Preserve Harmony Pill
Chinese Prescription: Bao He Wan
English Translation: Preserve Harmony Pill
Formula Type: Reduce Food Stagnation and Harmonize the Stomach
Actions: Reduces food stagnation & harmonizes the Stomach.
Indications: Focal distenton & fullness in the chest & epigastrium, abdominal distention with occasional pain, rotten-smelling belching, acid regurgitation, nausea, vomiting, aversion to food, a yellow, greasy tongue coating, & a slippery pulse. There may also be diarrhea. This is the typical presentation of food stagnation that occurs from eating contaminated food or from gross overeating & drinking.
Contraindications: Unless modified, this formula is contraindicated in cases with Spleen deficiency.
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Shan Zha / Hawthorn Fruit (Chinese) |
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Taste: Sour, Sweet • Temperature: Slightly Warm • Category: Relieve Food Stagnation • Sub Category: |
Dosage9-15g, up to 30g alone |
Actions1. Reduces & guides out food stagnation: for accumulation due to meat or greasy foods with accompanying symptoms of abdomnal distention, pain, or diarrhea.
2. Transforms blood stasis & dissipates clumps: for post partum abdomnal pain & clumps due to blood stasis. Also for hernial disorders.
3. Stops diarrhea: the partially charred herb is used for diarrhea of chronic dysentary-like disorders.
4. Also used recently for hypertension, coronary artery disease, & elevated serum cholesterol. |
MeridiansLiver, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of Spleen or Stomach deficiency without food stagnation, & in cases of acid regurgitation. |
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Shen Qu / Medicated Leaven - per box |
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Taste: Sweet, Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Relieve Food Stagnation • Sub Category: |
Dosage6-15g |
Actions1. Reduces food stagnation & harmonizes the Stomach: for Stomach cold with food stagnation or accumuation, with such symptoms as epigastric & abdominal fullness or distention, lack of appetite, borborygmus, & diarrhea.
2. Also added to pills that contain minerals to aid in their digestion. |
MeridiansSpleen, Stomach |
CautionsUse with caution during pregnancy. Contraindicated in cases with Stomach fire. |
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Lai Fu Zi / Radish Seeds |
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Taste: Acrid, Sweet • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Relieve Food Stagnation • Sub Category: |
Dosage6-12g |
Actions1. Reduces food stagnation & transforms accumulation: for food stagnation accumulating in the middle burner with fullness & distention, belching with a rotten smell, acid reguritation, or abdominal pain with difficult diarrhea.
2. Causes qi to descend & reduces phlegm: for chronic productive cough or wheezing. Most effective in cases due to excess. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of qi deficiency. |
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Chen Pi / Citrus (Tangerine) Peel - Aged, Matured |
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Taste: Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Regulate Qi • Sub Category: |
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Regulates the qi, improves the transportive funaction of the Spleen, adjusts the middle, & relieves the diaphragm: for Spleen or Stomach, stagnant qi patterns with such symptoms as epigastic or abdominal distention, fullness, bloating, belching, & nausea & vomiting. This herb promotes the movement of qi in general while specifically directing it downward. Its is therefore commonly used in treating many different types of nausea & vomiting.
2. Dries dampness & transforms phlegm: an important herb for phlegm-damp coughs with a stifling sensation in the chest & /or diaphragm, & copious, viscous sputum. Also used for damp turbidity obstructing the middle with a stifling sensation in the chest, abdominal distention, loss of appetite, fatigue, loose stool, & a thick, greasy tongue coating. An important qi-level herb of both the Spleen & Lung channels, it is especially appropriate for disorders involving both channels.
3. Helps prevent stagnation: used with tonifying herbs to prevent their cloying nature from causing stagnation. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of dry cough due to yin or qi deficiency. Use with caution when the tongue is red, & in cases with hot phlegm or dry heat coughs, or spittting of blood. |
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Ban Xia / Pinellia (Prepared) |
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Transform Phlegm & Stop Coughing • Sub Category: Warm & Transform Phlegm Cold |
Dosage4.5-12g |
Actions1. Dries dampness, transforms phlegm, & causes rebellious qi to descend: for cough with copious sputum, as in conditions of phlegm-cold in the Lungs. Especially effective in transforming phlegm due to dampness of the Spleen.
2. Harmonizes the Stomach & stops vomiting: for lingering phlegm-dampness in the Stomach that rebels upward, causing nausea & vomiting.
3. Dissipates nodules & reduces distention: for nodules, pressure, distention, or pain due to phlegm lingering in the chest, phlegm nodules in the neck (such as those of goiter & scrofula), or obstructions caused by phlegm anywhere in the body. Also for focal distention in the chest & epigastrium. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in all cases of bleeding, cough due to yin deficiency, or depleted fluids. Use with caution in all cases with heat. May be incompatible with wu tou. Toxic: overdosage symptoms include feeling of burning & numbness in the throat, lips, queasy stomach & nausea, & a feeling of pressure in the chest. For recovery, administer raw ginger orally. |
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Fu Ling / Poria, Hoelen, Tuckahoe |
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Taste: Sweet, Bland • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Drain Damp • Sub Category: |
Dosage9-15g, up to 60g |
Actions1. Promotes urination & leaches out dampness: for urinary difficulty, diarrhea, or edema due to stagnation of fluids or dampness. Also used in cases of scanty urine due to damp-heat (more often in its red form).
2. Strengthens the Spleen & harmonizes the middle burner: for Spleen deficiency compounded by dampness with such symptoms as loss of appetite, diarrhea, & epigastric distention.
3. Strengthens the Spleen & transforms phlegm: for Spleen deficiency with congested fluids in which phlegm moves upward with such symptoms as palpitations, headache, dizziness, & a thick, greasy tongue coating.
4. Quites the Heart & calms the spirit: for palpiations, insomnia, or forgetfulness. |
MeridiansHeart, Spleen, Lung |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of frequent, copious urine due to cold from deficiency. May counteract di yu, qin jiao & bie jia. Taking this herb in large doses or long-term is discouraged. |
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Lian Qiao / Forsythia Fruit |
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Taste: Bitter, Slightly Acrid • Temperature: Cool • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Relieve Toxicity |
Dosage6-15g |
Actions1. Clears heat & toxin & dissipates nodules: for all hot sores, carbuncles, & neck lumps.
2. Expels externally contracted wind-heat: for such symptoms as pronounced fever, slight chills, sore throat, & headache. |
MeridiansHeart, Liver, Gallbladder |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of Spleen & Stomach deficiency with diarrhea, carbuncles that have already ulcerated, & cold (yin) ulcers. |