HERB FORMULAS

GAN CAO XIE XIN TANG - 甘草瀉心湯 - LICORICE DECOCTION TO DRAIN THE EPIGASTRIUM

English: Licorice Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium
Also Known As: Pinellia and Licorice Combination

HERBS AND ACTIONS

Pharmaceutical Latin
Pin Yin
Dosage
Actions
Rx. Glycyrrhizae Preparata Zhi Gan Cao 9-15g Tonifies the Spleen, augments Qi, clears Heat, relieves Fire toxicity and resolves Phlegm.
With Ren Shen and Fu Ling, strengthens the Spleen and augments Qi.
Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum Zhi Ban Xia 9-12g Dries Dampness, transforms Phlegm, dissipates clumps, descends Rebellious Qi, harmonizes the Stomach, stops vomiting and eliminates focal distention.
With Ren Shen, for vomiting due to Stomach Deficiency.
with Huang Lian, for epigastric distention and indigestion due to a simultaneous invasion of Hot and Cold pathogenic influences into the Stomach.
with Huang Qin, for Phlegm-Heat induced Rebellious Qi with cough, nausea, and vomiting.
with Huang Lian, Huang Qin and Gan Jiang, for nausea and vomiting due to Heat and Cold.
Rz. Zingiberis Gan Jiang 6-9g Warms the Middle, expels Cold, warms the Lungs and transforms thin mucus.
With Huang Lian, for epigastric pain and distention, dysentery, indeterminate gnawing hunger, vague abdominal pain or discomfort, belching, and nausea.
With Zhi Ban Xia, for vomiting of saliva or dry heaves due to Cold-induced congested fluids.
With Zhi Gan Cao, for epigastric pain and vomiting due to Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold.
With Zhi Ban Xia and Ren Shen, for vomiting due to Deficiency Cold.
Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin 6-9g Clears Heat, dries Dampness, drains Fire and detoxifies.
With Huang Lian, drains pathogenic Heat from the Upper and Middle Jiaos for high fever, redness, swelling and pain of the head and face, dry mouth, parched throat, ulcerations of the mouth and tongue, epistaxis, rashes and irritability in warm-febrile disease.
Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian 3-6g Clears Heat, drains Dampness, drains Fire, resolves Fire toxicity and drains Stomach Fire.
With Zhi Ban Xia, for Cold and Heat in the Middle Jiao with abdominal fullness, nausea and vomiting.
With Zhi Ban Xia and Gan Jian, for Cold and Heat complexes in the Intestines and Stomach marked by focal distention, nausea, vomiting and feelings of oppression in the chest.
With Huang Qin, Zhi Ban Xia and Gan Jiang, for Damp-Heat in the Middle Jiao.
Rx. Ginseng Ren Shen 6-9g Tonifies Spleen, Stomach and Lung Qi and tonifies Qi in Deficiency patients with Exterior conditions.
With Da Zao, benefits the Middle Jiao Qi and prevents injury to the Qi.
Fr. Jujube Da Zao 10-30g Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, augments Qi, and moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs.

FORMULA ACTIONS

  • Benefits Qi
  • Harmonizes the Stomach
  • Relieves epigastric distention
  • Disperses lumps and hardness
  • Stops diarrhea

SYNDROMES

  • Stomach Qi Deficiency with Cold and Heat in the Interior

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

  • Epigastric distention, fullness and hardness
  • Dry heaves
  • Nausea/Vomiting
  • Irritability
  • Borborygmus
  • Diarrhea with undigested food
  • Hysteria
  • Fatigue
  • Erosions of the throat
  • Insomnia with difficulty falling asleep
  • Frequent waking
  • Talking in one's sleep
  • Sleepwalking
  • Dream disturbed sleep
  • T: Pink
  • C: Yellowish
  • P: Wiry and rapid

TREATS

CONTRAINDICATIONS AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

NOTES

MODIFICATIONS

For fullness and oppression in the hypochondrium and epigastrium: For diarrhea with abdominal pain:
+ Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang
+ Fr. Aurantii Immaturus Zhi Shi + Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao
+ Rx. Platycodi Jie Geng For vomiting and belching:
For vomiting and epigastric pain: + Per. Citri Reticulatae Chen Pi
+ Three Yellow Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium
San Huang Xie Xin Tang
+ Poria Fu Ling
For vomiting with Phlegm Accumulation:
For vomiting of food particles:
+ Two-Cured Decoction
Er Chen Tang
+ Calm the Stomach Powder
Ping Wei San
For a stronger draining effect:
For severe Cold: + Rx. et Rz. Rhei Da Huang
+ Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Zhi Fu Zi For Summerheat and Dampness:
- Rx. Ginseng Ren Shen
For Behcet's disease with constipation: - Rz. Zingiberis Gan Jiang
+ 3-6g Rx. et Rz. Rhei Da Huang - Fr. Jujube Da Zao
For Behcet's disease with a sticky mouth and slimy tongue coat: - Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao
+ Fr. Aurantii Immaturus Zhi Shi
+ 30g Hb. Artemisiae Scopariae Yin Chen Hao + Sm. Armeniacae Xing Ren
For Behcet's disease with genital sores:
+ 15g Talcum Hua Shi + 30g Rz. Smilacis Glabrae Tu Fu Ling
For herpes genitalia with Spleen Deficiency:
- Fr. Jujube Da Zao For herpes genitalia with Spleen Deficiency and infection:
+ Two Marvel Powder
Er Miao San
- Fr. Jujube Da Zao
+ 9g Rx. Sophorae Flavescentis Ku Shen
+ Two Marvel Powder
Er Miao San
+ 9g Cx. Dictamni Bai Xian Pi + 9g Rx. Sophorae Flavescentis Ku Shen
For herpes genitalia with Spleen Deficiency and fatigue:
+ 9g Cx. Dictamni Bai Xian Pi
- Fr. Jujube Da Zao + 15g Rx. Isatidis Ban Lan Gen
+ Two Marvel Powder
Er Miao San
 For herpes genitalia with Spleen Deficiency and Liver Qi Stagnation:
+ 9g Rx. Sophorae Flavescentis Ku Shen - Fr. Jujube Da Zao
+ Two Marvel Powder
Er Miao San
+ 9g Cx. Dictamni Bai Xian Pi
+ 15-30g Rx. Astragali Huang Qi + 9g Rx. Sophorae Flavescentis Ku Shen
   
    + 9g Cx. Dictamni Bai Xian Pi
    + 9g Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu