Xiang Sha Zhi Zhu Wan香砂枳术丸

Aucklandia and Amomum 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 木Mu Xiang木香Aucklandiae Radix30 g臣 DeputyMoves qi in the Spleen and Large Intestine and stops the aching — one of the two added herbs 砂Sha Ren砂仁Amomi Fructus30 g臣 DeputyAromatically transforms damp, warms the middle burner and settles nausea — 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 moves stagnant qiAromatically transforms damp and wakes the SpleenWarms the middle burner and stops abdominal painReduces food accumulation and focal distention

Spleen deficiency with qi stagnation and damp obstruction, tending to cold. Weak transport allows damp to settle, damp blocks the qi, and the resulting fullness aches rather than distends sharply.

Clinical Manifestations

Epigastric and abdominal fullness with dull aching pain
Poor appetite that worsens with cold or raw food
Distension relieved by warmth and gentle pressure
Nausea with a greasy white coating
Loose stools with abdominal discomfort

TonguePale with a white greasy coating

PulseSoft and weak, or slippery

Health Categories

Digestive Health

Modern Applications

Functional dyspepsia Chronic gastritis Bloating Abdominal pain Poor appetite

Common adjustments

Marked cold in the middle burner — add Gan Jiang 干姜 or Gao Liang Jiang 高良姜
Food accumulation as well — add Shen Qu 神曲 and Mai Ya 麦芽
Marked qi deficiency — add Dang Shen 党参 and Fu Ling 茯苓
Damp turning to heat — yellow greasy coating, bitter taste — reduce the warming herbs and add a small amount of Huang Lian 黄连

Contraindications

Not for damp-heat patterns with a yellow greasy coating, thirst and a bitter taste — the aromatic warming herbs would add to the heat. Not for yin deficiency with a red peeled tongue. Sha Ren is added late in a decoction because prolonged boiling destroys its aromatic action, and Zhi Shi breaks qi, so the formula is kept short where qi is sinking.

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

Pregnancy

Used in pregnancy only under a practitioner's supervision. Sha Ren has a long classical use for settling nausea and calming the fetus during pregnancy, but Zhi Shi breaks qi and Mu Xiang moves it strongly, and neither is self-prescribed while pregnant.

References

Classical variant of 枳术丸 recorded in later Ming and Qing formularies; no single source text is claimed here.
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.