半夏泻心汤 / Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang
Treats the following symptoms:
Harmonizes Stomach comes from the classic “Treatise on Febrile Diseases”. Many medical practitioners call Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang the first formulation for gastrointestinal conditioning. The formulation uses “pungent-open, bitter-descend and sweet-tonic” as the idea of forming the formula. The pungent-open means using herbs in pungent flavour to restore digestion function of the Spleen. Bitter flavour herbs are restoring the descending function of the Stomach and sweet-tonic means it is using sweet flavours to tonic Spleen and Stomach. It is a classic formula for regulating Spleen and Stomach function. In ancient times, this formula was used to treat Spleen and Stomach’s “Pi syndrome”, and “Pi” means “sluggish“. The Pi Syndrome is characterized by those who are suffering from indigestion with symptoms of the fullness of stomach, upset, vomiting, bowel sounds, stomach acid reflux, bitter mouth, yellow and greasy tongue coating. It is currently used for gastroesophageal reflux disease, chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, functional dyspepsia, chronic colitis, support treatment of AIDS/HIV etc., which are dysfunction of ascending of the Spleen and descending of the Stomach, disorder of Cold and Warm of the Stomach.
Modern research shows that the formulation has the functions of anti-inflammatory, bacteriostatic and bidirectional regulation of gastrointestinal motility, and can promote the local growth and expression of the gastrointestinal tract, promote the secretion of related hormones and proteins, and improve the body’s immunity.
HIV / AIDS
Typical symptoms:
abdominal pain, anaemia, breathlessness on exertion, cold and flu in a prolonged duration, cough, fatigue, fever, HIV/AIDS, immune compromised patient, immune deficiency, loose stool, loss of energy, pain in the chest, shortness of breath, sore throat, stomach ache, sweating, swollen and painful gums, weight loss, yeast and fungal problemsDisease description:
HIV stands for “Human Immunodeficiency Virus”, the pathogen that weakens the human immune system. Infection with HIV most often occur during unprotected sexual intercourse or through HIV-infected blood. Failure to treat HIV infection means that at a certain point in time the body will no longer be able defend itself against other infectious pathogens and falls seriously ill with normally harmless diseases. This condition is then called “Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome” (AIDS). People with AIDS often suffer from pneumonia and fungal diseases.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
HIV infection is viewed as an Invasion of Damp and Toxic Heat, which is not showing symptoms in the beginning (asymptomatic phase). The virus is hiding in the body and slowly depleting Wei Qi, then later attacks the Lung and can cause flu-like symptoms. Then it progresses inwards depleting Spleen and Stomach Qi and drying Stomach Yin. The Toxic Heat dries the Blood, causing Blood Deficiency and eventually Yin- and Yang- and Essence Deficiency.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Qi Deficiency and Latent Toxin
Immune deficiency in the asymptomatic HIV positive patient.
Recommended formulas to use:
Lung Qi & Yin Deficiency
Susceptibility to infection such as recurrent episodes of a sore throat, fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, rashes, pruritus, weight loss, fatigue, night sweating.
Recommended formulas to use:
Spleen Qi Deficiency
Frequent infections, fatigue, diarrhoea or loose stools, lack of appetite, dull pain in the abdomen, weight loss, lethargy, the need to take naps after meals.
recommended formulae: Arouse Centre Qi
in case of loose stool: Consolidate Qi
in case of heartburn and stomach pain: Harmonizes Stomach
Recommended formulas to use:
Damp Heat
Immune deficiency, wet skin lesions, yeast and fungal problems, parasitic diarrhoea, bleeding gums.
Recommended formulas to use:
INDIGESTION
Typical symptoms:
abdominal pain, acid reflux, constipation, diarrhoea, fatigue, loose stool, nausea, stomach acheDisease description:
Indigestion is a collective term for complaints of the digestive organs. In most cases, the causes are harmless, such as eating too fast or eating spicy, greasy and fatty foods. Sometimes the reason for indigestion is to be found in rather serious illnesses like inflammation of the stomach, ulcers, pancreas inflammation, intestinal blockage or reduced blood flow in the intestine. Symptoms of indigestion may be felt occasionally or as often as daily. Common symptoms are stomach aches, diarrhoea, constipation, flatulence, heartburn, acid reflux and fatigue.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chinese medicine believes that Spleen and Stomach play the main role in completing the digestion and absorption of the diet. Indigestion is mainly due to the failure of Spleen and Stomach function. Since the digestion process also requires help from Liver Qi, the dysfunction of the Spleen, Stomach and Liver is the most common cause of indigestion. Overeating can also damage the Spleen and Stomach, leading to accumulation of food. High life pressure result in Liver Qi Stagnation, and further blocks Spleen function. Depression can also lead to gastrointestinal dysfunction, forming Dampness, Heat, Phlegm or Blood Stasis which blocking the Spleen and Stomach.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Spleen Qi Deficiency
When there is Spleen Qi Deficiency, it fails to transform and transport, causing indigestion, distension after eating, poor appetite, loose stools and fatigue.
above symptoms:
+ increased stomach fullness: Stomach Tonic
+ increased tiredness: Four Gentlemen Formula
+ prolaps of organs, athrophy of stomach membrane: Arouse Center Qi