Middle-Jiao

Use aromatic herbs which have a unique dispersing and transforming action to penetrate the dampness in the Upper- and Middle-Jiao and eliminate it. 

Sweetness may cause retention of dampness in the Middle-Jiao. When treating phlegm and dampness, which are excessive lingering pathogenic factors, formulas that contain herbs... 

Quite often, after patients finish their course of antibiotics, the infection recurs and even becomes chronic. In this case, a formula should be composed using low doses of cold bitter herbs which have similar functions to the antibiotics but with a broader spectrum, along with herbs that can strengthen the Middle-Jiao, transform the dampness and promote digestion as well as dispersing the constrained Qi and heat. In this way, infections can be cured with minimal side effects from the antibiotics. 

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. 

Huo Xiang is an excellent herb to expel wind, cold and dampness it can also transform dampness in the Middle-Jiao. Compared with Xiang Ru, it is stronger in transforming dampness in the Middle-Jiao compared with Zi Su Ye, it not only expels wind and cold, but also disperses dampness in the superficial regions of the body to treat heaviness and stiffness of body. It is selected especially in the summer to treat the common cold, influenza and acute gastritis. 

Assistant Regulate the Lung-Qi, stop cough strengthen the Middle-Jiao in order to assist the chief herbs in expelling wind-cold... 

Zhi Ke is bitter and slightly cold, and enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians. It can regulate the Spleen-Qi and Stomach-Qi in a gentle and slow way. It moves horizontally in the Upper- and Middle-Jiao, opens the chest and reduces distension. In an exterior syndrome it is used to treat Qi stagnation in the chest, stomach and hypochondria, which causes distension in the upper abdomen, a stifling sensation in the chest, reduced appetite, irritability and depression. 

Da Zao is sweet and warm, and enters the Spleen meridian. It can nourish the blood and tonify the Qi. Sheng Jiang and Da Zao are often used together to strengthen the Middle-Jiao and are used in deficiency conditions. 

The combination of Sheng Jiang and Da Zao is also commonly used for strengthening the Middle-Jiao. 

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

Gan Jiang is warm and pungent, and particularly enters the Spleen meridian. It is often used to warm Spleen-Yang to expel the cold in the Middle-Jiao directly, thus accelerating Qi movement in the intestines and alleviating pain. It is particularly used as chief in the formula to treat 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. 

This combination indicates that the purging action is based on a warming and tonifying action. The alterations of herbs in this formula are particularly necessary in chronic and recurrent disorders of cold accumulation in the Middle-Jiao with Spleen-Yang deficiency. 

Gan Jiang serves as deputy it enhances the function of Fu Zi to warm the Middle-Jiao, the Spleen and the Stomach directly. 

Gan Cao is used as assistant to tonify the Middle-Jiao and to protect the Stomach from the harsh herbs. It is also used as envoy to harmonize the herbs in this formula. 

These herbs can regulate the Qi in the Middle-Jiao and promote digestion. They are sour and warm, and enter the Liver and Spleen meridians. They are particularly suitable for use when the Liver-Qi attacks the Stomach. This condition often exists at... 

Ren Shen and Mai Men Dong can strengthen the Middle-Jiao and are not harmful to the weakened Stomach. 

Gan Cao serves as envoy it can protect the Middle-Jiao and harmonize the substances in the formula. 

Damp-heat in the Middle-Jiao distension in the epigastric region and abdomen, reduced appetite, sticky sensation in the mouth, heavy limbs. Damp-heat in the Lower-Jiao loose stools or diarrhea, irregular bowel movement, abdominal pain, abdominal distension, tenesmus and a bearing-down sensation in the abdomen, blood and mucus in the stools. 

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. 

If damp-heat accumulates in the Middle-Jiao, the transformation and transportation functions of the Spleen are impaired. Patients may suffer from loss of appetite and have a sticky sensation in the mouth. 

As the Spleen governs the muscles and subcutaneous region of the body, damp-heat in the Middle-Jiao may cause heaviness of the limbs and body, and itchy and weeping skin disorders. 

The combination of Ban Xia and Huang Qin is commonly used to promote Qi movement in the Upper-and Middle-Jiao. 

These two herbs are aromatic and enter the Spleen and Stomach meridians. They are able to penetrate through the dampness and revive the function of the Spleen. They particularly treat dampness in the Middle-Jiao. 

Huo Xiang is warm and can disperse and dissolve dampness in the Middle-Jiao. It also enters the Lung meridian and can treat exterior dampness as well. It is used in the syndrome where nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramp are accompanied by fever, chills and a heavy sensation in the body. 

Cang Zhu is very pungent and warm. It can directly dry the dampness in the Middle-Jiao. As it can also slightly induce sweating, it can disperse wind and dampness from the superficial region of the body. 

These two herbs are able to eliminate damp-heat, increase urination and relax the tendons and muscles. They can be used to treat Bi syndrome due to damp-heat in the Middle-Jiao when burning, heavy and painful sensations of muscles are present. 

These herbs are able to tonify the Spleen-Qi as well as eliminate dampness from the Middle-Jiao. 

Bai Bian Dou not only has a very gentle function of tonifying the Spleen-Qi but is also able to transform dampness. Because it is an astringent herb it can stabilize the fluid in the intestines. This herb is particularly useful for treating chronic diarrhea due to Spleen-Qi deficiency and dampness accumulation in the Middle-Jiao. 

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. 

These herbs are able to promote digestion, regulate the Qi in the Middle-Jiao and revive the function of the Spleen and Stomach. They are often used in the recovery period of syndromes of damp-heat in the Spleen and Large Intestine. 

Bai Xian Pi enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians. It can effectively reduce damp-heat in the Middle-Jiao and reduce jaundice. 

Fang Feng, which is pungent, slightly warm and enters the Spleen meridian, is used in a large dosage as chief herb. It is able to expel the wind and eliminate the dampness from the Spleen, and thus reduce the smoldering fire and constrained Qi in the Middle-Jiao. 

Gan Cao is used primarily as assistant. It is able to tonify the Spleen and protect the Middle-Jiao in the process of reducing heat and dispersing dampness. In a formula to remove dampness, it, together with honey, slows down the speed of pungent herbs and leads to a steady and lasting effect of eliminating dampness. 

Jing Mi and Gan Gao tonify the Stomach and Spleen, and strengthen the Middle-Jiao so as to generate the Yin and Qi of the Lung. This strategy is referred to as cultivating the Earth... 

Yi Yi Ren is sweet and cold, and enters the Lung and Spleen meridians. It is used as deputy to dissolve the damp-heat from the Upper- and Middle-Jiao. 

Through inappropriate consumption of cold food and drink, the exogenous pathogenic cold can directly enter the Stomach and accumulate in the Middle-Jiao. 

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