[Source]

From the “Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang” (1110 AD) and the “Yi Fang Lei Ju” (1443 AD), Volume 10, which cites “Jian Yao Ji Zhong Fang”.

 [Composition]

Dried tangerine peel, Magnolia bark, Licorice, Atractylodes rhizome, Fresh ginger, Jujube
(6)

 [Classification Group]

<Regulating Qi>: Three assistants with licorice, ginger, and jujube; Tangerine peel (Citrus reticulata)

<Tonifying Spleen and Middle Qi>: Jujube, Licorice

<Aromatic Resolving Exterior>: Fresh ginger

<Aromatically Transforming Dampness>: Magnolia bark, Atractylodes rhizome

[Formula Rationale]

According to “Yi Fang”: A formula for the Foot Tai Yin and Yang Ming meridians. (1) Atractylodes rhizome: Acrid, potent, dries dampness and strengthens the spleen. (2) Magnolia bark: Bitter, warm, removes dampness and disperses fullness. (3) Tangerine peel: Acrid, warm, regulates Qi and moves phlegm. (4) Licorice: A principal herb for the Central Plains, it can tonify and harmonize. Honey-fried, it serves as a guide, supplementing while excreting, ensuring that dampness and the Earth element return to a state of peace. In “Shan Bu”: Ke Qin states that in the “Nei Jing,” excessive Earth element transportation is called “Dun Fu” (plump and abundant), causing abdominal fullness; insufficient is called “Bei Jian” (slight and weak), causing retention, fullness, and stagnation. Zhang Zhong Jing formulated the Three Cheng Qi Decoctions to regulate the “Dun Fu” of the Stomach and Earth. Li Gao formulated Ping Wei San to pacify the “Bei Jian” of the Stomach. It nurtures what is deficient and makes it balanced, not by forcefully flattening. Similar to how Wen Dan Tang uses cooling agents, it harmonizes gently rather than using warmth. Later commentators on “Ben Cao” stated: “The “Dun Fu” Earth should be pacified by Atractylodes rhizome; the “Bei Jian” Earth should be nurtured by White Atractylodes rhizome.” If damp Earth is considered “Dun Fu,” should dry Earth be considered “Bei Jian”? The meaning that “Dun Fu” relates to dryness and “Bei Jian” to dampness is not understood, thus the principle of Ping Wei San is not comprehended. The two Atractylodes (white and black) are bitter and sweet, both drying dampness and strengthening the spleen. When the spleen is dry, it does not stagnate, thus it can transport and achieve balance. The second Atractylodes (white) is gentle and slow, while the black is potent and vigorous. This is because of its strength in inducing sweating and its speed in removing dampness, thus Atractylodes rhizome is the principal. One should not be constrained by the notion that white tonifies and red purges. Magnolia bark, red in color, bitter and warm, can assist the minor fire to generate Qi, hence it is an assistant. Dampness arises from the stagnation of Qi; when Qi flows, it is resolved, therefore tangerine peel is added as an assistant. Licorice first enters the spleen. When the spleen is tonified, it transports vigorously, thus honey-fried licorice is used as a guide. According to “Cheng Fang Bian Du”: Atractylodes rhizome is acrid and warm, dries dampness, dispels evil, and strengthens the spleen. It can resolve and disperse, serving as the primary herb for transforming dampness. Magnolia bark is bitter and warm, removing dampness and dispersing fullness. Tangerine peel is acrid and warm, regulating Qi and moving phlegm, assisting what Atractylodes rhizome cannot achieve. However, nothing should be excessive; too much rigidity leads to breakage. It is like a skilled commander who can quell rebellions and bring peace, hence licorice, an herb of the Central Plains, which can tonify and harmonize, is used as a贊 (assistant) to remove dampness without damaging the Earth, leading to peace. According to “Han Dian”: This formula uses Atractylodes rhizome to remove stagnant water in the stomach, tangerine peel and Magnolia bark to help the stomach’s function in digesting and promoting food passage, and licorice to harmonize the herbs and also strengthen the stomach.

 [Functions]

Dries dampness and strengthens the spleen, regulates Qi and harmonizes the stomach, removes stagnation, relieves fullness and bloating.

 [Indications]

Disharmony of the spleen and stomach due to dampness and stagnation in the spleen and stomach, leading to poor appetite, abdominal distension, epigastric fullness, nausea, vomiting, belching of acid, abdominal bloating and pain, sallow complexion, tastelessness in the mouth, limb fatigue, loose stools, abdominal rumbling after eating with diarrhea, and a thick, greasy white tongue coating. “Yi Fang” states: For stagnant dampness in the spleen, phlegm-fluid obstructing the diaphragm, undigested food, fullness, distention, nausea, and diarrhea, as well as symptoms from miasma and damp environments due to poor adaptation to local conditions. “Shan Bu” states: For internal dampness accumulation that the spleen and stomach cannot control, leading to accumulated fluid, diaphragm obstruction, and epigastric fullness.

