PING WEI SAN (BP088) Magnolia & Ginger Formula Complex

Indication

This formula is from the ‘Formulary of the Tai Ping Welfare Dispensary Bureau’ (tai ping hui min he ji ju fang) (1151 CE), a compilation of popular and effective formulas that were used in the public dispensaries of the Song dynastic period.

It is mainly used for chronic digestive disorders due to interior retention of Damp due to Spleen Qi deficiency. The Damp obstructs the normal Qi movements of the middle Jiao, i.e. Stomach Qi descending and Spleen Qi ascending, resulting in the characteristic signs and symptoms described above.

The synergistic actions of the herbs are as follows:

Atractylodes rhizome (cang zhu): dries Damp and promotes Spleen function.

Citrus fruit pericarp (chen pi), Magnolia stem bark (hou po): dry Damp and regulate the Qi of the middle Jiao.

Glycyrrhiza root (zhi gan cao): harmonizes the Stomach, harmonizes the formula.

Indications:

Acute gastroenteritis

Indigestion

Acute or chronic gastritis

Gastrectasis

Gastric ulcer

Peptic ulcer

Gastric neurosis

Obesity

Chronic pancreatitis

Signs & Symptoms:

Fullness and distention in the epigastrium and/or abdomen

Loss of appetite, belching, acid reflux

Nausea, vomiting

Bland feeling in the mouth and lack of taste

Borborygmus (abdominal gurgling)

Sensation of bodily heaviness

Fatigue, tiredness

Loose stools or diarrhoea

Tongue has a thick white greasy coat

Pulse is moderate or slippery

Combinations –

Diarrhoea, chronic:

FU ZI LI ZHONG WAN (jia Wei)

Epigastric pain and distention (severe):

SHEN LING BAI ZHU SAN

HUO XIANG ZHENG QI WAN

Helicobacter infection (gastritis or gastric ulcer):

WEN DAN TANG

XIANG SHA YANG WEI WAN

Indigestion:

JIAN PI WAN

SHEN LING BAI ZHU SAN

Irritable bowel syndrome:

BU ZHONG YI QI WAN

CHAI HU SHU GAN WAN

SHEN LING BAI ZHU SAN

HUO XIANG ZHENG QI WAN

FU ZI LI ZHONG WAN (Jia Wei)

Reflux oesophagitis:

XIANG SHA LIU JUN ZI WAN

WEN DAN TANG

XIANG SHA YANG WEI WAN

TCM Syndromes: Spleen-Stomach obstruction by Cold-Damp, Disorded Qi movement in the middle Jiao.

TCM Actions: Dries Damp and promotes Spleen function, Moves the Qi and regulates the Stomach.