Accumulation syndrome Middle-Jiao

The drugs for treating hypertension can quickly descend the Qi and Yang of Liver, but they may suppress the Liver-Qi. They may also slow down water metabolism and blood circulation. Therefore the syndrome can change into one of Liver-Qi stagnation with Kidney-Yin and Liver-Yin deficiency, or Liver-Qi stagnation with dampness accumulation in the Middle-Jiao. 

Accumulation syndrome due to excess cold in the Middle-Jiao... 

Ban Xia and Sheng Jiang are both pungent and warm, and enter the Stomach meridian. They can soothe the Stomach-Qi and eliminate the accumulation of water and phlegm in the Stomach. They relieve nausea and vomiting and improve appetite. All these symptoms are often seen in the syndrome of internal cold in the Middle-Jiao. 

The Spleen is regarded as a Yin organ and it is easily injured by exterior damp-heat or cold. If the Spleen fails to transport water and food that has accumulated in the Middle-Jiao, this will eventually generate heat in a Yang constitution. Persistent accumulation of damp-heat in the Middle-Jiao may develop damp-heat in the Large Intestine. Both syndromes have a lingering process of pathological development. 

Bai Zhu can directly dry dampness in the Middle-Jiao as it is pungent and warm, and enters the Spleen meridian directly. It has a relatively strong function in tonifying the Spleen-Qi compared with the other two herbs. It is often used in the syndrome where dampness accumulates in the Middle-Jiao when the Spleen-Qi is too weak to transform and transport it. 

This formula tonifies the Spleen-Qi and transforms dampness from the Middle-Jiao. It treats the syndrome of Spleen-Qi deficiency with obvious accumulation of dampness in the Middle-Jiao, and at the same time treats deficiency of Lung-Qi due to Spleen-Qi deficiency. The symptoms are chronic diarrhea, weakness of limbs, weight loss, a low and soft voice and shortness of breath. A pale tongue with a moist white coating and a soft and slow pulse indicate the presence of dampness with Qi deficiency. 

This formula can dry dampness and stimulate the Spleen, regulate the Qi and soothe the Stomach. It treats accumulation of dampness in the Middle-Jiao that obstructs the Qi movement of the Spleen and Stomach. The symptoms are distension and fullness in the epigastria and abdomen, reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting, belching and acid regurgitation, heaviness of the limbs and reluctance to move. A white, sticky or thick tongue coating and a slow and soft pulse indicate the accumulation in this syndrome. In this formula ... 

Among these herbs, Ban Xia can soothe the Stomach-Qi and Chen Pi can promote the Qi movement in the Upper- and Middle-Jiao. Both can remove the dampness, phlegm and food accumulation that often arises in the same syndrome. Xiang Yuan and Fo Shou are able to harmonize the Qi of the Liver and Stomach, and are particularly used in the condition where the Liver overacts on the Stomach. Xiang Fu is the most commonly used herb... 

---