Use of the formula according to Traditional Chinese Medicine:

• harmonises the stomach
• regulates stomach Qi Ni (Qi in "counterflow" – nausea, vomiting, heartburn...)
• disperses blockage from the mixing of heat and cold in the middle burner
• relieves tension in the epigastrium and abdomen

Description:

A classic formula by Zhang Zhong-Jing from the Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases from 220 AD, it was originally intended for conditions where incorrect treatment of Shao Yang with cold products (the section containing the gallbladder and triple burner meridians) led to injury of the middle burner and blockage from the mixing of heat and cold in this area. Furthermore, the pathogen was "drawn" inwards, often transforming into a so-called hidden pathogen. The mixing of heat and cold in the middle burner disrupts the normal ascending function of the spleen and the descending function of the stomach, which manifests as symptoms such as borborygmi ("rumbling" in the abdomen), bloating, potentially mild pain, and diarrhoea; in the stomach area, this manifests as belching, nausea to vomiting, heartburn, or bad breath.

The emperor herb in the formula is Pinellia, which disperses stagnation in the middle burner area, relieves tension in the epigastrium and abdomen, and thus helps restore the correct direction of Qi flow. It is assisted by Ginger, which disperses cold accumulation through warming. Scutellaria and Coptis clear heat, while the trio of Codonopsis, Jujube, and Liquorice tonify the middle burner and strengthen the spleen. In addition, Liquorice thermodynamically harmonises the various herbs in the mixture, which further strengthens its harmonising effect in this area. Our formula also contains Gypsum, which helps clear heat from the stomach, thereby alleviating all its hot manifestations (e.g., heartburn or bad breath).

The formula is truly worthy of the name of its brilliant author, who perfectly combined tonification and clearing, dispersing and restoring the correct cycle of Qi, cooling heat and warming the interior, in order to restore and harmonise the proper function of the spleen and stomach, i.e., the entire digestive complex.

Indications:

• belching
• heartburn
• nausea to vomiting
• bad breath
• loss of appetite
• borborygmi (rumbling in the abdomen)
• tension in the epigastrium and abdomen, bloating, sometimes mildly painful
• diarrhoea
• hidden pathogen – Gu syndrome (recurrent infections)

Modern effects:

• acute
• chronic or atrophic gastritis
• gastric ulcer disease
• reflux oesophagitis
• stomatitis
• gastroptosis (stomach prolapse)
• gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines)
• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• ulcerative colitis
• diarrhoea
• cholecystitis and cholelithiasis (inflammation and gallstones)
• chronic hepatitis
• liver cirrhosis
• renal failure
• stress and depression – somatisation with the symptoms listed above

Tongue:

• red – especially the tip
• thin
• yellow
• possibly greasy coating

Pulse:

• xian
• shu (wiry, rapid)
• in case of pain Jin (tight)

Contraindications:

• The mixture is not intended for the treatment of tension and pain from other causes (e.g., food stagnation or phlegm).
• Also, do not administer when nausea and vomiting are caused by stomach yin deficiency.

Notes:

The formula can be used for the treatment of a so-called hidden pathogen (also Gu syndrome – see commentary on Su He Tang) when it manifests with the symptoms listed above.

Composition of the formula:

Use of the formula according to Traditional Chinese Medicine:

• harmonises the stomach
• regulates stomach Qi Ni (Qi in "counterflow" – nausea, vomiting, heartburn, etc.)
• disperses blockage caused by the mixing of heat and cold in the middle burner
• relieves tension in the epigastrium and abdomen

Description:

This classic formula by Zhang Zhong-Jing from the Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases (220 AD) was originally intended for conditions where incorrect treatment of Shao Yang with cold products (the section containing the gallbladder and triple burner meridians) led to injury of the middle burner and a blockage caused by the mixing of heat and cold in this area. Furthermore, the pathogen was "drawn" inwards, often transforming into a so-called hidden pathogen. The mixing of heat and cold in the middle burner disrupts the normal ascending function of the spleen and the descending function of the stomach, which manifests as symptoms such as borborygmi ("rumbling" in the abdomen), bloating, which can also be slightly painful, and diarrhoea; in the stomach area, this manifests as belching, nausea to vomiting, heartburn, or bad breath.

The emperor herb in the formula is Pinellia, which disperses stagnation in the middle burner, relieves tension in the epigastrium and abdomen, and thus helps to restore the correct direction of Qi flow. It is assisted by Ginger, which disperses accumulations of cold through its warming properties. Scutellaria and Coptis clear heat, while Codonopsis, Jujube, and Liquorice replenish the middle burner and strengthen the spleen. In addition, Liquorice thermodynamically harmonises the various herbs in the mixture, which further enhances its harmonising effect in this area. Our formula also contains Gypsum, which helps to clear heat from the stomach, thereby alleviating all its heat-related symptoms (e.g., heartburn or bad breath).

The formula is truly worthy of the name of its brilliant author, who perfectly combined replenishing and clearing, dispersing and restoring the correct cycle of Qi, cooling heat and warming the interior, in order to restore and harmonise the proper function of the spleen and stomach, i.e., the entire digestive complex.

Indications:

• belching
• heartburn
• nausea to vomiting
• bad breath
• loss of appetite
• borborygmi (rumbling in the abdomen)
• tension in the epigastrium and abdomen, bloating, sometimes slightly painful
• diarrhoea
• hidden pathogen – Gu Syndrome (recurrent infections)

Modern effects:

• acute
• chronic or atrophic gastritis
• peptic ulcer disease
• reflux oesophagitis
• stomatitis
• gastroptosis (stomach prolapse)
• gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines)
• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• ulcerative colitis
• diarrhoea
• cholecystitis and cholelithiasis (inflammation and gallstones)
• chronic hepatitis
• liver cirrhosis
• renal failure
• stress and depression – somatisation with the symptoms listed above

Tongue:

• red – mainly the tip
• thin
• yellow
• possibly greasy coating

Pulse:

• xian
• shu (wiry, rapid)
• in case of pain, Jin (tight)

Contraindications:

• The mixture is not intended for the treatment of tension and pain from other causes (e.g., stagnation of food or phlegm).
• It is also not administered when nausea and vomiting are caused by stomach yin deficiency.

Notes:

The formula can be used for the treatment of a so-called hidden pathogen (also Gu Syndrome – see commentary on Su He Tang) when it manifests with the above-mentioned symptoms.

Composition of the formula: