Shen Ling Bai Zhu San - Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Powder
Sep 2

Shen Ling Bai Zhu San – Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Powder

This formula is an amazing mixture of both herbs that can be used long-term because of their slow tonification of digestive process, but it also includes some quick acting ingredients as well.

 

Details of Shen Ling Bai Du San – Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Powder

[caption id="attachment_1580" align="alignright" width="96"]Ginseng (ren shen) is the most famous herb in all of China, and it's in this formula! Ginseng (ren shen) is the most famous herb in all of China, and it’s in this formula![/caption]

This formula is an amazing mixture that can be used long-term digestive issues because of their slow tonification of digestive process, but it also includes some quick acting ingredients as well.

If your diarrhea is a chronic condition lasting more than six months, consider a lower dosage of Shen Ling Bai Zhu San, but get enough to last a month or two.

If your diarrhea is a more recent arrival, you can take a higher dosage of Shen Ling Bai Zhu San to knock out this condition before it has a chance to become chronic.

Alternative Names

  • Sheng-ling-pai-chu-san
  • Ginseng and Atractylodes Formula
  • Shen Ling Bai Zhu San

Ingredients

Fu Ling 茯苓 sclerotium of tuckahoe, China root, hoelen, Indian bread Poria Cocos

  • Dries damp (which ends up coming out as diarrhea), supports the digestion (which prevents creation of dampness), and calms the spirit (everybody loves a calm spirit.)

Ren Shen 人蔘 ginseng root Radix Panax Ginseng made from real ginseng

  • More support of the digestion here. Inefficient digestion leads to dampness which is what diarrhea is according to Chinese medicine.

Bai Zhu 白术 , bai shu ovate atractylodes, (white) atractylodes rhizome [supports pregnancy]

  • Another digestion supporting herb.

Gan Cao 甘草 licorice root Radix Glycyrrhizae [caution]

  • Another digestion supporting herb that also helps all the other ingredients play well together.

Lian Zi 蓮子 lotus seed Nelumbinis Semen

  • This herb addresses diarrhea with an astringent action, works like a sponge to absorb fluids to regulate excessive passing through the stools.

Shan Yao 山藥 dioscorea rhizome, Chinese yam Dioscoreae Rhizoma

  • Supports digestion

Yi Yi Ren 薏苡仁 coix seeds, Job’s tears Semen Coicis Lachrymae Jobi [don’t use if pregnant]

  • Supports digestion

Bai Bian Dou 白扁豆 hyacinth bean, dolichos, lablab Lablab Semen album [supports pregnancy]

  • Supports digestion

Sha Ren 砂仁 amomum fruit, grains-of-paradise fruit Fructus Amomi [supports pregnancy]

  • Dries dampness and supports the digestion

Jie Geng 桔梗 balloon flower root, platycodon root Radix Platycodi Grandifolii

  • This herb is usually used in support of the Lung functions. It has a lifting quality that is actually used to guide other herbs to the Lungs. However it is this lifting quality that makes it beneficial in the treatment of diarrhea too. Chinese medicine theory can consider diarrhea too much “down”. Western medicine would more likely consider this intestinal movements that are too fast. This herb helps regulate that downward motion by adding a little bit of “up” energy to slow the “down” movement of the intestines.
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Zhong Man Fen Xiao Wan Separate and Reduce Fullness in the Middle
Sep 2

Zhong Man Fen Xiao Wan Separate and Reduce Fullness in the Middle

Zhong Man Fen Xiao Wan Separate and Reduce Fullness in the Middle

The title pretty much says it- This formula is for fairly severe stagnation in the stomach. The “separate” refers to heat and cold – it definitely will clear heat signs. Overall it may be applicable to burping, heart burn and overall discomfort in the stomach. The “man” in the titles refers to the “pit of the stomach” area.

Because we are using the powders we cannot create the “chao” or cooked versions of the herbs. This is a complex formula with a few expensive herbs.

Thanks to Joel at Americandragon for permission to use the herb descriptions.

Herbs:

  • Hou Po – Magnoliae Officinalis- Promotes the movement of Qi in the Middle Jiao, resolves Stagnation, descends Rebellious Qi, reduces Phlegm and dries Dampness, specifically for abdominal distention.
  • Zhi Shi – Aurantii Immaturus – Breaks up Stagnant Qi, reduces accumulation, descends Qi, unblocks the bowels, removes Stagnant Food, transforms Phlegm, reduces distention and resolves hardenings. It can be used in both Hot and Cold disorders. 
  • Jiang Huang – Curcumae Longae – Invigorates Blood, promotes movement of Qi, alleviates pain and aids Chao Zhi Shi in removing Qi Obstruction in the Middle Jiao.
  • Huang Qin – Scutellariae- Clears Heat, dries Dampness, drains Fire, detoxifies and Calms ascending Liver Yang.
  • Huang Lian – Coptidis – Clears Heat and drains Dampness, drains Fire, resolves Fire toxicity and drains Stomach Fire. 
  • Gan Jiang – Zingiberis – Dries Dampness, transforms Phlegm, descends Rebellious Qi, stops vomiting and harmonizes the Stomach.
  • Ban Xia – Pinelliae – Dries Dampness, transforms Phlegm, descends Rebellious Qi, stops vomiting and harmonizes the Stomach.
  • Zhi Mu – Anemarrhenae – Clears Yang Ming and Qi Stage Heat, drains Fire and nourishes Yin (clears Heat from theLung and Stomach). 
  • Ze Xie – Alismatis – Promotes urination, leaches out Dampness, settles Ministerial Fire in the Kidneys by draining Damp-Heat from the lower Jiao and drains Kidney Fire. 
  • Zhu Ling – Polyporus – Promotes urination, leaches out Dampness and dispels Damp-Heat.
  • Fu Ling – Poria – Promotes urination, leaches out Dampness,strengthens the Spleen, harmonizes the Middle Jiao and transforms Phlegm. 
  • Bai Zhu – Atractylodes – Tonifies the Spleen, augments Qi, dries Dampness and promotes water metabolism.
  • Ren Shen – Ginseng – Tonifies Spleen and Stomach Qi. With Bai Zhu for the transformation and transportation functions of the Spleen.
  • Zhi Gan Cao – Glycyrrhizae Preparata – Tonifies the Spleen, augments Qi, clears Heat, relieves Fire toxicity and moderates and harmonizes.
  • Chen Pi – Citri Reticulatae – Regulates Qi, adjusts the Middle, relieves the diaphragm, descends Qi, dries Dampness and transforms Phlegm. 
  • Sha Ren – Amomi – Promotes the movement of Qi, aromatically transforms Dampness, strengthens the Spleen, stops vomiting, warms the Middle and stops diarrhea 
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Cyperus and Atractylodes Combination (Yue Ju Wan)
Sep 2

