Xiao Jian Zhong Tang小建中汤
Minor Construct the Middle Decoction
Ingredients6 herbs
Indications
Deficiency-cold of the middle burner with yin and yang out of balance: the Spleen and Stomach can no longer generate qi and blood, so the abdomen cramps and the whole body is undernourished. The strategy is construction rather than direct warming — rebuild the source and the cold resolves along with it.
Clinical Manifestations
- Intermittent cramping abdominal pain that likes warmth and pressure
- Chronic gastric or duodenal ulcer pain of the deficiency-cold type
- Fatigue with palpitations and restlessness in a thin, pale patient
- Recurrent abdominal pain in children
- Consumptive patterns with cold limbs yet warm palms and soles
Health Categories
Modern Applications
Common adjustments
- Marked qi deficiency with spontaneous sweating — add Huang Qi 黄芪 — Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang 黄芪建中汤
- Blood deficiency or postpartum abdominal pain — add Dang Gui 当归 — Dang Gui Jian Zhong Tang 当归建中汤
- Cold predominant with clear watery vomiting — add Gan Jiang 干姜 or Wu Zhu Yu 吴茱萸
- Qi stagnation with distension rather than cramp — add Chen Pi 陈皮 or Mu Xiang 木香
- Damp accumulating, coating turning greasy — reduce or omit Yi Tang 饴糖 and add Fu Ling 茯苓
Contraindications
The source text itself warns that a construct-the-middle formula should not be given to someone who is vomiting, precisely because it is sweet. Also avoid it in damp-heat or food stagnation with a thick greasy coating and abdominal fullness, and in yin-deficiency heat with a red peeled tongue. Yi Tang is malt sugar, so the formula needs care in poorly controlled diabetes. New, severe or persistent abdominal pain should be investigated conventionally before being treated as a deficiency pattern.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.
Pregnancy
Generally compatible with pregnancy under practitioner supervision — it contains no herb traditionally forbidden in pregnancy — but abdominal pain while pregnant must be clinically assessed rather than self-treated.
Related Formulas
References
Source Shang Han Lun 《伤寒论》 · Eastern Han
「伤寒，阳脉涩，阴脉弦，法当腹中急痛，先与小建中汤。」
- 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.
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.