ding xiang shi di tang

Clove and Persimmon Calyx Decoction

About ding xiang shi di tang

Ding Xiang Shi Di Tang, Clove and Persimmon Calyx Decoction, is Ding Xiang, Shi Di, Ren Shen and Sheng Jiang. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that direct rebellious Qi downward, and records it as warming the Middle Jiao and stopping hiccup.

Ingredients

Herb	Amount
ding xiang	6 g
shi di	6 g
ren shen	3 g
sheng jiang	6 g

Actions and indications

Warms the Middle Jiao and tonifies Stomach Qi

Deficiency Cold of the Stomach, with Yang deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach
Sallow or pale face, poor appetite, feeling chilled, mental tiredness, and limbs that feel cold, heavy and tired
Distention of the abdomen and epigastrium after meals, and cold epigastric pain that warmth relieves
Loose or watery stools with undigested food; shortness of breath
Possibly scanty urine with oedema, or a thin, watery vaginal discharge
Tongue pale with a thin white coat; pulse deep and weak, or deep and slow

Directs rebellious Qi downward and stops hiccup

Persistent, weak, low-pitched hiccup coming from deep down, worse with cold food or tiredness
Belching, acid regurgitation, nausea or vomiting
Stifling feeling in the epigastrium with focal distention in the chest

Modern uses

Hiccup, including persistent or intractable hiccup
Post-operative spasm of the diaphragm
Hiccup linked to chemotherapy
Morning sickness
Nausea and vomiting
Belching
Gastritis
Abdominal fullness and distention
Anorexia
Fatigue
Edema

Symptoms

Abdominal distention
Acid regurgitation
Aversion to cold
Belching
Chest fullness
Cold limbs
Edema
Epigastric distention
Epigastric pain
Fatigue
Heavy limbs
Hiccups
Loose stools
Pallor
Poor appetite
Preference for warmth
Sallow complexion
Scanty urination
Shortness of breath
Undigested food in stools
Vaginal discharge
Vomiting

Modifications

Stronger action: + chen pi, + zhu ru
Stronger Cold with Phlegm from Qi stagnation: + gao liang jiang, + chen xiang, + zhi ban xia
Persistent vomiting: + zhi ban xia, + fu ling
Heat: + huang lian, + zhu ru
Heat (alternative): + ju hong, + chen xiang, + zhi ban xia
Stagnant Qi and Phlegm: + chen pi, + zhi ban xia
Stronger Cold: + rou gui, + wu zhu yu
Stomach Cold with no Deficiency: − ren shen
Milder Cold: − sheng jiang
Nausea and vomiting: + zhi ke, + chai hu
Gastritis: + dang shen, + fu ling, + bai zhu, + gan cao, − ren shen

Cautions

contraindication Heat-type hiccup, which is loud and forceful with foul breath, a craving for cold drinks, yellow-coated red tongue and rapid pulse
contraindication Avoid or modify when stagnant Liver Qi has turned to Fire or when Yin-deficiency Fire is driving Qi upward, since the warmth of Ding Xiang adds to the Heat
caution Take care in severe collapse of Qi or Yang, or marked Yin deficiency after illness or childbirth, where its warm, drying herbs need careful balancing
caution Meant as a short course of days rather than weeks; reassess once the hiccup has stopped

Preparation

Decoction, strained and taken warm between meals in divided doses, in small frequent sips when hiccup is severe; Dang Shen is sometimes used instead of Ren Shen

Names

Pinyin	ding xiang shi di tang
English Name	Clove and Persimmon Calyx Decoction

Classification

Category: Direct Rebellious Qi Downward