Shi Pi Yin, Bolster the Spleen Decoction, is Zhi Fu Zi, Gan Jiang, Fu Ling, Bai Zhu, Mu Gua, Hou Po, Mu Xiang, Da Fu Pi, Cao Guo and Zhi Gan Cao. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that warm and transform water and Dampness.

Herb

Amount

30 g

30 g

30 g

30 g

30 g

30 g

30 g

30 g

30 g

15 g

Actions and indications

Warms Spleen and Kidney Yang

Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency with water overflowing: Yin-type, Cold edema
Cold limbs, no thirst and a liking for warmth
Tongue pale with a thick, greasy coat; pulse deep and slow, deep and thready, or submerged

Strengthens the Spleen

Poor appetite with semi-liquid, unformed stools
Fatigue with a pale or withered-looking complexion

Moves Qi and disperses fullness

Fullness and distention of the chest and abdomen
Heavy feeling in the body

Promotes urination

Chronic, severe, pitting edema over the whole body, worse below the waist, with the legs and ankles more swollen than the face
Scanty urine

Modern uses

Pitting edema
Cardiac edema
Anasarca
Ascites
Cirrhosis of the liver
Chronic hepatitis and chronic liver disease
Liver cancer
Chronic nephritis
Acute glomerulonephritis
Chronic glomerulonephritis
Nephrotic syndrome
Oliguria
Congestive heart failure
Rheumatic valvular heart disease
Palpitations
Dyspnea
Hypothyroidism
Chronic enteritis
Intestinal tuberculosis
Indigestion
Gastralgia
Anorexia
Abdominal fullness and distention
Tympanites
Hydramnios
Menopause
Paralysis
Low back pain
Fatigue

Modifications

Ascites from liver cirrhosis: + dang shen, + ze xie, + yu jin, + chen pi

Severe edema with little urine: + ze xie, + zhu ling

Qi deficiency: short of breath, tired, reluctant to talk: + dang shen, + huang qi

Qi deficiency (alternative): + dang shen, + huang qi, + bai zhu

Abdominal distention: + chen pi, + sha ren

Palpitations: + zhi fu zi, + long gu, + ci shi

Proteinuria: + lu xian cao, + qian shi

Painful distention over the liver: + qing pi, + san leng, + e zhu

Constipation: + qian niu zi

Tympanites: + gui zhi, − zhi gan cao

Diarrhea: + bing lang, − zhi gan cao

Fibromyalgia (combined with Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang; pattern unclear)

Show all 31 modifications

Fibromyalgia (combined with Qi Ju Di Huang Wan; pattern unclear)
Fibromyalgia (combined with Yan Nian Ban Xia Tang; pattern unclear)
Fibromyalgia (combined with Zuo Gui Wan; pattern unclear)
Fibromyalgia (combined with modified Ge Gen Tang; pattern unclear)
Fibromyalgia (combined with San Bi Tang; pattern unclear)
Ascites: + yu jin, + zhi ke, − cao guo
Ascites with scanty urination: + yu jin, + zhi ke, + rou gui, + zhu ling, − cao guo
Ascites with abdominal pain: + yu jin, + zhi ke, + qing pi, + xiang fu, + yan hu suo, − cao guo
Chronic glomerulonephritis: + che qian zi, + dong gua pi, + chi xiao dou, + cao guo, + sha ren, + bai dou kou, − mu gua
Chronic glomerulonephritis, very tired and weak: + che qian zi, + dong gua pi, + chi xiao dou, + cao guo, + sha ren, + bai dou kou, + huang qi, + dang shen, − mu gua
Chronic glomerulonephritis, Kidney deficiency more pronounced: + che qian zi, + dong gua pi, + chi xiao dou, + cao guo, + sha ren, + bai dou kou, + huai niu xi, + sang ji sheng, + yin yang huo, − mu gua
Chronic glomerulonephritis with nausea: + che qian zi, + dong gua pi, + chi xiao dou, + cao guo, + sha ren, + bai dou kou, + zhi ban xia, + chen pi, − mu gua
Chronic glomerulonephritis with bloating after meals, a swollen abdomen, rumbling and wind: + che qian zi, + dong gua pi, + chi xiao dou, + cao guo, + sha ren, + bai dou kou, + bing lang, + zhi shi, − mu gua
Chronic glomerulonephritis, Blood stagnation type: + che qian zi, + dong gua pi, + chi xiao dou, + cao guo, + sha ren, + bai dou kou, + ze lan, + yi mu cao, − mu gua
Paralysis from Cold-Damp: + bing lang, + cao dou kou, − da fu pi, − cao guo
Cold-Damp paralysis with severe edema and difficult urination: + bing lang, + cao dou kou, + zhu ling, + ze xie, − da fu pi, − cao guo
Cold-Damp paralysis, Spleen Qi markedly deficient: + bing lang, + cao dou kou, + huang qi, − da fu pi, − cao guo
Cold-Damp paralysis with very heavy, encumbered limbs: + bing lang, + cao dou kou, + cang zhu, − da fu pi, − cao guo
Liver cancer: + cao dou kou, + dang shen, + che qian zi, + ze xie, − mu gua, − cao guo, − zhi gan cao

Cautions

contraindication Yang-type edema from Damp-Heat or Wind-Water, or any swelling that shows Heat: fever, thirst, a rapid pulse, scanty dark urine, or a red tongue with yellow coat

caution Heat or Yin-deficiency patterns: avoid, or modify with care, since the hot and drying Fu Zi, Gan Jiang and Cao Guo can worsen thirst, a dry mouth and Heat

caution Fu Zi (aconite) is toxic unless properly processed and cooked long; the formula should be prepared only by or under a qualified practitioner

pregnancy Use in pregnancy only under professional guidance: Fu Zi, Da Fu Pi and Hou Po are strongly warming, Qi-moving and downward-draining

caution Edema of any cause should be medically assessed, to rule out heart, kidney or liver disease needing conventional care

Pinyin

shi pi yin

English Name

Bolster the Spleen Decoction

shi pi yin

About shi pi yin

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Warms Spleen and Kidney Yang

Strengthens the Spleen

Moves Qi and disperses fullness

Promotes urination

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification

Support