 [Indications (Modern Terms)]

Indigestion, acute and chronic gastroenteritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastric atony, gastric dilatation, chronic colitis, dysentery.

 [Contraindications]

(1) This formula is bitter, acrid, and drying, which can easily damage yin and blood. It is contraindicated for deficiency syndromes and heat syndromes, and should be used with caution in pregnant women. (2) It is only suitable for conditions of excessive dampness and Earth element. It is not suitable for those with insufficient spleen Qi, the elderly, the weak, or those with yin deficiency. (3) It should not be used for deficiency syndromes characterized by severe abdominal muscle relaxation due to the depletion of blood.

 [Mnemonic]

Empress Chen’s (Chen Pi) field (Hou Po, Cang Zhu) where General Gan (Gan Cao) arrived early (Jiang, Da Zao) – they did not disperse (Ping Wei San).

 [Modifications and Additions]

From “Yi Fang”: (1) For food stagnation: add Medicated leaven, Malt, or Immature bitter orange. (2) For excessive dampness: add Wu Ling San. (3) For excessive phlegm: add Pinellia. (4) For spleen fatigue and poor appetite: add Ginseng and Astragalus. (5) For epigastric fullness and distention: add Bitter orange, Costus root. (6) For constipation: add Rhubarb, Glauber’s salt. (7) For red and涩 urine: add Poria and Alisma. (8) For cold damage with headache: add scallion and soybean to induce slight sweating. (1) If combined with food stagnation, presenting with abdominal distension and constipation, add Radish seed, Areca husk, Bitter orange, to remove abdominal distension, resolve stagnation, and promote bowel movement. (2) If accompanied by vomiting or excessive phlegm, add Pinellia to harmonize the stomach and stop vomiting. (3) If combined with heat, presenting with a yellow, greasy tongue coating, bitter taste in the mouth, and dry throat, but without significant thirst, add Scutellaria, Coptis to dry dampness and clear heat. (4) If combined with cold-dampness in the spleen and stomach, with epigastric distention, aversion to cold, and preference for warmth, add dried ginger and Cinnamon to warm and transform cold-dampness. (5) If urine is red and澀, add Poria and Alisma to promote urination and eliminate dampness. (6) Adding Agastache and Pinellia to this formula creates Agastache Ping Wei San (from “Ju Fang”), also known as Bu Huan Jin Zheng Qi San, which treats spleen-cold, abdominal pain, vomiting, and miasma-damp malaria. (7) Combining this formula with Er Chen Tang and adding Agastache creates Chu Shi Tang (from “Yi Fang Ji Jie”), which treats symptoms of dampness with abdominal pain, heavy body, weak legs, and loose stools. (8) Adding Malt and stir-fried Medicated leaven to this formula creates Jia Wei Ping Wei San (from “Yi Fang Ji Jie”), which treats undigested food with belching of foul-smelling substances. (9) Removing Atractylodes rhizome from this formula and adding Costus root, Amomum villosum, dried ginger, and Poria creates Magnolia bark Wen Zhong Tang (from “Yi Fang Ji Jie”), which treats spleen and stomach deficiency-cold, abdominal distention, and invasion of cold into the stomach in autumn and winter, causing intermittent pain. (10) If the symptoms are related to damp-heat, add Coptis and Scutellaria to clear heat and dry dampness. (11) If the symptoms are related to cold-dampness, add dried ginger and Amomum villosum to warm and transform cold-dampness. (12) If there is dampness leading to diarrhea, add Poria and Alisma to promote urination and stop diarrhea. (13) Adding Costus root and <a href='https://whatsintcm.com/dt_articles/砂仁/’>Amomum fruit to this formula creates Xiang Sha Ping Wei Pills, which treat spleen deficiency with food stagnation, epigastric distention, poor appetite, nausea, and vomiting. (14) Adding <a href='https://whatsintcm.com/dt_articles/小柴胡湯/’>Minor Bupleurum Decoction to this formula creates Chai Ping Tang (from “Jing Yue Quan Shu”), which is mainly used for damp malaria with a soft pulse, widespread body pain, heavy limbs, and more cold than heat. (15) Adding ginger-fried Coptis and Costus root to this formula creates Xiang Lian Ping Wei San (from “Zhang Shi Yi Tong”), which treats fever due to food stagnation, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. (16) Adding Ginseng and Poria to this formula creates Shen Ling Ping Wei San (from “Zhang Shi Yi Tong”), which treats spleen deficiency with impaired transformation and loose stools.

 [Pharmacological Actions]

It has effects of strengthening the stomach, aiding digestion, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial actions.