Li Zhong Wan, Regulate the Middle Pill, is Gan Jiang, Ren Shen, Bai Zhu and Zhi Gan Cao. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that warm the Middle and dispel Cold, and records it as warming the Middle Jiao and tonifying the Qi of Spleen and Stomach.

Herb

Amount

9 g

9 g

9 g

9 g

Actions and indications

Warms the Middle Jiao and dispels Cold

Yang deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach with interior Cold: watery diarrhoea, often with undigested food, poor appetite and cold abdominal pain that likes warmth and pressure
Nausea and vomiting, worse for cold food or drink; no thirst, or a wish for small sips of warm drinks
Fullness of the abdomen or epigastrium that likes pressure, and epigastric pain
Cold in the Stomach or Small Intestine; Tai Yin deficiency with abdominal pain
Cold in the chest while recovering from long illness, with spitting of fluids or drooling of frothy saliva
Painful obstruction of the chest from Upper Jiao Yang deficiency: chest fullness and pain, rib pain radiating toward the Heart, a hard focal distension below the Heart
Sudden turmoil disorder without thirst
Tongue pale, possibly moist, with a white coat or none; pulse deep, slow and weak, deep and thin, or large and weak

Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach and tonifies Qi

Weak digestion with tiredness, lassitude, shortness of breath, a pale face and wasting
Aversion to cold and possibly cold limbs; body aches, sometimes headache with fever
Frequent urination, or scanty urine with oedema; insomnia
Loss of Blood from Spleen Yang deficiency, the blood pale: nosebleed, vomiting or coughing of blood, blood in the stool or rectal bleeding, uterine bleeding or heavy periods, chronic bleeding
Chronic convulsions in children

Modern uses

Acute or chronic gastritis
Acute or chronic gastroenteritis
Gastric weakness
Gastric or duodenal ulcers
Gastroptosis
Gastrectasis
Dyspepsia
Acid reflux
Hiccups
Nausea and vomiting
AIDS/HIV-related vomiting
Morning sickness
Irritable bowel syndrome
Enteritis
Colitis
Chronic colitis
Ulcerative colitis
Crohn's disease
Celiac disease
Diarrhea
Bacterial dysentery
Chronic bacillary dysentery
Cholera
Sudden turmoil disorder
Tapeworm
Candidiasis
Thrush
Stomatitis
Oral herpes
Excessive salivation
Abdominal pain
Abdominal fullness and distention
Anorexia
Intestinal bleeding
Hemorrhoidal bleeding
Hematemesis
Hemoptysis
Epistaxis
Functional uterine bleeding
Menorrhagia
Post-menopausal uterine bleeding
Endometriosis
Vaginal discharge
Mild labor pains
Male infertility
Anemia
Fatigue
Weakness
Chronic bronchitis
Asthma
Dyspnea
Sneezing with a common cold
Obstruction of the chest
Angina pectoris
Stroke
Headache
Insomnia
Neurasthenia
Alzheimer's disease
Myasthenia gravis
Vomiting with fright in children
Chronic childhood convulsions
Neonatal jaundice
Nephropathy
Chronic glomerulonephritis
Polycystic kidneys
Renal tuberculosis
Diabetic nephropathy
Diabetes
Oliguria
Polyuria
Edema
Obesity
Hypothyroidism
Hepatitis C
Cirrhosis of the liver
Stomach cancer
Breast cancer
AIDS/HIV
Intoxication
Low back pain
Knee pain
Shoulder ache
Chilled feet

Symptoms

Abdominal distention

Abdominal pain

Absence of thirst

Aversion to cold

Bleeding

Blood in stools

Body aches

Chest fullness

Chest pain

Cold limbs

Diarrhea

Edema

Emaciation

Epigastric distention

Epigastric pain

Epistaxis

Excessive salivation

Fatigue

Fever

Frequent urination

Headache

Hematemesis

Hemoptysis

Hypochondriac pain

Indigestion

Insomnia

Menorrhagia

Metrorrhagia

Nausea

Pain relieved by pressure

Pallor

Poor appetite

Preference for warm drinks

Preference for warmth

Scanty urination

Shortness of breath

Undigested food in stools

Vomiting

Modifications

Severe vomiting: + sheng jiang, + ding xiang, − bai zhu

Frequent diarrhoea: + rou dou kou, + he zi

Palpitations: + fu ling

Qi stagnation together with deficiency Cold: + qing pi, + chen pi

Cold limbs with abdominal pain and vomiting: + zhi fu zi

Spoiled food causing abdominal pain, diarrhoea and sour regurgitation, with a red tongue and white coat: + huang lian

Alternative for the spoiled-food presentation: + rou gui

Upset Stomach with vomiting: + zhi ban xia, + sheng jiang, + bai dou kou, + ding xiang

Oedema: + fu ling, + ze xie

Common cold in someone with deficiency Cold of the Spleen and Stomach: + zhi gan cao, + gui zhi

Retained Phlegm with vomiting from Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency: + zhi ban xia, + fu ling

Worms vomited, from deficiency Cold of the Spleen and Stomach: + chuan jiao, + wu mei, + fu ling, − zhi gan cao

