Yang. The history of combined administration of the two drugs can be traced back to Sinisan in Treatise on Febrile Diseases written by ZHANG Zhong-jing in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Radix Bupleuri enters the meridian of the liver and gall bladder

and acts as a monarch drug for rising Yang Qi

relieving liver and resolving depression; and Radix Paeoniae Alba acts as an associate drug for retaining Yin

nourishing blood and emolliating liver. They have been used for thousands of years in China. Liver Qi stagnation syndrome is one of the main subtype of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

which is characterized by depression. Under the social background

the incidence rate of PMDD continues to rise

which seriously affects the work and life of patients. At present

the studies on the onset of PMDD and the relationship of micro-mechanisms such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) have made many achievements. There have been many studies on the application of TCM in the treatment of the disease

and the combined administration of Radix Bupleuri and Radix Paeoniae Alba has a significant curative effect in the treatment of PMDD liver Qi stagnation

but with a lack of relevant reviews. This paper reviews domestic and foreign literatures

with Radix Bupleuri

Radix Paeoniae Alba and PMDD liver Qi stagnation syndrome as the key words. In order to guide the clinical application and the development of new drugs

the combined administration of Radix Bupleuri and Radix Paeoniae Alba in the treatment of PMDD liver Qi stagnation syndrome was reviewed by analyzing the historical evolution pharmacology

pharmacological analysis and clinical application of drugs pair.