Herbs for Digestion

Bao He Wan

This formula is Dong Xi-yuan’s Qing dynasty modification of Zhu Dan-xi’s Yuan dynasty Bao He Wan (Protect Harmony Pills). This formula also incorporates the main ingredients of Er Chen Tang (Two Aged [Ingredients] Decoction) from the Song dynasty Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (Tai Ping Imperial Grace Formulary). Our version is a 7:1 extract in glycerine tincture form.

RX:

Fu Ling (Poria)
Shan Zha (Fructus Crataegi)
Shen Qu (Massa Medica Fermentata)
Lai Fu Zi (Semen Raphani)
Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae)
Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae)
Mai Ya (Fructus Germinatus Hordei)
Lian Qiao (Fructus Forsythiae)

FUNCTIONS:

Clears heat and abducts food stagnation, harmonizes the stomach.

INDICATIONS:

This formula is indicated for either of two purposes. First, it is for the treatment of any person of any age suffering from food stagnation complicated by stomach heat. Secondly, it is especially indicated for infants suffering from colic due to food stagnation complicated by heat.

 

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF FOOD STAGNATION INCLUDE:

·        Indigestion

·        Nausea

·        Possible vomiting

·        Possible diarrhea

·        Lack of appetite

·        Abdominal distention

·        Thick, slimy tongue fur

·        A slippery pulse

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF STOMACH HEAT INCLUDE:

·        Bad breath

·        Yellow tongue fur

·        A possibly rapid pulse

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF COLIC DUE TO FOOD STAGNATION COMPLICATED BY HEAT INCLUDE:

·        Infantile fussiness and/or crying beginning in the afternoon and continuing into the night

·        Insomnia and restlessness

·        Pumping of the legs, possibly followed by flatulence with temporary cessation of crying

·        Abdominal distention

·        Vomiting of recently ingested, undigested, possibly curdled milk

·        Bad breath

·        A red face and reddish fingernails

·        Warm hands and feet when crying

·        A congested, purplish vein on the palmar surface at the junction of the index finger’s first phalangeal and metacarpal bones

FORMULA EXPLANATION:

Within this formula, Shan Zha, Shen Qu, Lai Fu Zi, and Mai Ya disperse food and abduct stagnation. Ban Xia and Chen Pi transform phlegm, downbear turbidity, and harmonize the stomach. Fu Ling fortifies the spleen, transforms phlegm, and eliminated dampness. Lian Qiao gently clears stomach heat without damaging an already vacuous and weak spleen. In terms of pediatric colic, this is referred to as pediatric night-crying in Chinese medicine and is essentially always due to food stagnation in infants. Because this formula is prepared as a glycerine tincture, it is easy to dose infants. However, it is also especially easy to digest and assimilate for those with indigestion.