小建中汤

Name

Minor Decoction of Strengthening the Middle-Jiao

The Prescription of 小建中汤

Source

The book Shang Han Lun

Ingredients

• Shao Yao (Radix Paeoniae parched with liquor) 18 g,
• Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi) 9 g,
• Zhi Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata) 6 g,
• Sheng Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens) 10 g,
• Da Zao (Fructus Jujubae) 4 dates,
• Yi Tang (Saccharum Granorum) 30 g.

Explanation

Yi Tang: The principal drug, being sweet in flavor and warm in nature, replenishing the spleen-Qi to nourish the spleen-Yin, warming and tonifying the middle-Jiao, nourishing the liver to relieve pain, moisturizing the dryness of the lung.

Gui Zhi: Warming Yang-Qi.

Shao Yao: Replenishing Yin-blood.

Zhi Gan Cao: Being sweet in flavor and warming nature benefiting Qi, not only assisting Yi Tang and Gui Zhi in replenishing Qi and warming the middle-Jiao bui also getting together with Shao Yao which is sour and sweet in taste to promote the production of Yin-fluid, thus invigorating the liver and nourishing the spleen.

Sheng Jiang: Warming the stomach.

Da Zao: Tonifying the spleen, working together with Sheng Jiang to regulate Ying and Wei.

The Effect of 小建中汤

Effect

Warming the middle-Jiao to nourish the spleen and stomach, regulating the function of the middle-Jiao to relieve pain.

Indications

Syndrome of abdominal pain due to consumption, marked by paroxysmal abdominal pain relieved by warmth and palpation, pale tongue with whitish coating, and taut thready but slow pulse, of palpatation, vexation, lustreless complexion, of aching of the limbs, feverish sensation of the hands and feet, dry mouth and throat; including such diseases with the above symptoms as gastroduodenal ulcer, neurosism, aplastic anemia and thrombocytopenic penic purpura.

Administrations

The first 5 ingredients in the prescription were decocted twice for the decoction, into which Yi Tang was put, taken warm twice.