Ping Wei San, Calm the Stomach Powder, is Cang Zhu, Hou Po, Chen Pi and Zhi Gan Cao. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that transform turbid Damp, and records it as harmonising the Stomach and moving Qi to relieve distension.

Herb

Amount

12 g

9 g

9 g

3 g

Actions and indications

Dries Damp and strengthens the Spleen

Damp stagnating in the Spleen and Stomach, an excess pattern, often Damp-Cold in the Middle Jiao
Cold-Damp afflicting the Spleen, or Spleen Damp disturbing the Lungs
Heaviness of the body and limbs, lethargy, tiring easily and a wish to lie down or sleep, especially after eating
Diarrhea or loose stools after eating
A sweet, pasty or sticky mouth, at times with much saliva
Bitter taste that persists
Cough with sputum, shortness of breath and fullness in the chest

Moves Qi and relieves distention

Fullness and distention of the epigastrium and abdomen, often worse after eating, felt as stuffiness rather than sharp pain
Rumbling in the intestines
Headache set off by strong smells

Harmonizes the Stomach and directs Qi downward

Poor appetite with no taste for food
Stomach Qi rising instead of descending: belching, sour regurgitation, nausea and vomiting
Tongue swollen, pale and tooth-marked, coat white, thick and greasy; pulse slippery, moderate or slow

Modern uses

Acute and chronic gastroenteritis
Chronic gastritis
Gastrointestinal neurosis
Functional gastric neurosis
Peptic ulcer
Infantile indigestion
Induction of labor (only under qualified medical supervision)
Gastrointestinal weakness
Obesity
Irritable bowel syndrome
Chronic hepatitis
Viral hepatitis
Premenstrual syndrome
Eczema
Reduced libido
Halitosis
Acid reflux
Stomach cancer
COPD
Somnolence
Narcolepsy
Food allergies
Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal fullness and distention
Impotence (erectile dysfunction)
Cholera
Hyperchlorhydria
Low back pain
Palpitations
Gastrectasis
Urticaria
Dyspnea
Bronchiectasis
Diabetes
Chlorosis
Intestinal obstruction
Chronic colitis
Colitis
Parasites
Coronary artery disease
Gastroptosis
Ascites
Chronic pancreatitis
Acute indigestion
Amenorrhea
Cervicitis
Pertussis
Cough
Bronchitis
Hypoglycemia
Candida
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Diarrhea
Food poisoning
Stomach flu
Anorexia
Fatigue
Headache
Abdominal pain during pregnancy
Cirrhosis of the liver

Symptoms

Abdominal distention

Acid regurgitation

Belching

Bitter taste in the mouth

Borborygmus

Chest fullness

Diarrhea

Epigastric distention

Excessive salivation

Fatigue

Headache

Heavy body

Heavy limbs

Loose stools

Loss of taste

Nausea

Poor appetite

Productive cough

Shortness of breath

Somnolence

Sticky sensation in the mouth

Sweet taste in the mouth

Vomiting

Modifications

Severe Damp-Cold with general coldness and pain: + rou gui, + gan jiang

Damp-Heat with a dry throat, bitter taste, no thirst and a yellow greasy tongue coat: + huang qin, + huang lian

Damp-Cold, other option: + rou gui, + gan jiang, + cao dou kou

Damp-Heat, other option: + huang lian, − zhi gan cao

Severe vomiting: + zhi ban xia

Food stagnation: + shen qu, + mai ya, + shan zha

Delayed labor or a dead fetus, with the same presentation: + mang xiao, + zhi shi

More Spleen deficiency with poor appetite and less fullness: + bai zhu, + huang qi, + shan yao, − cang zhu

