Hou Po Qi Wu Tang厚朴七物汤

Magnolia Bark Seven-Ingredient Decoction

Releasing Exterior and Interior Together 表里双解剂和解少阳

Ingredients7 herbs

HerbDosageWhat it does in this formula

厚Hou Po厚朴Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex24gMoves qi downward and disperses the abdominal fullness — the heaviest dose in the formula 甘Gan Cao甘草Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma9gModerates the purge and harmonizes the two halves of the formula 大Da Huang大黄Rhei Radix et Rhizoma9gPurges the accumulation out through the stool 大Da Zao大枣Jujubae Fructus4Protects the middle burner from the purging herbs 枳Zhi Shi枳实Aurantii Fructus Immaturus12gBreaks up stagnant qi and opens the blocked bowel with Hou Po 桂Gui Zhi桂枝Cinnamomi Ramulus6gReleases the muscle layer, resolving the exterior that is still present 生Sheng Jiang生姜Zingiberis Rhizoma recens15gAssists Gui Zhi outward and settles the stomach against nausea

Indications

Releases the muscle layer and dispels wind-coldMoves qi and relieves abdominal fullnessUnblocks the bowel through a gentle purge

A taiyang exterior pattern that has not resolved while yangming fullness has already formed— the classical marker is that appetite is unchanged, which places the blockage in the bowel rather than in the Stomach.

Clinical Manifestations

Abdominal fullness with fever and aversion to cold together
Constipation while appetite remains normal
Distension that dominates over pain
Fever persisting for days with a floating, rapid pulse

TongueWhite or slightly yellow coating

PulseFloating and rapid

Health Categories

Digestive HealthCold & Flu Relief

Modern Applications

Constipation with fever Abdominal distension Ileus Post-operative bowel stasis Acute abdomen

Common adjustments

Vomiting — add Zhi Ban Xia 制半夏 and increase Sheng Jiang 生姜
Cold in the abdomen with loose stool rather than constipation — reduce or remove Da Huang 大黄 and add warming herbs per the pattern
Exterior already resolved — remove Gui Zhi 桂枝 — the formula reverts to Hou Po San Wu Tang

Contraindications

Not for abdominal fullness of deficiency-cold type, where the belly is soft and eased by warmth and pressure. The Da Huang makes it unsuitable for anyone already having loose stools, and the purge is stopped once the bowel opens.

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

Pregnancy

Contraindicated in pregnancy — Da Huang and Zhi Shi purge downward, and Gui Zhi moves the blood. Abdominal fullness in pregnancy needs a different approach entirely.

Related Formulas

Da Chai Hu Tang大柴胡汤

References

Source Jin Gui Yao Lue 《金匮要略》 · Eastern Han

「病腹满，发热十日，脉浮而数，饮食如故，厚朴七物汤主之。」
— 《金匮要略》(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）— 附方 note and pattern analysis cross-checked.

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.