Qu Mai Zhi Zhu Wan曲麦枳术丸

Medicated Leaven and Barley Sprout Pill with Unripe Bitter Orange and Atractylodes

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

Ingredients5 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

白Bai Zhu白术Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma60 g君 ChiefStrengthens the Spleen and dries damp 枳Zhi Shi枳实Aurantii Fructus Immaturus30 g臣 DeputyBreaks up knotted qi and relieves focal distention 神Shen Qu神曲Massa Medica fermentata30 g臣 DeputyReduces stale, fermented food accumulation — one of the two added herbs 麦Mai Ya麦芽Hordei Fructus Germinatus30 g臣 DeputySpecific to grain and starch accumulation — the second added herb 荷He Ye荷叶Nelumbinis Foliumused to wrap the rice for forming the pills使 EnvoyLifts the clear yang of the Spleen, as in the parent formula

Indications

Strengthens the Spleen and reduces food accumulationBreaks up accumulation of grain and starchMoves stagnant qi and relieves focal distentionHarmonizes the Stomach

Spleen deficiency with clear food accumulation, the accumulation traceable to a specific excess of grain or starchy food rather than to a general weakness alone.

Clinical Manifestations

Fullness dating from a heavy grain or starch meal
Belching that smells of the food eaten
Loss of appetite after overeating
Chronic weak digestion with repeated food accumulation
Epigastric distention with a greasy coating

TonguePale with a thick, greasy white coating

PulseSlippery and weak

Health Categories

Digestive Health

Modern Applications

Functional dyspepsia Bloating Loss of appetite Chronic gastritis Indigestion

Common adjustments

Accumulation of meat and greasy food — add Shan Zha 山楂
Accumulation generating heat — bad breath, yellow coating — add a small amount of Huang Lian 黄连
Nausea and phlegm — add Ban Xia 半夏 and Chen Pi 陈皮
Marked qi deficiency — add Dang Shen 党参

Contraindications

Not for a hard, painful accumulation with constipation, which needs a guiding-out formula. Mai Ya in larger amounts is traditionally held to reduce breast milk, so it is avoided in women who are breastfeeding and wish to continue. Not appropriate in Stomach-yin deficiency with a red peeled tongue.

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

Pregnancy

Use in pregnancy only under a practitioner's supervision. Zhi Shi breaks qi and is traditionally restricted in pregnancy, and Mai Ya is classically used to reduce lactation, which makes the formula a poor choice late in pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

References

Source Yi Xue Zheng Chuan 《医学正传》 · Ming

《医学正传》(classical source, public domain) — the recorded variant of 枳术丸.
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.