Severe distention of the abdomen and epigastrium: + mu xiang, + sha ren

Chills and fever: + huo xiang, + zhi ban xia, + zi su ye

Severe diarrhea: + fu ling, + bai zhu, + ze xie

Chills alternating with fever: + chai hu, + huang qin

Show all 92 modifications

Constipation: + bing lang, + lai fu zi
Food stagnation with marked distention and constipation: + da fu pi, + lai fu zi, + zhi ke
Gallstones lodged in the bile duct: + yin chen hao, + zhi zi, + yu jin
Stuffiness and fullness of the chest and abdomen: + mu xiang, + zhi ke
Pain of the epigastrium and abdomen: + yan hu suo, + xiang fu
Poor appetite: + ren shen, + huang qi
Stomach flu: + huo xiang, + zhi ban xia
Diarrhea (alternatively, combined with Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Tang): + bai zhu, + yi yi ren, + bai bian dou
Diarrhea with blood: + huang lian
Diarrhea with mucus from Cold: + wu zhu yu
Diarrhea from Damp: + fu ling, + ze xie
Constipation, other option: + da huang, + mang xiao
Leukorrhea: + huang qi
Scanty urine: + fu ling, + ze xie
Edema and fluid retention: + sang bai pi
Hepatitis C with nausea, flatulence and little appetite, from weak Spleen Qi and Yang
Phlegm-Damp: + zhi ban xia, + fu ling
Add the formula Xiao Chai Hu Tang
Phlegm-Damp and marked bloating: + zhi ban xia, + fu ling, + zhi shi
Phlegm-Damp with Cold: + zhi ban xia, + fu ling, + rou gui, + gan jiang
Phlegm-Damp, constipation and retained food: + zhi ban xia, + fu ling, + lai fu zi, + da fu pi, + zhi shi
Phlegm-Damp with a foggy head: + zhi ban xia, + fu ling, + shi chang pu, + yuan zhi
Phlegm-Damp where the distention has not responded at first: + zhi ban xia, + fu ling, + jie geng, + xuan fu hua
Gastritis with more Damp: + zhi ban xia
Gastritis where Damp-Heat predominates: + huang lian, + zhu ru
Gastritis where Damp-Heat predominates, other option: + zhi ban xia, + fu ling, + jie geng, + zhi shi
Gastritis with Qi stagnation: + chao chai hu, + zhi xiang fu
Gastritis with internal Cold: + gao liang jiang
Gastritis with deficiency of the Middle Jiao: + dang shen, + bai zhu
Ulcerative colitis: + fang feng, + sheng ma, + dang shen, + huang qi, − chen pi, − zhi gan cao
Ulcerative colitis with blood in the stool: + fang feng, + sheng ma, + dang shen, + huang qi, + da huang tan, + jin yin hua tan, + di yu tan, − chen pi, − zhi gan cao
Gastritis with epigastric pain, using these herbs in place of Ping Wei San: + xiang fu, + gao liang jiang, + tan xiang, + dan shen, + fo shou, + wu yao, + bai he, + huang lian, + pu gong ying, + gan cao
Gastritis with epigastric pain and Qi deficiency, in place of Ping Wei San: + xiang fu, + gao liang jiang, + tan xiang, + dan shen, + fo shou, + wu yao, + bai he, + huang lian, + pu gong ying, + gan cao, + huang qi, + ren shen
Gastritis with epigastric pain and Cold, in place of Ping Wei San: + xiang fu, + gao liang jiang, + tan xiang, + dan shen, + fo shou, + wu yao, + bai he, + pu gong ying, + gan cao, + gui zhi, + bai shao
Gastritis with epigastric pain and fullness, in place of Ping Wei San: + xiang fu, + gao liang jiang, + tan xiang, + dan shen, + fo shou, + wu yao, + bai he, + huang lian, + pu gong ying, + gan cao, + zi su geng, + xiang yuan
Gastritis with epigastric pain and Blood stasis, in place of Ping Wei San: + xiang fu, + gao liang jiang, + tan xiang, + dan shen, + fo shou, + wu yao, + bai he, + huang lian, + pu gong ying, + gan cao, + e zhu
Gastritis with epigastric pain and Yin deficiency, in place of Ping Wei San: + xiang fu, + bai shao, + shi hu, + tan xiang, + dan shen, + fo shou, + wu yao, + bai he, + huang lian, + pu gong ying, + gan cao
Gastritis with epigastric pain and Yin deficiency, other option in place of Ping Wei San: + xiang fu, + gao liang jiang, + tan xiang, + dan shen, + fo shou, + wu yao, + bai he, + huang lian, + pu gong ying, + gan cao
Peptic ulcer: + bai shao, + huang lian, + wu zhu yu
Anorexia: + fu ling, + zhi ke, + ji nei jin
Combined with Shi Xiao San
Impotence: + shu di huang, + rou gui, + zhi fu zi, + jiu cai zi
Impotence with low libido: + shu di huang, + rou gui, + zhi fu zi, + jiu cai zi, + yin yang huo
Impotence after a long illness: + shu di huang, + rou gui, + zhi fu zi, + jiu cai zi, + hong hua, + wu gong
Impotence with Yin deficiency: + shu di huang, + rou gui, + zhi fu zi, + jiu cai zi, + gou qi zi, + dang gui
Impotence with seminal emission: + shu di huang, + rou gui, + zhi fu zi, + jiu cai zi, + long gu, + mu li
Impotence with Damp in the genital area: + shu di huang, + rou gui, + zhi fu zi, + jiu cai zi, + huang bai
