BAO HE WAN (BP004) Citrus & Crataegus Formula Complex

Indication

This formula was devised by Zhu Zhen-heng (a.k.a. Zhu Dan-xi) and was recorded in ‘Danxi’s Experiential Therapy’ (dan xi fa xin yao), 1481. Zhu was one of the four great Jin-Yuan ‘reform’ doctors, who expanded the practice of Chinese herbal medicine beyond the rigid formula-based approach of the Song dynasty, and helped develop the elaborate diagnostics and individually tailored prescriptions that are characteristic of contemporary TCM practice. Never the less, Zhu (as well as the other great Jin-Yuan doctors) routinely made use of ready prepared formulas and also devised several of his own. Bao He Wan (literally: ‘Formula to Preserve Harmony’) is one such formula.

It was designed to reduce food stagnation and promote digestion as well as regulate the Qi in the middle Jiao (and hence ‘preserve harmony’ between the Stomach and Spleen). Zhu understood that the origin of many disorders is faulty diet, which leads to dysfunction of the organs of the middle Jiao (i.e. the Stomach and Spleen). In addition, patients with a chronic illness tend to have poor digestion, due to the effects of the illness itself as well as the inevitable restriction of their mobility.

This generally leads to the retention of undigested (or incompletely digested) food in the Stomach and Intestines (i.e. food stagnation syndrome). Therefore, it was (and still is) prudent to have on hand a medicine that could address this problem – to be used alone or in combination with other herbal prescriptions, as appropriate.

The synergistic actions of the ingredients are as follows:

Crataegus fruit (shan zha): reduces food stagnation and promotes digestion, especially for meat and fatty foods.

Hordeum sprout (shen qu): reduces food stagnation and promotes digestion, especially for alcohol.

Citrus peel (chen pi), Poria cocos (fu ling), Pinellia tuber (ban xia): regulate the Qi and harmonise the Stomach and Spleen.

Raphanus seed (lai fu zi): reduces food stagnation and promotes digestion, especially for grains and flour products.

Forsythia fruit (lian qiao): clears Heat due to stagnation and also breaks up accumulated (or ‘bound’) pathogens.

ChinaMed approximate equivalent Digest-Aid Formula (CM102).

Signs & Symptoms:

Cholecystitis chronic

Gastritis

Indigestion

Abdominal and epigastric distension

Acid reflux

Halitosis

Indigestion due to chronic cholecystitis

Abdominal pain

Digestion, poor

Epigastric pain

Poor appetite

Nausea or vomiting

Combinations –

Acid reflux, heartburn, nausea:

WEN DAN TANG

BAN XIA HOU PU TANG (Jia Wei)

Epigastric pain:

CHAI HU SHU GAN WAN

XIANG SHA LIU JUN ZI WAN

XIANG SHA YANG WEI WAN

Gastritis, chronic:

CHAI HU SHU GAN WAN

SHEN LING BAI ZHU SAN

XIANG SHA LIU JUN ZI WAN

WEN DAN TANG

XIANG SHA YANG WEI WAN

SHAO YAO GAN CAO TANG

IRRITABLE BOWEL Formula

CLEAR THE PHLEGM Formula

QI MOVER Formula

Poor digestion, chronic:

ER CHEN WAN

JIAN PI WAN

SHEN LING BAI ZHU SAN

TCM Syndromes: Food stagnation in the Stomach and Intestines.

TCM Actions: Reduces food stagnation and promotes digestion, regulates the Qi and harmonises the middle Jiao.