PEONY & CITRUS FORMULA
Tong Xie Yao Fang |
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‘Important Formula for Painful Diarrhoea’
Source: Collected Treatises of Zhang Jing-Yue (Jing Yue Quan Shu, 1624) |
Keywords
digestive problems with an emotional component, irritable bowel syndrome |
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Ingredients
Paeonia alba (Bai Shao, white peony)
atractylodes macrocephala (Bai Zhu, atractylodes)
Ledebouriella
divaricata (Fang Feng, siler)
Citrus reticulata (Chen Pi, citrus)
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Major therapeutic action
Harmonises the emotions and digestion, strengthens the digestion, and stops diarrhoea.
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Biomedical action
antispasmodic, analgesic, astringent.
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Indications
o Emotional problems coupled with digestion problems. A variety of symptoms may occur with this pattern,
most typically gastrointestinal pain with altered bowel habits. The main feature is the clear relationship of onset or aggravation of symptoms to the emotional state of the patient.
o With the appropriate key symptoms this formula can be used to treat disorders such as irritable bowel
syndrome and ulcerative colitis.
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Key symptoms for use
o chronic or recurrent diarrhoea, or alternating diarrhoea and constipation
o cramping abdominal pain relieved by defecation
o borborygmus, flatulence, loss of appetite, bloating |
Combinations
o With severe abdominal bloating, add Zhi Shi & Jie Geng.
o With symptoms of anorexia, postprandial abdominal distension, lethargy, and a sallow complexion, combine with Si Jun Zi Tang.
o With abdominal pain, add Jin Ling Zi San.
o With watery diarrhoea, add Gan Jiang & Rou Gui.
o With severe irritability, depression, pain or distension in the hypochondrium, and dysmenorrhoea, add
Chai Hu & Bai Shao.
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Dosage
The typical dose is three grams twice daily, before meals. In severe or acute cases, or the early stages of
treatment (the first two weeks), a 50-100% increase in dose may be used, then reduced as the treatment
takes effect. |
Cautions and contraindications
None noted.
Contraindicated in the early stages of a febrile illness, or when there is residual pathogenic influence
remaining; viral or bacterial. |
Differentiation
Si Ni San acts primarily on the liver, and has significantly less intestine soothing activity. Better in general
for the upper gastrointestinal effects of the emotions affecting digestion.
Xiao Yao San: Xiao Yao San is best for the effects on the gynaecological system. |
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