Bolster the Spleen Decoction
Chinese Prescription: Shi Pi Yin
English Translation: Bolster the Spleen Decoction
Formula Type: Warm and Transform Water and Dampness
Actions: Warms the yang, strengthens the Spleen, moves the qi, & promotes urination.
Indications: Generalized edema that is more severe below the waist, cold extremities, chest & abdominal fullness & distention, a heavy sensation in the body, loss of appetite, absence of thirst, scanty urine, semiliquid, unformed stools, a thick, greasy tongue coating, & a submerged, slow or submerged, thin pulse.
Contraindications: This formula is strongly warming & moving. It is contraindicated for the treatment of any kind of yang-type edema.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
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view: Fu Zi |
Aconite | 30g |
view: Pao Jiang (Hei Jiang) |
Blast roasted (Charred) Ginger | 30g |
view: Fu Ling |
Poria | 30g |
view: Bai Zhu |
White Atractylodes | 30g |
view: Mu Gua |
Chaenomeles | 30g |
view: Hou Po |
Magnolia Officinales Bark | 30g |
view: Mu Xiang |
Aucklandia / Saussurea | 30g |
view: Da Fu Pi |
Areca (Betel Nut) Peel-Husk | 30g |
view: Cao Guo |
Tsaoko Fruit | 30g |
view: Zhi Gan Cao |
Honey-fried Licorice | 15g |
Fu Zi / Aconite Root (Treated) | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Hot • Category: Warm Interior & Expel Cold • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1.5-15g, boil 30-60 min before adding other ingredients to reduce toxic properties |
Actions1. Restores devastated yang: for devastated yang disorders where the yang qi is extremely weak & the cold yin is abundant. Symptoms include diarrhea containing undigested food particles, chills, cold extremities, & a faint or imperceptible pulse. This condition often occurs after severe vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating. This herb is critical in these situations since it both assists the Heart yang to unblock the vessesls & improve circulation, & tonifies the Kidney yang to augment the fire & avoid loss of the basal yang.2. Warms the fire & assists the yang: for any problem associated with weakness or deficiency of the Heart, Spleen, or Kidney yang. It is a widely used herb, especially when the pattern involves interior cold due to yang deficiency. 3. Disperses cold, warms the channels, & alleviates pain: for wind-damp-cold painful obstruction, especially when cold is predominant. Also for cold blocking the Organs, channels, sinews, bones, or blood vessels. |
MeridiansHeart, Kidney, Spleen |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with illusionary cold & true heat, & during pregnancy. Traditionally this herb was not to be used together with bei mu, gua lou, bai ji, ban xia, or bai wei. According to some traditional sources, this herb antagonizes wu gong & counteracts xi jiao & lu dou. Note that the latter two substances are used to reduce the toxicity of this herb. Toxicity: Fu zi is a very toxic herb. Toxicity waivers widely depending on the source of the herb, when it was harvested, how it was prepared, & how long it was decocted. Preparation usually removes much of the toxicity. A toxic dose is usually far above normal level, on the order of 15-60g. Clinically, atropine has been very effective in treating overdosage of this herb. When gan cao & gan jiang are combined with this herb in decoctions, its toxicity is substantially diminished. Xi jiao, jin yin hua & lu dou also reduce its toxicity. Signs of toxic overdose include drooling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lightheadedness, blurred vision, & numbness in the mouth & extremities. In advanced cases there may be premature atrial contractions, dyspnea, tremors, incontinence, stupor, & reduced temperature & blood pressure. |
Pao Jiang (Hei Jiang) / Ginger Rhizome, quick-fried (black) | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Astringent • Temperature: Warm • Category: Warm Interior & Expel Cold • Sub Category: Stop Bleeding | |||
Dosage3-12g |
ActionsSee gan jiang. Pao jiang is less potent than gan jiang for warming the interior, but is effective in stopping the bleeding associated with cold from deficiency. Some sources suggest that it is more effective than gan jiang in treating lower abdominal disorders. |
MeridiansLiver, Spleen |
Cautions |
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. |
Bai Zhu / Atractylodes (White) Rhizome | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Sweet • Temperature: Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage4.5-9g |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: for Spleen or Stomach deficiency with such symptoms as diarrhea, fatigue, lack of appetite, & vomiting.2. Strengthens the Spleen & dries dampness: for digestive disorders due to Spleen yang failing to rise, with loss of its ability to transform & subsequent accumulation of dampness. Also for edema & reduced urination associated with Spleen deficiency. Used as an auxiliary herb for damp painful obstruction. 3. Stabilizes the exterior & stops sweating: for spontaneous sweating due to qi deficiency. 4. Strengthens the Spleen & calms the fetus: for restless fetus disorder, especially when due to Spleen deficiency. Also for other types of this disorder when combined with appropriate herbs. |
MeridiansSpleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs, or injured fluids. |
Mu Gua / Quince (Chinese) Fruit | |||
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Taste: Sour • Temperature: Slightly Warm • Category: Dispel Wind-Damp-Cold • Sub Category: Channel & Collateral Opening | |||
Dosage4.5-12g |
Actions1. Relaxes the sinews & unblocks the channels: for damp painful obstruction in the extremitites, especially with severe, cramping pain, & weakness in the lower back & lower extremitites. This is one of the more effective herbs for relaxing the sinews. 2 Harmonizes the Stomach & transforms dampness: for abdominal pain, spasms, & cramping of the calves, & edema due to leg qi.3. Reduces food stagnation: for indigestion. |