Impotence with insomnia and palpitations: + shu di huang, + rou gui, + zhi fu zi, + jiu cai zi, + suan zao ren
Impotence with low energy and poor appetite: + shu di huang, + rou gui, + zhi fu zi, + jiu cai zi, + dang shen
Impotence with a congested chest, rib-side pain, restlessness and anger: + shu di huang, + rou gui, + zhi fu zi, + jiu cai zi, + xiang fu
Impotence with painful or difficult urination: + shu di huang, + jiu cai zi, + xiang fu, + huang bai, + bai mao gen
Stomach cancer with bloating and fullness due to stagnant Qi: + huo xiang, + sha ren
Candida, chronic fatigue, food allergies, low blood sugar, narcolepsy or drowsiness: + shi chang pu, + mu xiang
The same conditions with a muzzy headache and poor concentration: + shi chang pu, + mu xiang, + yuan zhi
The same conditions with nausea: + shi chang pu, + mu xiang, + zhi ban xia
The same conditions with Cold: + shi chang pu, + mu xiang, + gan jiang, + rou gui
The same conditions with Heat: + shi chang pu, + mu xiang, + huang qin, + zhi zi, + tong cao, + yi yi ren, − huo xiang
The same conditions with Spleen deficiency: + shi chang pu, + mu xiang, + huang qi, + bai zhu, + shan yao
Diarrhea with severe Cold and cramping abdominal pain eased by warmth: + gan jiang, + gao liang jiang
Diarrhea with nausea: + zhi ban xia
Diarrhea with food stagnation, bloating and indigestion: + shen qu, + shan zha, + chao lai fu zi
Diarrhea along with sour regurgitation or reflux: + huang lian, + wu zhu yu
Diarrhea with Qi stagnation: + xiang fu, + mu xiang, + fo shou
Diarrhea with tenesmus: + mu xiang, + sha ren
Ascites (combined with Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang): + chi shao, − bai shao, − zhi gan cao
Ascites with scanty urine (combined with Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang): + chi shao, + che qian zi, + ze xie, − bai shao, − zhi gan cao
Ascites with vomiting of clear watery fluid (combined with Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang): + chi shao, + zhi ban xia, + gan jiang, − bai shao, − zhi gan cao
Ascites with severe abdominal distention (combined with Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang): + chi shao, + mu xiang, + bing lang, + sha ren, − bai shao, − zhi gan cao
Ascites with Spleen deficiency (combined with Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang): + chi shao, + fu ling, + bai zhu, + dang shen, − bai shao
Ascites with Cold (combined with Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang): + chi shao, + zhi fu zi, + gan jiang, − bai shao, − zhi gan cao
Ascites with Heat (combined with Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang): + chi shao, + zhi zi, − bai shao, − zhi gan cao
Ascites with constipation (combined with Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang): + chi shao, + da huang, − bai shao, − zhi gan cao
Chronic pancreatitis: + bai zhu, + fu ling, + dang shen
Poor appetite from Spleen deficiency: + cang zhu, + bai zhu, + chao shan yao, + zhì huáng qí
Poor appetite with Wind-Cold: + rou gui, + gan jiang
Poor appetite with a foggy head: + shi chang pu
Urticaria: + bai zhu, + chi fu ling, + ze xie, + fang feng, + cang er zi, + ku shen
Acute infectious hepatitis with Heat and Damp in equal measure (combined with Yin Chen Wu Ling San)
Diabetes with accumulated Damp (combined with Qi Wei Bai Zhu San): + chai hu, + xiang fu
Marked Qi stagnation with pain (Xiang Sha Ping Wei San): + mu xiang, + sha ren

Cautions

contraindication Not suited to Spleen and Stomach Qi or Yin deficiency without marked Damp; with Yin or Blood deficiency, change the formula substantially before use

contraindication Avoid or modify when there are signs of dryness or Heat, such as thirst, a dry mouth, a red tongue with scant or no coat, or a rapid pulse

contraindication Avoid or modify in Damp-Heat stagnation, since its warm herbs can feed the Heat

caution Its strongly acrid, bitter and warm herbs can damage fluids or worsen Heat when used for the wrong pattern

caution Meant for short courses: stop or change it once the Damp has cleared, as continued use can dry up fluids and weaken Spleen Qi

pregnancy Use with caution in pregnancy and only under professional guidance, as Hou Po and Cang Zhu move Qi and Damp strongly

Pinyin

ping wei san

English Name

Calm the Stomach Powder

ping wei san

About ping wei san

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Dries Damp and strengthens the Spleen

Moves Qi and relieves distention

Harmonizes the Stomach and directs Qi downward

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification

Support