CITRUS & CRATAEGUS FORMULA
Bao He Wan
‘Pills to Promote Harmony’
Source: Teachings of Zhu Dan-Xi (Dan Xi Xin Fa, 1481)
Keywords
food stagnation, indigestion
Ingredients
Crataegus pinnatifida (Shan Zha, crataegus)
Citrus reticulata (Chen Pi, citrus)
Pinellia ternata (Ban Xia,
pinellia)
Forsythia suspensa (Lian Qiao, forsythia)
Massa Fermentata (Shen Qu)
Hordeum vulgare (Mai
Ya, sprouted barley)
Raphanus sativus (lai Fu Zi, radish seed)
Poria cocos (Fu Ling, hoelen)
Major therapeutic action
Relieves food stagnation with symptoms of anorexia, nausea and emesis, sour regurgitation, fetor, and
eructation; promotes digestion.
Enhances stomach and general digestive function, digestant, carminative, stomachic.
Indications
o Acute or chronic indigestion, dyspepsia and gastric hyperacidity–primarily associated with overindulgence, excess food intake relative to energy output or irregular eating (too late at night, missing meals etc).
o May also be useful as an adjunct therapy for any condition induced by food consumption (like ‘food allergies’ or intolerance), typically conditions like diet related asthma, skin rashes, rhinitis and mucus problems.
o For insomnia due to habitual late night snacking (Stomach-Heat or Phlegm Heat).
o With the appropriate key symptoms, this formula can be used to treat biomedical conditions such as acute
and chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, chronic indigestion, autonomic dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract and chronic cholecystitis.
Key symptoms for use
o epigastric bloating and fullness
o belching
o acid reflux, heartburn
o flatulence
o halitosis
o thick tongue coat, either white or yellow and greasy
o With additional symptoms of lethargy, postprandial abdominal distension, sallow complexion, weak limbs, and loose stools, combine with Si Jun Zi Tang.
o with severe heartburn, combine with Huang Lian & Wu Zhu Yu.
o With more severe presenting symptoms, add San Leng & e Zhu.
o With severe bloating, add Zhi Shi & Jie Geng.
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
This formula is quite dispersing and can deplete a person’s energy, so when unmodified it should be
used with caution in patients with significant symptoms of lethargy, postprandial abdominal distension,
sallow complexion, weak limbs, and loose stools. In this case avoid long term use and/or high doses.
Avoid overeating, eating too quickly or late at night.
None noted.