MeridiansLiver, Spleen |
CautionsExcessive use can harm the teeth & bones. Contraindicated for exterior disorders. |
Hou Po / Magnolia Bark | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Qi Regulating / Moving; Transform Damp - Aromatic • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Regulates qi & reduces stagnation of the middle jiao: Key herb for treatment of qi stagnation of the Spleen & Stomach that is causing epigastric & abdominal fullness & distention, loss of appetite, & poor digestion. Indispensable herb when treating bloating, distention, & other related signs of qi stagnation.2. Regulates qi circulation & dries dampness. Clinically qi stagnation with accumulation of dampness in the middle jiao is characterized by epigastric & abdominal fullness, nausea, vomiting, decreased intake of food, & a greasy tongue coat. 3. Descends qi, dissolves phlegm, relieves wheezing: treats cough & wheezing when phlegm blacks the normal circulation of qi in the Lung. Best for tightness in the chest, dyspnea, & cough & wheezing accompanied by profuse phlegm. |
MeridiansLarge Intestine, Lung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsUse with caution during pregnancy or in cases of qi deficiency. Hou po has a mild anticoagulant effect, & should be used with caution in patients who take anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications. Unprocessed hou po is sometimes irritating to the throat & may cause nausea. Processing it with sheng jiang reduces bitterness & the stimulatory effect, & is less likely to cause nausea & stomach discomfort. |
Mu Xiang / Saussurrea or Aucklandia Root | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Regulate Qi • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1.5-9g |
Actions1. Promotes the movement of qi & alleviates pain: for Speen or Stomach stagnant qi with such symptoms as lack of appetite, epigastric or abdominal pain or distention, nausea, & vomiting. Also used for stagnant Liver or Gallbladder qi with such symptoms as flank pain, distention, or soreness.2. Adjusts & regulates stagnant qi in the Intestines: for diarrhea & dysentric disrders, or for abdominal pain & tenesmus. Because of its slightly astringent property, this is a common herb for treatnig tenesmus. 3. Strengthens the Spleen & prevents stagnation: used with tonifying herbs to ameliorate their side effects. Especially useful when the transformative & transportive functions of the Spleen are weak. |
MeridiansGallbladder, Large Intestine, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency or depleted fluids. |
Da Fu Pi / Areca Peel, Betel Husk | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Slightly Warm • Category: Regulate Qi • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage6-9g |
Actions1. Promotes the downward movement of qi & reduces stagnation: for patterns of food stagnation & qi obstruction with such sugns as epigastric & abdominal distention, regurgitation of food, & belching with acid regurgitation. Espeically useful when these disorders are accompanied by constipation.2. Expels dampness: for damp stagnation in the Stomach & Intestines. 3. Promotes urination & reduces edema: for abdominal distention accompanies by edema, especially superficial edema, or the symptoms of food stagantion. Also used for damp leg qi. |
MeridiansLarge Intestins, Small Intestine, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of qi deficiency. |
Cao Guo / Tsaoko Fruit | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Transform Damp - Aromatic • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1.5-6g |
Actions1. Strongly dries dampness & disperses cold: for damp-cold obstructing the Spleen & Stomach presenting as epigastric & abdominal distention, fullness, & pain together with vomiting & diarrhea & a very greasy tongue coating.2. Check malarial disorders, especially when due to damp-cold or turbid dampness. 3. Dissolves stagnation & distention: for indigestion due to meat stagnation. Also for focal distention & nausea due to cold from deficiency of the Spleen & Stomach. |
MeridiansSpleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of qi or blood deficiency, & where signs of cold or dampness are absent. Overdosage can cause vomiting. |
Zhi Gan Cao / Licorice Root, honey-baked | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage2-12g |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: commonly used for Spleen deficiency with shortness of breath, lassitude, & loose stools. Also for qi or blood deficiency patterns with an irregular or intermittent pulse & /or palpitations.2. Moistens the Lungs & stops coughing: for coughing & wheezing. Because of its neutral properties, it can be used for either heat or cold in the Lungs. 3. Clears heat & relieves fire toxicity: used raw for carbuncles, sores, or sore throat due to fire toxin. For this purpose, it can be taken internally or applied topically. 4. Moderates spasms & alleviates pain: for painful spasms of the abdomen or legs. 5. Moderates & harmonizes the characteristics of other herbs: by virtue of its sweet, neutral, & moderating properties, this herb moderates hot & cold herbs, & mitigates the violent properties of other herbs. Since it is said to enter all 12 primary channels, it can lead & conduct other herbs into the channels. 6. Used as an antidote for a variety of toxic substances, both internally & topically. 7. The raw root clears heat & relieves toxicity, the honey-fried tonifies the middle & moderates spasms. |
MeridiansAll 12 channels (principally the Heart, Lung, Spleen, & Stomach) |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of excess dampness, nausea, or vomiting. May be in compatible with jing da ji, yuan hua, gan sui, & hai zao, & may antagonize yuan zhi. The toxicity of gan cao is very low, but if taken long-term it may cause hypertension &/or edema. Glycyrrhetinic acid has been reported to cause a reduction in the activity of the thyroid & a reducation in the basal metabolic rate. |