Show all 100 modifications

Middle Jiao fullness and distension: + wu zhu yu, + ding xiang, + gao liang jiang
Severe diarrhoea: + shan yao, + bai bian dou, + fu ling
Blood loss from Yang deficiency: + e jiao, + ai ye, + lu jiao jiao
Chest pain: + dan shen, + gua lou, + yu jin, + zhi ke
Convulsions in infants: + gou teng, + bai jiang can, + tian ma
Leukorrhoea from a weak, Cold Spleen with Damp: + tu si zi, + lu jiao shuang, + shan yao, + fu ling, + chao yi ren, + sheng mu li
Severe abdominal pain from deficiency Cold: + zhi fu zi, + rou gui
Abdominal fullness with reduced eating: + shen qu, + hou po
Nausea and vomiting from Cold in the Stomach: + ding xiang, + shi di
Qi stagnation: + zhi shi, + fu ling
Alternative listed after the Qi stagnation entry: + sheng jiang, + wu zhu yu, − bai zhu
Bleeding from Yang deficiency: + pao jiang, + huang qi, + dang gui, + e jiao, − gan jiang
Pulsation above the navel from Kidney deficiency with Water surging upward: + gui zhi, − bai zhu
Vomiting of clear fluid: + bai zhu
Alternative listed after the clear-fluid vomiting entry: + e jiao, + san qi, + ce bai ye
Stronger Cold from Kidney, Spleen and Stomach deficiency, with cold limbs and daybreak diarrhoea containing undigested food: + zhi fu zi, + rou gui
Worsening cough: + zhi ban xia, + chen pi, + xi xin, + wu wei zi
Yin-type jaundice: + yin chen
Wheezing, fullness, oedema and scanty urine (combined with Wu Ling San)
Epigastric pain, including with Qi deficiency: + huang qi, + fu ling, + chen pi, + cao dou kou
Epigastric pain with Cold: + huang qi, + fu ling, + chen pi, + cao dou kou, + rou gui, + zhi fu zi
Epigastric pain with Damp: + huang qi, + fu ling, + chen pi, + cao dou kou, + cang zhu, + bai bian dou
Epigastric pain with stagnation: + huang qi, + fu ling, + chen pi, + cao dou kou, + dan shen, + yan hu suo, + chuan lian zi
Yin-deficient epigastric pain: + huang qi, + fu ling, + chen pi, + cao dou kou, + bei sha shen, + bai shao, + shan yao, + chuan lian zi
Bacterial dysentery: + huang lian, + fu ling
Renal insufficiency (combined with Da Huang Gan Cao Tang)
Male infertility (combined with Ba Wei Di Huang Wan)
Excess salivation: + dang shen, + yi zhi ren, − ren shen
Long-standing excess salivation with poor appetite and loose stools: + dang shen, + yi zhi ren, + sha ren, + ji nei jin, − ren shen
Worms in the intestines causing belly pain and much saliva: + wu mei, + shi jun zi, + chuan jiao, − ren shen, − zhi gan cao
Stomatitis with marked Spleen deficiency: + dang shen, − ren shen
Stomatitis with Cold: + rou gui
Stomatitis with Heat: + huang lian
Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency (combined with Si Shen Wan): − sheng jiang, − da zao
Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency with marked abdominal pain (combined with Si Shen Wan): + chao xiao hui xiang, + gao liang jiang, − sheng jiang, − da zao
Unrelenting diarrhoea in the elderly or gravely ill, possibly with haemorrhoids or rectal prolapse, once no pathogen remains (combined with Si Shen Wan): + zhì huáng qí, + he zi, + chi shi zhi, − sheng jiang, − da zao
Marked Cold in Spleen-Kidney Yang deficiency (combined with Si Shen Wan): + zhi fu zi, − sheng jiang, − da zao
Heavy menstrual bleeding from Phlegm-fluids: + fu ling, + chen pi, + zhi ban xia, + cang zhu, + dang gui, + bai shao, + zhi tian nan xing, − gan jiang
Combined with Si Shen Wan, listed after the menorrhagia entry: + lu rong, − sheng jiang, − da zao
Severe abdominal pain: + gui zhi, + bai shao
Abdominal pain with diarrhoea: + fu ling, + huang qi, + sheng ma
Stomach cancer (combined with anti-cancer herbs)
Stomach cancer, alternative prescription: + ren shen, + bai zhu, + gan jiang, + gao liang jiang, + wu zhu yu, + ding xiang, + shi di, + tan xiang, + rou gui, + zhi fu zi, + he zi
Deficiency-type vomiting (combined with Xiao Ban Xia Tang): + dai zhe shi, + sha ren
Stomach cancer with vomiting: + zhu ru, + qiu kui, + ding xiang, + sheng jiang
Stomach cancer with thirst: + shi hu, + huang jing, + tian hua fen, + mai men dong, + nan sha shen, + wu mei, + wu wei zi
Stomach cancer with excess saliva: + zhi ban xia, + fu shi
Distended abdomen in stomach cancer: + bing lang, + hou po, + zhi ke, + bing lang tan, + lai fu zi
