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Source: Nèi Wài Shāng Biàn Huò Lùn 内外伤辨惑论

Ingredients:

• Zhǐ shí (枳实 Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, unripe bitter orange) 30g
• Bái zhú (白朮 Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, white atractylodes [root]) 60g

Action: Fortifies the spleen and disperses glomus.

Indication: Water rheum collecting in the region of the stomach, manifesting as an area of hardness below the heart, as large as a plate...and with edges like fy

Category: Dispersion formulas / Food-dispersing stagnation-abducting formulas

Method: Grind to a powder and form into pills with rice fried with heye. Can be prepared as a decoction, in which case the dosage is 12–18 gr and 6–9 gr for the ingredients respectively.

Rationale: Zhǐ shí breaks qì and disperses accumulations. However, alone it could only disperse glomus temporarily. Since the root of the disorder is spleen vacuity, twice the amount Bái zhú is used to fortify the spleen and boost qì. These two agents are complementary. The Zhǐ shí treats the tip, while Bái zhú treats the root. Bái zhú is warm and sweet and prevents possible damage to the stomach by the bitterness and slight coldness of Zhǐ shí. At the same time, Zhǐ shí prevents any congestion that the sweetness of Cāng zhú may cause.

Variations:

• Severe food stagnation: Add Shān zhā (山楂 Crataegi Fructus, crataegus [fruit]) and Shén qū (神曲 Massa Medicata Fermentata , medicated leaven).
• Abdominal pain and distension: Add Hòu pò (厚朴 Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, officinal magnolia bark) and Huò xiāng (藿香 Pogostemonis Herba, patchouli).
• Dampness: Add Fú líng (茯苓 Poria , poria) and Cāng zhú (苍朮 Atractylodis Rhizoma, atractylodes [rhizome]).
• Spleen vacuity: Increase Bái zhú (白朮 Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, white atractylodes [root]), and add Dǎng shēn (党参 Codonopsis Radix, codonopsis [root]) and Shān yào (山药 Dioscoreae Rhizoma, dioscorea [root]).

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