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Jian Pi Wan健脾丸

Strengthen the Spleen Pill

Reducing Food Stagnation 消食剂Strengthen the Spleen and Reduce Food Stagnation 健脾消食

Ingredients13 herbs

白Bai Zhu白术炒75g君 ChiefStrengthens the Spleen and dries damp — the largest dose in the formula木Mu Xiang木香另研22g佐 AssistantMoves qi and relieves the distension黄Huang Lian黄连酒炒22g佐 AssistantClears the low-grade heat that stagnant food generates, in a small restraining dose甘Gan Cao甘草22g佐使 Assistant–EnvoyAugments qi and harmonizes the whole prescription
白Fu Ling白茯苓去皮60g君 ChiefStrengthens the Spleen and leaches damp out
人Ren Shen人参45g臣 DeputyAugments the qi of the Spleen and Stomach神Shen Qu神曲炒30g臣 DeputyReduces stale accumulation and wakes the Stomach陈Chen Pi陈皮30g佐 AssistantRegulates qi so the tonics do not clog the middle burner砂Sha Ren砂仁30g佐 AssistantAromatically wakes the Spleen and transforms damp麦Mai Ya麦芽炒取面30g臣 DeputyReduces grain and starch accumulation山Shan Zha山楂取肉30g臣 DeputyReduces meat and greasy food accumulation山Shan Yao山药30g臣 DeputyTonifies the Spleen without cloying and firms the stool肉Rou Dou Kou肉豆蔻面裹煨热，纸包槌去油30g佐 AssistantWarms the middle burner and binds the intestines against chronic diarrhoea

Indications

Strengthens the Spleen and augments qiReduces food accumulation and harmonizes the StomachMoves qi so the tonics do not congestBinds the intestines and stops chronic loose stoolsClears the mild heat generated by stagnant food

Spleen deficiency with food accumulation and mild damp-heat. Weak transport allows food to lodge; the lodged food further burdens the Spleen and breeds a little heat, so that tonifying alone congests and reducing alone exhausts.

Clinical Manifestations

  • Chronic poor appetite with abdominal distension
  • Loose, foul-smelling stools over a long period
  • Fatigue, weight loss and a sallow complexion
  • Childhood digestive weakness with poor growth
  • Long-standing indigestion following illness
TonguePale with a greasy, slightly yellow coating
PulseThin and weak, sometimes slippery

Health Categories

Digestive HealthEnergy & Fatigue

Modern Applications

Chronic diarrhoeaMalabsorptionFunctional dyspepsiaFailure to thriveChronic gastritisLoss of appetite

Common adjustments

Contraindications

Not for an acute excess accumulation with a hard, painful abdomen and constipation — the tonics would seal the obstruction in. Not for marked damp-heat with a thick yellow coating and thirst. Because it contains warming, drying and aromatic herbs it is not suitable for Stomach-yin deficiency with a red peeled tongue and a dry mouth. Weight loss, persistent diarrhoea or blood in the stool always need a medical diagnosis before being treated as simple Spleen deficiency.

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

Pregnancy

Used in pregnancy only under a practitioner's supervision. The Spleen tonics in it are gentle and several — Bai Zhu, Shan Yao, Sha Ren — have a long classical use during pregnancy, but Shan Zha and Mu Xiang move strongly downward and are traditionally kept away from early pregnancy and threatened miscarriage. Do not self-prescribe while pregnant.

Related Formulas

References

Source Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng 《证治准绳》 · Ming

  1. 《证治准绳》(classical source, public domain) — the recorded composition.
    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.

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.