Digestive Harmony Formula
Bao He Wan
Kan Traditionals
Transforms food stagnation, moves Middle Burner Qi, transforms Phlegm and supports Spleen
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- Herb: Chinese hawthorn fruit, Poria, Medicated leaven, Ginger cured pinellia rhizome, Radish seed, Tangerine dried rind of mature fruit, Forsythia fruit, White atractylodes rhizome, Dry fried barley sprout
- Herb (Pinyin): Shan zha, Fu ling, Shen qu, Jiang ban xia, Lai fu zi, Chen pi, Lian qiao, Bai zhu, Chao mai ya
- Pattern: Food stagnation, Qi stagnation in the Middle Burner
- Actions: Transform food stagnation, moves Middle Burner Qi, Transform Phlegm and support Spleen
- Indications: Supports a healthy digestive system, Occasional loose stools, Occasional bloating, distension, or discomfort, especially after large meals, Supports healthy digestion of fats, Supports healthy digestion of starch
- Contraindications: Strong Spleen Qi deficiency
- Tongue: Yellow, greasy tongue coat.
- Pulse: Slippery, full.
Digestive Harmony Formula (Bao He Wan) addresses food stagnation, an interior excess pattern. As food stagnates, so does the Qi of the Middle Burner. Frequently a deficiency of Spleen Qi is a precursor to food stagnation. Weakened Spleen Qi may occur due to frequent consumption of Damp producing foods such as sweet, greasy, heavy, or rich foods. The Stomach’s role is to control the receiving of food and drink, to hold them down, and to transport food essence all over the body.
When the Stomach’s ability to descend the food substance becomes impaired, the Stomach Qi begins to rebel upward.
The focus of this formula is to address occasional food stagnation and Qi stagnation of the Middle Burner. It harmonizes and descends the Stomach Qi, transforms Phlegm, and tonifies Spleen to support a healthy digestive system and the proper assimilation of food.
Chinese hawthorn fruit, the chief herb, strongly transforms and disperses food stagnation. It supports healthy digestive functions through dispersing food accumulation and is particularly useful for supporting healthy digestion of fats. Medicated leaven addresses food stagnation, harmonizes and protects the Stomach and supports healthy digestion. Radish seed supports the healthy digestion of heavy starch and breaks down Phlegm accumulation.
The combination of Tangerine dried rind of mature fruit, Ginger cured Pinellia rhizome and Poria comprise the body of Two Cured Decoction (Er Chen Tang), which is the foundational formula to transform Phlegm and address Qi stagnation in the Middle Burner. These herbs focus on reinforcing the smooth flow of Qi downward while simultaneously supporting the Spleen.
Dry fried Barley sprout, Chinese hawthorn fruit, Tangerine dried rind of mature fruit and Radish seed are a traditional combination to address food stagnation with occasional fullness and distension in the abdomen. As food stagnates, Heat can generate. A small amount of Forsythia fruit is added to clear any Heat from the constraint that might have been generated.
White atractylodes rhizome has been added to give more support to the Spleen and to mitigate the strongly moving nature of the formula. The modifications found in Digestive Harmony Formula increase the functionality of the formula, so that it can be taken for longer periods of time.
Digestive Harmony Formula, Stomach Support, Peaceful Earth, BupleurumSoothing Liver Formula and Wei Te Ling can all address occasional epigastric discomfort. Digestive Harmony Formula addresses excess patterns of food stagnation. Stomach Support addresses Stomach Fire with concurrent Stomach and Kidney Yin deficiency. Peaceful Earth addresses a pattern of food stagnation while simultaneously strengthening the Spleen Qi and expelling Wind. Bupleurum Soothing Liver Formula addresses excess patterns of Liver Qi stagnation. Wei Te Ling calms rebellious Stomach Qi and harmonizes and strengthens the Middle Burner.
As this formula addresses retention of food and descends Stomach Qi, it is primarily considered a branch formula. If more sustained support of Spleen Qi or Middle Burner Qi is desired, consider utilizing Four Gentlemen, Shen Ling Spleen Support or Prosperous Farmer from the Kan Herbals line.
ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT
This formula was first mentioned in the Essential Teachings of Zhu Dan-Xi in 1481 A.D.