Pinyin: Shen Qu  Chinese: 神曲
Pharmaceutical: Massa Fermentata
English: Medicated Leaven

Tastes: Sweet, pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Reduces Food Stagnation, promotes digestion and harmonizes the Stomach
   Food Stagnation or accumulation due Stomach Cold with epigastric fullness or distention, lack of appetite, borborygmus and diarrhoea
2. Moves Qi
   Qi Stagnation

Standard Dosage: 6-15g in decoction.
Cautions: Contains gluten so not advised in people with gluten sensitivity or coeliac disease. Also contraindicated in cases of acid reflux, deficient Spleen Yin and excessive Stomach Fire. Caution also advised in pregnancy.

Pinyin: Mai Ya  Chinese: 麦芽
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Hordei Germinatus
English: Malt Barley Sprouts

Tastes: Sweet, bland
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach and Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Reduces Food Stagnation, improves digestion and strengthens the Stomach
   Food Stagnation due to undigested starchy foods or grains and all types of fruit Poorly digested milk in infants Food Stagnation due to Spleen Qi Deficiency with weak digestion and anorexia (weak function)
2. Inhibits lactation
   Discontinuation of nursing Painful, distended breasts
3. Facilitates the smooth flow of Liver Qi
   As an adjunctive for Liver Qi Stagnation with a stifling sensation or distention in the epigastrium or ribs, belching and anorexia

Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction. Can be increased to 30-120g.
Cautions: It is not suitable for woman in breast-feeding period.

Pinyin: Bai Zhu  Chinese: 白朮
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Atractylodes macrocephalae
Taxonomy: Atractylodes macrocephala
English: Largehead Atracylodes Rhizome

Tastes: Sweet, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Spleen and augments Qi
   Spleen and Stomach Deficiency with diarrhoea, fatigue, a sallow complexion and lack of appetite
   Spleen Yang failure to rise
2. Dries Dampness and promotes water metabolism
   Spleen Damp or accumulation of fluids affecting the digestion
   Edema and reduced urination due to Spleen Deficiency (failure to transform and transport)
   Tan Yin, masses, swelling
   Auxiliary for Damp painful obstruction
3. Stabilizes the Exterior and stops sweating
   Qi Deficiency with spontaneous sweating (Wei Qi Deficiency)
   With appropriate herbs, other types of sweating
4. Calms the fetus
   Restless fetus disorder due to Spleen Qi Deficiency
   With appropriate herbs, other types of Restless Fetus Disorder
5. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make the body light, prolong life and make one free from hunger. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).

Standard Dosage: 6-12g in decoction.
Cautions: Use with cautions in cases of yin deficiency with fluid injury by dryness-heat pathogen.

Pinyin: Zhi Shi  Chinese: 枳实
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Aurantii Immaturus
Taxonomy: Citrus aurantium
English: Immature Seville Orange / Immature Bitter Orange / Immature Sour Orange

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach and Large Intestine

Actions & Indications:

1. Breaks up Stagnant Qi, reduces accumulation, descends Qi, unblocks the bowels and removes Stagnant Food
   Qi Stagnation and accumulation with epigastric or abdominal pain and distention or indigestion with focal distention or gas
   Food Stagnation
2. Transforms Phlegm, reduces distention and resolves hardenings
   Turbid Phlegm Obstructing the Qi with focal distention and fullness in the chest and epigastrium
3. Expels Wind, alleviates itching, breaks up bindings, regenerates flesh and invigorates the Qi
   Listed in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as a medium class wood which "treats great Wind within the skin giving rise to tormenting itching as if [caused by] flax seeds, eliminates cold and heat and heat binding, stops dysentery, promotes the growth of the muscles and flesh, disinhibits the five viscera, boosts the qi, and makes the body light."

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for pregnant women.