【Source】
《Treatise on Differentiation Between Internal and External Injuries (Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun) (1231)》, 《Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach (Pi Wei Lun) (1249)》.
【Ingredients】
Astragalus root (Huang Qi), Pinellia rhizome (Ban Xia), Ginseng (Ren Shen), Licorice root (Gan Cao), Angelica pubescentis root (Du Huo), Siler root (Fang Feng), White peony root (Bai Shao), Notopterygium root (Qiang Huo), Tangerine peel (Ju Pi/Chen Pi), Poria (Fu Ling), Bupleurum root (Chai Hu), Alisma rhizome (Ze Xie), White atractylodes rhizome (Bai Zhu), Coptis rhizome (Huang Lian), Fresh ginger (Sheng Jiang), Jujube (Da Zao)
(16)
【Category】
<Blood Tonifying>: White Peony Root
<Qi Regulating>: Tangerine Peel
<Spleen and Middle Qi Tonifying>: White Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu), Licorice Root (Gan Cao), Jujube (Da Zao)
<Acrid-Cool Exterior Releasing>: Bupleurum Root (Chai Hu)
<Heat Clearing and Damp Drying>: Coptis Rhizome (Huang Lian)
<Qi Tonifying>: Astragalus Root (Huang Qi), Ginseng (Ren Shen)
<Acrid-Warm Exterior Releasing>: Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang), Notopterygium Root (Qiang Huo), Siler Root (Fang Feng)
<Spleen Tonifying and Water Promoting>: Poria (Fu Ling)
<Wind-Dampness Dispelling>: Angelica Pubescentis Root (Du Huo)
<Phlegm Resolving>: Pinellia Rhizome (Ban Xia)
<Water-Dampness Draining>: Alisma Rhizome (Ze Xie)
【Formula Analysis】
《Commentary and Supplement》: Pinellia (Ban Xia) and White Atractylodes (Bai Zhu) can dry dampness, Poria (Fu Ling) and Alisma (Ze Xie) drain it. Qiang Huo and Du Huo, Fang Feng, and Chai Hu can raise clear Yang Qi. Huang Lian treats damp-heat, Chen Pi harmonizes stomach Qi. Ginseng, Astragalus, and Gan Cao benefit the stomach, Bai Shao is sour and astringent to harmonize the Ying, and coordinates the acrid-dispersing nature of Qiang Huo and Chai Hu. The ancients always used sour-astringent herbs with acrid-dispersing herbs to prevent their drastic nature, just like the restraint of military strategists. Ginseng is tonifying, but when used with Zhi Shi and Hou Po, it becomes tonifying the middle and draining. Qiang Huo and Fang Feng are dispersing, but when assisting Ginseng and Astragalus, they become tonifying the middle and raising. Modern doctors, upon seeing Qiang Huo and Fang Feng, immediately say: “Dispersing herbs should not be used lightly.” They do not examine which herbs they are assisting. This is because they have not understood the books clearly and do not know that nature has other subtle principles.
【Function】
Strengthens the spleen and stomach, and raises Yang Qi.
【Indications】
Soreness in the limbs, slight reduction of damp-heat, bitter taste in the mouth, dry tongue, and lack of appetite.《Commentary and Supplement》: Spleen and stomach deficiency, lethargy and fondness for lying down, limbs unable to be controlled. When autumn dryness is prevalent, damp-heat is receding, body heaviness and joint pain, dry mouth and tongue, tasteless diet, irregular bowel movements, frequent urination, indigestion, concurrent lung disease, shivering aversion to cold, dejected mood, and unhealthy complexion.
【Indications】
Gastritis, stomach pain, diarrhea, gastric mucosal prolapse, chronic cholecystitis, urticaria, leukorrhea, colitis, allergic colitis, diabetes, etc.
【Contraindications】
If there is a strong appetite, avoid overeating for one or two days, lest the stomach be injured again, as the medicine is still weak and the stomach Qi cannot be transformed, raised, and dispersed. Eat light or delicious foods to aid the medicinal power, benefit the rising and floating Qi, and nourish the stomach Qi. Be careful not to eat bland food, which will weaken the medicinal power and aid the descending of pathogenic Qi. Engage in light physical activity to allow the stomach and medicine to transform, rise, and disperse. Be careful not to overwork, which will re-injure the Qi. It is best if the spleen and stomach are kept quiet. If the stomach Qi is slightly stronger, eat a small amount of fruit to aid the power of grains and herbs.
【Mnemonic】
Four Gentlemen Decoction (Si Jun Zi Tang) + Lian Feng’s two Huo gather their Chai, and are all broken in half by Ju Sao Ze — then it can benefit the stomach.
【Modifications】
(1) If dampness is excessive, add Atractylodes lancea (Cang Zhu), Plantago seed (Che Qian Zi), and Yi Yi Ren to lightly drain dampness. (2) If there is lower abdominal distension and pain, add Chuan Lian Zi to move Qi and stop pain. (3) If there is excessive sweating, add calcined fossilized bone (Long Gu) and calcined oyster shell (Mu Li) to astringe and stop sweating. (4) Remove Huang Qi, Bai Zhu, Ban Xia, Fu Ling, Ze Xie, Huang Lian, and Chen Pi from this formula and add Sheng Ma, Ge Gen, and raw Gan Cao to create Sheng Yang San Huo Tang《Li Dong Yuan》, which treats fever of the limbs, muscle heat, fatigue, heat between the muscles and bones, burning heat, and hot hands due to spleen Yin blood deficiency, weak stomach Yang Qi, lingering spring cold, cold food in a weak stomach, suppressed Shao Yang clear Qi, and stagnation of Yang Qi in the spleen. (5) Remove Du Huo, Fang Feng, Fu Ling, Ze Xie, Bai Shao, Ban Xia, and Chen Pi from this formula, add Sheng Ma, Huang Qin, and Shi Gao, and replace Bai Zhu with Cang Zhu to create Bu Pi Wei Xie Yin Huo Sheng Yang Tang, which treats fever due to food injuring the stomach, fatigue injuring the spleen, Yang Qi sinking, and Yin fire attacking, and a slow and weak pulse in the right Guan position. (6) If the disease worsens after urination, it is not advisable to promote urination. Reduce Fu Ling and Ze Xie slightly.
【Pharmacology】
Biphasic regulation of gastrointestinal smooth muscle, anti-ulcer, antiemetic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, anti-allergic, and hypoglycemic effects.