Fu Zi Li Zhong Tang附子理中汤

Prepared Aconite Decoction to Regulate the Middle

Warming the Interior 温里剂Warm the Middle and Dispel Cold 温中祛寒

Ingredients5 herbs

HerbDosageWhat it does in this formula

附Fu Zi (Zhi)附子炮，去皮、脐Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata90gRestores yang and drives cold out of the middle and lower burner

人Ren Shen人参去芦Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma90gRebuilds the source qi the cold has drained 干Gan Jiang干姜炮Zingiberis Rhizoma90gWarms the middle directly and stops cold vomiting and diarrhea 甘Zhi Gan Cao甘草炙Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata90gWarms and supports the middle, eases cramping, and moderates the aconite 白Bai Zhu白术Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma90gStrengthens the Spleen and dries the damp that cold leaves behind

Indications

Warms the yang of Spleen and KidneyDispels interior cold and stops cold painAugments qi and restores transport in the middle burner

Spleen- and Kidney-yang deficiency with interior cold. The fire that should warm digestion has failed, so food is not transformed, fluid runs straight through, and the cold reaches out to the limbs.

Clinical Manifestations

Cold cramping abdominal pain relieved by warmth and pressure
Chronic watery diarrhea containing undigested food
Vomiting and diarrhea together with cold limbs
Poor appetite with a cold, heavy-feeling abdomen
Cold-type chronic gastritis or colitis in a yang-deficient patient

TonguePale and moist with a white slippery coating

PulseDeep, slow and forceless

Health Categories

Digestive Health

Modern Applications

Chronic diarrhea Gastroenteritis Functional dyspepsia Abdominal cramping Cold intolerance

Common adjustments

Diarrhea before dawn, Kidney yang failing — add Bu Gu Zhi 补骨脂 and Rou Dou Kou 肉豆蔻
Vomiting predominant — add Wu Zhu Yu 吴茱萸, or increase the ginger
Marked cold pain in the epigastrium — add Gao Liang Jiang 高良姜 and Wu Yao 乌药
Chronic bleeding of the cold, Spleen-not-governing-blood type — use Pao Jiang 炮姜 in place of dried ginger, as the commercial preparation does
Marked qi deficiency with sinking or prolapse — add Huang Qi 黄芪

Contraindications

Not for any heat pattern, for damp-heat diarrhea, or for yin deficiency with heat signs — this formula is frankly hot and will make those worse. Aconite must be the processed lateral root: unprocessed or under-decocted aconite is cardiotoxic, and in decoction it is added first and simmered long before the other herbs go in. Do not exceed the prescribed dose or duration, and seek immediate care for palpitations, numbness of the mouth or tingling of the limbs after taking it.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Contraindicated in pregnancy — prepared aconite is a pregnancy-restricted medicinal and the formula as a whole is strongly hot.

Related Formulas

References

Source Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang 《太平惠民和剂局方》 (as 附子理中丸) · Northern Song

「治脾胃冷弱，心腹绞痛，呕吐泄利，霍乱转筋，体冷微汗，手足厥寒。」
— 《太平惠民和剂局方》(classical source, public domain)

Classical source (public domain), cited in the source-quote section.
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— pattern analysis cross-checked; Li Zhong Wan 《伤寒论》 given as the base formula.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.