Stomach cancer with pain: + chai hu, + mu xiang, + xiang fu, + bai shao, + mu bie zi, + bai qu cai
Loose stools in stomach cancer: + zhi yi yi ren, + cang zhu, + er cha, + shan yao, + he zi
Dry stools in stomach cancer: + huo ma ren, + yu li ren, + da huang, + mang xiao, + gua lou, + rou cong rong, + yáng tí
Stomach cancer with vomiting of blood (combined with Yunnan Bai Yao): + san qi, + xian he cao, + xue yu tan, + ou jie, + mo han lian
Stomach cancer with blood in the stool: + xian he cao, + san qi, + huai hua mi, + zong lu pi (tan)
Stomach cancer with anaemia: + dang gui, + ji xue teng, + e jiao, + dan shen, + jing tian san qi, + zi he che
Neonatal jaundice: + yin chen hao
Kidney Yang deficiency in stomach cancer: + rou gui, + bu gu zhi, + yin yang huo
Candidiasis, stomatitis or thrush oesophagitis from Damp-Heat in the Middle Jiao: + huang lian, + long dan cao
Nausea and vomiting: + zhi ban xia, + chen pi, + fu ling
Vomiting of watery fluid: + wu zhu yu, + zào xīn tŭ
Vomiting of thin, frothy watery mucus: + gui zhi, + wu zhu yu
Morning sickness, with the formula at lower dosage: + huo xiang, + zhu ru
Bloating with nausea and vomiting: + mu xiang, + sha ren
Nausea and vomiting with cold limbs and aversion to cold: + zhi fu zi, + rou gui
Food stagnation causing nausea and vomiting: + chao shan zha, + chao shen qu
Nausea and vomiting with a foggy head or drowsiness: + yuan zhi, + shi chang pu
Heartburn or reflux alongside nausea and vomiting: + huang lian, + wu zhu yu
Nausea and vomiting with heavy Damp: + huo xiang, + pei lan
Myasthenia gravis from Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency: + shu di huang, + ba ji tian, + shan yao, + huang qi, + zhi fu zi, + shan zhu yu
Loose stools in myasthenia gravis of Spleen-Kidney Yang deficiency type: + shu di huang, + ba ji tian, + shan yao, + huang qi, + zhi fu zi, + shan zhu yu, + pao jiang
Severe or long-standing myasthenia gravis from Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency: + shu di huang, + ba ji tian, + shan yao, + huang qi, + zhi fu zi, + shan zhu yu, + zi he che, + lu jiao jiao
Stroke (combined with Sheng Mai San): + zhi fu zi, + tao ren, + hong hua
Hepatitis C (combined with Si Shen Wan)
Hepatitis C with marked Qi deficiency and lasting diarrhoea (combined with Si Shen Wan): + huang qi, + chen pi, + sheng ma, + chai hu
Hepatitis C with marked Yang deficiency (combined with Si Shen Wan): + zhi fu zi
Hepatitis C with weak, painful low back and knees (combined with Si Shen Wan): + xu duan, + gou ji
Hepatitis C with scanty urine and oedema (combined with Si Shen Wan): + gui zhi, + ze xie, + che qian zi
Hepatitis C with pain over the liver (combined with Si Shen Wan): + chi shao, + dan shen, + chai hu
Hepatitis C with marked Kidney Yang deficiency (combined with Si Shen Wan): + shu di huang, + shan yao, + shan zhu yu, + sha ren, + zhi fu zi
Hiccups: + wu zhu yu, + ding xiang
Kidney Yang deficiency hiccups: + zhi fu zi, + rou gui
Hiccups with food stagnation: + chen pi, + mai ya
Laboured breathing and difficult swallowing with oedema, cold limbs and diarrhoea: + zhi fu zi, + gui zhi
Post-menopausal uterine bleeding (combined with You Gui Wan)
Post-menopausal uterine bleeding with diarrhoea (combined with You Gui Wan): + rou dou kou, − dang gui
Post-menopausal uterine bleeding with frequent urination (combined with You Gui Wan): + sang piao xiao
Bacillary dysentery: + dang shen, + rou gui, + rou dou kou, + mu gua, + chi shi zhi, + shi liu pi, − ren shen
Alternative combination with You Gui Wan: + yin yang huo, + xian mao, + fu pen zi, − zhi fu zi, − rou gui
AIDS/HIV-related vomiting: + zhi ban xia, + chen pi, + ding xiang, + wu zhu yu

Cautions

contraindication An exterior condition not yet resolved, such as an external Wind attack with fever: warming and tonifying can trap the pathogen

contraindication Yin deficiency, especially with Heat signs

contraindication Diarrhoea or vomiting of a Heat or Damp-Heat type, which its warm, drying nature would worsen

caution In sudden turmoil disorder, stop the formula once the vomiting and diarrhoea have ceased

pregnancy Use with care during pregnancy

Pinyin

li zhong wan

English Name

Regulate the Middle Pill

li zhong wan

About li zhong wan

Ingredients