The source is from the immature fruit of Citrus aurantium L., or Citrus wilsonii Tanaka, family Rutaceae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in the provinces of Sichuan, Jiangxi, Fujian, and Zhejiang, etc., collected during the period of May and June, dried in the sun, the crude or the one stir-baked with bran can be used.

Medicinal Properties Bitter and pungent in flavor, slightly cold in nature and attributive to the spleen, stomach and large intestine meridians.

Actions Break stagnation of qi and remove food retention, resolve phlegm and eliminate mass.

Application

1. It is indicated for the treatment of indigestion, constipation due to accumulation of heat and dysentery. For indigestion and fullness and pain in the chest and up-per abdomen, it is used together with Shanzha (Fructus Crataegi), Maiya ( Fructus Hordei Geminatus ), and Shenqu ( Massa Medicata Fermentata), etc.; for constipation due to accumulation of heat, abdominal mass, and fullness and pain in the epigastrium, it can be combined with Houpo (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis ), Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei ) , Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas), such as Da Chengqi Tang (Decoction); for stagnation of dampness and heat with dysentery and tenesmus, combined with Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei), Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis), and Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae), etc., such as Zhishi Daozhi Wan (Pill).

2. It is used for turbid phlegm obstructing qi activity with fullness in the chest and epigastrium. For the syndrome due to deficiency of stomach-yang and accumulation of cold-phlegm, it can be combined with Xiebai (Bulbus Allii Macrostemi ), Guizhi ( Rarnulus Cinnamomi ), and Gualou (Fructus Trichosanthis), etc., such as Zhi-shi Xiebai Guizhi Tang (Decoction); for stagnation of dampness-phlegm in the middle energizer, fullness in the epigastric abdomen, poor appetite, combined with Houpo (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis ), Banxia ( Rhizoma Pinelliae ) , and Baizhu ( Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), etc., such as Zhishi Xiaopi Wan (Pill).

In addition, it can be used to treat gastroptosis, pro-lapse of rectum and uterus, etc., but it must be combined with Chaihu ( Radix Bupleuri ), Shengma ( Rhizoma Cimicifugae), and Huangqi (Radix Astragali), etc. in order to get good therapeutic effect, and it has the action of raising blood pressure as well.

Usage and Dosage 3 - 10 g is used in decoction for oral use and a large dosage is 15 g.

Notes It is used with caution in the cases with deficiency of the spleen and stomach and pregnant women.

Explanation Zhike (Fructus Aurantii) is nearly mature fruit of Citrus aurantium L., which is collected in autumn and removed of the pulp, the stir-baked with bran for medication or the crude being used. Its nature and flavor, meridian tropism, actions and administration are the same as Zhishi ( Fructus Aurantii Immaturus), yet it has less powerful effect. It is mainly used to regulate qi, comfort the middle energizer and relieve distention.

Xiebai Bulbus Alli Macrostemi

The source is from the bulb of Allium maerostemon Bunge, family Liliaceae. The medicinal material is produced in all parts of China, collected in both summer and autumn, dried in the sun and the crude form can be used.

Medicinal Properties Pungent and bitter in flavor, warm in nature and attributive to the lung, stomach and large intestine meridians.

Actions Activate yang and disperse lumps, promote qi circulation and relieve the stagnation.

Application

1. It is used to treat turbid phlegm and thoracic fullness due to deficiency of thoracic yang. It is characterized by its dispersing, descending and warming actions and can be used to disperse accumulation of cold and activate dispersing function of yang in the chest. Therefore, it is used every time together with Gualou (Fructus Trichosanthis) that resolves phlegm and disperses accumulation and regulate flow of qi, such as Gualou Xiebai Baijiu Tang (Decoction) and Gualou Xiebai Banxia Tang (Decoction) for the above syndrome with blood stasis marked by stabbing pain in the epigastrium, Danshen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae), Honghua ( Flos Carthami ), and Chishaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra ), etc., are added to the combinations.

2. For qi stagnation in the stomach and intestine manifested as dysentery with tenesmus, it is used in combination with Muxiang (Radix Aucklandiae), Baishaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Alba ) , and Zhishi (Fructus Aurantii Immaturus), etc.; for dysentery due to dampness and heat, with Huangbai ( Cortex Phellodendri ) and Qinpi (Cortex Fraxini).

Usage and Dosage 5 - 10 g is used in decoction for oral use.

Notes The herb is not suitable for the cases with deficiency of qi but no stagnation, weakness of the stomach with loss of appetite and being unable to bear the smell of garlics.

The source is from the root tuber of Lindera strychnifolia (Sieb. et Zucc. ) Will., family Lauraceae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in the areas of Zhejiang, Anhui, and Jiangxi, etc., collected all year round, dried in the sun. The crude or the one stir-baked with bran is used for medication.

Medicinal Properties Pungent in flavor, warm in nature and attributive to the lung, spleen, kidney and bladder meridians.

Actions Promote the circulation of qi to relieve pain, and warm the kidney to disperse cold.

Application

1. It is indicated for stagnation of cold and qi manifested as oppression and pain in the chest, fullness and pain in the epigastrium, hernia of cold type and dysmenorrhea. For oppression in the chest and hypochondriac pain, it is combined with Xiebai ( Bulbus Allii Macrostemi ), Gualoupi ( Pericarpium Trichosanthis ), Yujin ( Radix Curcumae ), and Yanhusuo ( Rhizoma Corydalis ) , etc. ; for distension and pain in the epigastrium, combined with Muxiang ( Radix Aucklandiae ), Wuzhuyu ( Fructus Evodiae), and Zhike (Fructus Aurantii), etc. ; for hernia of cold type and low abdominal pain involving testis, combined with Xiaohuixiang ( Fructus Foeniculi ), Muxiang ( Radix Aucklandiae ), Gaoliangjiang ( Rhizoma Alpiniae Officinarum ) and others that disperse cold, circulate qi and relieve pain, such as Tiantai Wuyao San (Powder) ; for abdominal pain during menstruation, it can also be used together with Xiangfu (Rhizoma Cyperi), Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis ), and Muxiang (Radix Aucklandiae), etc. to regulate flow of qi and blood, such as Wuyao Tang (Decoction).

2. For insufficiency of kidney-yang, frequent urination and enuresis due to deficiency and coldness of the bladder, it is usually used in combination with Yizhiren (Fructus Alpiniae Oxyphyllae ) and Shanyao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae), such as Suoquan Wan (Pill).

Usage and Dosage 3 - 10 g is used in decoction for oral use.