Use of the formula according to Traditional Chinese Medicine:

• antiparasitic effect – expels parasites
• warms the middle burner and intestines
• clears heat, calms the stomach
• moves blood, relieves pain
• tonifies Qi

Description:

A classic formula by the famous Zhang Zhong-Jing from 220 AD, which he compiled primarily for the treatment of roundworms (today also for other intestinal parasites, worms, but also amoebic or bacterial diarrhoea, protozoal infections caused by Giardia or Blastocystis), which are accompanied by symptoms such as abdominal pain and vomiting (there may also be cramps, vomiting after eating, or even vomiting of parasites). However, it can also be used for chronic digestive problems manifesting as diarrhoea or mushy stools, which are caused by cold in the intestines with simultaneous heat in the stomach – as is the case with chronic parasitic infections. According to TCM, roundworms prefer warmth and do not like cold, so when they settle in the intestines, they constantly have a tendency to "pull towards warmth" upwards and towards the stomach, which manifests itself in the symptoms mentioned above.

The treatment is based on four principles: the sweet taste promotes movement (of the worms), the sour taste calms them, the pungent taste expels them, and the bitter taste induces downward movement. By using all these flavours in the formula, we effectively calm the parasites, limit their natural movement "upwards" through the digestive tract, and help their removal via stool. In addition, the cold herbs in the formula clear heat in the stomach and the hot ones disperse cold in the intestines. Because chronic parasitic infections often cost the patient a lot of energy due to inefficient digestion, we also slightly tonify Qi to better utilise the formula.

Indications:

Parasitic infections characterised by signs of heat in the stomach and cold in the intestines with symptoms such as:

• recurrent nausea and vomiting
• feeling of pressure, indigestion – sometimes followed by vomiting of parasites
• extremely cold hands and feet
• rumbling in the abdomen – borborygmi
• abdominal pain and cramps
• chronic diarrhoea or mushy stools

Modern effects:

• candidiasis
• ascariasis (disease caused by roundworms – intestinal, biliary, in children)
• hookworms (a type of nematode)
• schistosomiasis (flukes)
• chronic gastritis
• bacterial dysentery
• chronic dysentery
• ulcerative colitis
• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• chronic diarrhoea
• cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
• gallstones

Tongue:

• varies according to the presence of cold/heat

Pulse:

• xi
• ruo
• possibly xian
• jin (fine, weak, possibly wiry, tight)

Contraindications:

• do not use for "explosive" diarrhoea and dysentery due to damp-heat
• use with caution during pregnancy (contains a small dose of Fu Zi, which is toxic)

Notes:

In modern times, the formula is also used in the treatment of food allergies or "lazy bowel" syndrome, in cases where the pattern corresponds to a combination of heat in the stomach and cold in the intestines.

Composition of the formula: