[Source]

Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases (Shang Han Lun)

 [Composition]

(Processed) Licorice, Scutellaria baicalensis, Coptis chinensis, Dried Ginger, Pinellia ternata, Jujube, Ginseng
(7)

 [Categorization]

<Tonify Spleen and Middle Jiao>: Licorice, Jujube

<Clear Heat and Dry Dampness>: Coptis chinensis, Scutellaria baicalensis

<Tonify Qi>: Ginseng

<Warm the Interior>: Dried Ginger

<Transform Phlegm>: Pinellia ternata

[Explanation of Formula]

From “Shan Bu”: This formula is named after Licorice for its harmonizing and mild nature. The sweet and warm properties of Licorice and Jujube tonify the middle jiao and relieve urgency, treating the fullness and distention. The pungent nature of Pinellia ternata breaks through upward rebellious Qi. Scutellaria baicalensis and Coptis chinensis clear the heat of upward-deficiency fullness, while dried ginger disperses the cold of downward-stagnation. It harmonizes urgency, breaks rebellion, clears fullness, and treats cold and heat, encompassing all therapeutic actions. From “Han Dian”: Gancao Xiexin Tang is essentially Banxia Xiexin Tang with an increased dosage of Licorice, used to treat Banxia Xiexin Tang patterns where there is rumbling in the abdomen, undigested diarrhea or absence of diarrhea, accompanied by vexation and emotional distress. The increased dosage of Licorice is because Licorice has the effect of alleviating urgent symptoms and can eliminate vexation and restlessness.

 [Functions]

Tonify the middle jiao and resolve fullness, harmonize urgency and relieve vexation, tonify the middle jiao and open stagnation, benefit Qi and harmonize the stomach, descend rebellious Qi.

 [Indications]

Deficiency of stomach Qi leading to Qi stagnation and fullness, ten to dozens of bowel movements daily with undigested food, rumbling in the abdomen, fullness and hardness in the epigastrium, dry heaves, vexation and restlessness, thin white tongue coating, weak and thin pulse. From “Shan Bu”: After exogenous pathogenic factors attack the body, if the patient experiences diarrhea with undigested food, rumbling in the abdomen, and epigastric fullness and hardness with dry heaves and vexation, and the physician misdiagnoses it as lingering heat and purges again, the condition of epigastric fullness will worsen. This is not due to pathogenic heat but rather the Qi of the stomach being deficient and the invasion of external Qi causing upward rebellion, leading to these symptoms.

 [Approved Indications]

Acute and chronic gastroenteritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, constipation due to stomach deficiency, stomatitis, neurosis, sleepwalking, insomnia.

 [Mnemonic]

Pinellia Xiexin Tang (with increased Licorice dosage).