Cyperus and Atractylodes Combination (Yue Ju Wan)

This is the formula for the so-called “six stagnations”. Yue Ju Wan was created for “excess” types (even though they may feel tired a lot). Simply put, the systems of digestion, blood flow, fluids and qi / energy are clogged up. When things aren’t flowing well the body’s systems’ functions are compromised. I use this formula for a number of conditions including indigestion, fatigue, insomnia (hard to fall asleep) and heaviness of the body. Also it is very useful for mental conditions including anxiety, depression, frustrations and anger (if the pattern fits the above).

The stagnations that this formula regulates are:

Qi Stagnation:

  • Qi stagnation is the name of the game. When we get frustrated by small things that shouldn’t matter or can’t seem to get moving even though we know we “should” then we have qi stagnation. Stagnation can also be responsible for pains that migrate, come and go, are aggravated by stress. These pains tend to radiate and affect an area or region rather than a discrete location. Qi stagnation is addressed by Xiang Fu. Qi stagnation can also cause the other stagnations listed below.

Blood Stagnation:

  • Blood stagnation (or “stasis”) causes pains that are fixed in location and usually occur in a location that you can point at with one finger. Blood stagnation is addressed by Chuan Xiong.

Heat Stagnation:

  • This stagnation of heat is actually a side-effect of other stagnations. When things aren’t circulating well, the (Chinese concept of the) Liver can get hot, resulting in a short temper, red eyes, etc. Heat is addressed by Zhi Zi.

Damp Stagnation:

  • Dampness is another side-effect of qi stagnation, particularly in the Stomach and Intestines. When things are stuck in the tummy, one outcome is the creation of excessive fluids in the Stomach and Intestines which gives rise to indigestion. Damp is addressed by Cang Zhu.

Phlegm Stagnation:

  • Damp + time = phlegm. Sometimes phlegm comes out of the body as we’re accustomed to seeing it, from coughing. In the case of this formula, this phlegm may be more evident after a big meal. Other times, it can coat the poop or show up as lumps in the body. (Lumps, of course, should be examined by a health care provider) Phlegm (and damp) is addressed by Cang Zhu.

Food Stagnation:

  • Food stagnation can arise from qi stagnation which is how your Stomach may react to stress, the food just sits there. However over-eating or eating food that is difficult to digest can also cause food stagnation. Food stagnation is address by Shen Qu.

Ingredients

Xiang Fu 香附 cyperus, nut-grass rhizome Cyperi Rhizoma

  • This formula is for qi stagnation that then causes all the other kinds of stagnation. Xiang fu is the herb that addresses the qi stagnation. We use it often for when stress causes frequent sighing on the sensation that one can’t take a full breath of air (due to emotional stress). Xiang fu is also famous for bloating or dull achy pain in the upper abdomen.

Chuan Xiong 川芎 Sichuan lovage root, cnidium, chuanxiong root Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong

  • This herb is said to move the “qi in the blood” which is to say that it stimulates the flow of the blood. It is unknown if this means “thinning” the blood or regulating the Heart or perhaps helping the blood vessels open up to help more flow through. Could be a little bit of all three, or only those that are needed in a particular case.
[caption id="attachment_16374" align="alignright" width="221"]Your tongue may look like this is you need Yue Ju Wan (although this one is a little extreme). Thick yellow coating, red or purplish tongue body. Your tongue may look like this if you need Yue Ju Wan (although this one is a little extreme). Thick yellow coating, red or purplish tongue body.[/caption]

Zhi Zi 梔子 cape jasmine fruit, gardenia Gardeniae Fructus

  • All of these stagnations can warm up the (Chinese concept of the) Liver much like a traffic jam can cause cars to overheat. This herb cools the Liver which helps one to keep their emotional cool in the face of some heavy-duty stress.

Cang Zhu 蒼术 atractylodes rhizome, cang shu Atractylodis Rhizoma

  • Qi stagnation that affects the functions of the Stomach and Intestines can cause a lot of gurgling or other issues with the metabolism of fluids. This herb is said to aromatically pierce through damp turbidity. That’s going to result in a cool airy feeling in your tummy which you’ll like.

Shen Qu 神麴 medicated leaven Massa medicata fermentata [use caution if pregnant]

  • Shen Qu is especially effective in supporting the stomach’s ability to digest fermented foods. Also applies to fermented drinks such as alcohol. However because it is actually a mixture of a variety of digestive herbs, it can help anything stuck in the Stomach to get broken down and moving into the intestines as they should. Shen Qu is actually a combination of herbs including Mai Ya, Qing hao, Xing ren, Cang er zi, Chi xiao dou. Xing ren, Chi xiao dou, Qing hao, Mu Gua
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