Author: Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan, 李杲 / 李東垣
Year: 1247
Source: Clarifying Doubts About Damage from Internal and External Causes (Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun , 內外傷辨惑論)
Category: Formulas that Reduce Food Stagnation
Pattern: Spleen and Stomach deficiency causing food stagnation
Key Symptoms: Loss of appetite, focal distention in the epigastrium and abdomen
Tongue: White coating
Pulse: Deficient
Ingredients
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Bai Zhu
| 60g | | (dry fried)
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Pinyin: Bai Zhu
Chinese: 白朮
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Atractylodes macrocephalae
Taxonomy: Atractylodes macrocephala
English: Largehead Atracylodes Rhizome |
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Tastes: Sweet, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen and Stomach |
Actions & Indications:
- 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
- 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
- Stabilizes the Exterior and stops sweating
Qi Deficiency with spontaneous sweating (Wei Qi Deficiency)
With appropriate herbs, other types of sweating
- Calms the fetus
Restless fetus disorder due to Spleen Qi Deficiency
With appropriate herbs, other types of Restless Fetus Disorder
- 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).
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Standard Dosage: 6-12g in decoction.
Cautions: Use with cautions in cases of yin deficiency with fluid injury by dryness-heat pathogen. |
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Zhi Shi
| 30g | | |
Pinyin: Zhi Shi
Chinese: 枳实
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Aurantii Immaturus
Taxonomy: Citrus aurantium
English: Immature Seville Orange / Immature Bitter Orange / Immature Sour Orange |
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Tastes: Pungent, bitter, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach and Large Intestine |
Actions & Indications:
- 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
- Transforms Phlegm, reduces distention and resolves hardenings
Turbid Phlegm Obstructing the Qi with focal distention and fullness in the chest and epigastrium
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for pregnant women. |
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Preparation: Grind the ingredients into a powder and form into pills with rice fried in He Ye (lotus leaf). Take 6-9g with water twice per day. Many formulations omit the fried rice. Can also be prepared as a decoction with 1/5 - 1/3 of the dosage.
Actions: Tonifies the Qi and reduces focal distention
Research Links:
Reference Notes: (click to display)
Most formulas are found in Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet (2009): Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies and Chen & Chen (2015) Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications. Others are from translations of primary sources. It is recommended that the original material is cross-referenced for mistakes and additional information.
Substitutions have been taken from Ken Lloyd & Prof. Leung (2004): Mayway UK Substitution List or the above publications and are intended as suggestions to help navigate the tight restrictions in the UK quickly. More applicable substitutions may be appropriate in specific situations.
Individual herb information has initially been sourced from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted.
