XIANG SHA YANG WEI WAN(BP083) Cyperus & Cardamon Formula Complex

Indication

This formula was first recorded in ‘Restoration of Health from the Myriad Diseases’ a.k.a. ‘All Diseases Return to Spring’ (wan bing hui chun) by Gong Ting-xian (a.k.a. Gong Yun-lin), 1587. It is a cleverly designed formulation, containing elements of the following formulas: Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang (Saussurea & Cardamon Formula), Er Chen Tang (Citrus & Pinellia Formula), Hou Po Wen Zhong Tang (Magnolia Bark Decoction for Warming the Middle [Jiao]) and Ping Wei San (Calm the Stomach Powder).

The original contained Panax ginseng (ren shen) and Blue Atractylodes (cang zhu) as well as Ginger (sheng jiang) and Ziziphus fruit (da zao). These have been omitted in the Sun Herbal variant, which uses White Atractylodes (bai zhu), as the main tonifying herb, together with Pinellia (ban xia), prepared with Ginger juice, in lieu of these ingredients. Thus, it is more focused on regulating the Qi and resolving stagnation in the digestive tract, together with resolving turbid Damp that is obstructing the middle Jiao (Spleen and Stomach functions).

As can be seen below, the beauty of this formula lies in the fact that the herbs that regulate the Qi and harmonise the middle Jiao also have the therapeutic action to dry turbid Damp. In addition, the tonifying action of this formula is mild and will not add to the Damp or the Qi stagnation, because the main tonifying herbs (Atractylodes and Poria) also resolve Damp.

This is an extremely popular formula in China, being produced by most of the major herbal medicine manufacturers. It has a broad range of application in conditions where the Spleen and Stomach have lost their harmonious co-ordination due to one or more of the following: retention of Damp, food stagnation or Liver Qi invasion. Thus it may be applied as a stand alone treatment or used in an appropriate combination, as described above.

The synergistic actions of the ingredients are as follows:

Atractylodes rhiz. (bai zhu), Poria cocos (fu ling), Glycyrrhiza root (gan cao): tonify the Spleen Qi.

Atractylodes rhiz. (bai zhu), Poria cocos (fu ling), Citrus fruit peel (chen pi), Pinellia tuber (ban xia), Magnolia stem bark (hou po), Saussurea root (mu xiang), Amomum fruit (sha ren), Amomum fruit (bai dou kou): dry Damp and resolve turbidity, specifically for Damp in the middle Jiao.

Pinellia tuber (ban xia), Citrus fruit peel (chen pi), Poria cocos (fu ling), Cyperus rhiz. (xiang fu), Magnolia stem bark (hou po), Saussurea root (mu xiang), Ammomum fruit (sha ren): regulate the Qi and harmonise the Spleen and Stomach.

Indications:

Indigestion

Morning sickness

Chronic gastritis

Duodenitis

Food allergies

Candidiasis (gastrointestinal)

Gastroduodenal ulcers

Signs & Symptoms:

Sensation of fullness and discomfort in the epigastrium and abdomen, worse after eating

Belching

Nausea or vomiting, acid reflux

Diarrhoea or loose stools

Flatulence, excessive borborygmi

Poor appetite

Diminished sense of taste

Mental dullness, poor concentration

Tongue coat is greasy, possibly with a pale tongue body

Pulse is soft, slippery, wiry or moderate

Combinations –

Damp-Heat:

HUANG LIAN JIE DU WAN

Food stagnation:

BAO HE WAN

Gastritis, acute:

WEN DAN TANG

BAN XIA HOU PU TANG (Jia Wei)

Gastritis, chronic:

CHAI HU SHU GAN WAN

SHEN LING BAI ZHU SAN

XIANG SHA LIU JUN ZI WAN

WEN DAN TANG

SHAO YAO GAN CAO TANG

IRRITABLE BOWEL Formula

CLEAR THE PHLEGM Formula

QI MOVER Formula

Indigestion, chronic:

SHEN LING BAI ZHU SAN

Liver Qi constraint:

CHAI HU SHU GAN WAN

JIA WEI XIAO YAO SAN

XIAO YAO SAN

STRESS RELIEF 1 Formula

STRESS RELIEF 2 Formula

QI MOVER Formula

Mouth ulcer, aphthous ulcers:

HUO XIANG ZHENG QI WAN

HUANG LIAN JIE DU WAN

Phlegm-Heat:

WEN DAN TANG

CLEAR THE PHLEGM Formula

Reflux:

XIANG SHA LIU JUN ZI WAN

WEN DAN TANG

BAN XIA HOU PU TANG (Jia Wei)

CLEAR THE PHLEGM Formula

TCM Syndromes: Cold-Damp disturbance of the Spleen, Turbid-Damp obstruction of the Spleen and Stomach, Liver Qi invasion of the Stomach and Spleen.

TCM Actions: Dries Damp and activates the Spleen, regulates the Qi and harmonises the Spleen-Stomach, strengthens the Spleen, reduces food stagnation.