The methodology involved experimenting with individual herbs that are already known to exhibit antidepressant-like impacts. These herbs, including Moutan Cortex, Angelica Sinensis Radix, Bupleuri Radix, Paeonia Radix Alba, were combined with Gardeniae Fructus, each in proportions relative to their presence in Jiawei-Xiaoyao Pill, to find the desired formula. Rapid antidepressant effects were evaluated through the Novelty Suppressed Feeding Test and various other behavioral trials post a one-time administration. Once the formula was identified, it was then subjected to additional testing with a model that simulates depression using lipopolysaccharide.

The results showed that a combination of Gardeniae Fructus, Moutan Cortex and Angelica Sinensis Radix, at their dosages proportional to Jiawei-Xiaoyao Pill, is capable of triggering rapid antidepressant-like reactions. Similar to the effects seen with Jiawei-Xiaoyao Pill and Scopolamine, this formula swiftly mitigated neuroinflammation signals and boosted neuroplasticity. It also offset the overexpression of certain NMDAR sub-units in the hippocampal region of mice under a depression model. It was observed that the formula rapidly revitalized the number of certain positive cells that had been diminished by depression simulation. The antidepressant effects of the formula and the upregulation of BDNF signaling were hindered by the use of rapamycin, an inhibitor of mTOR.