Zhi Zhu Wan, Immature Bitter Orange and Atractylodes Macrocephala Pill, pairs Bai Zhu with Zhi Shi. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that reduce food stagnation, and records it as strengthening the Spleen while reducing focal distension.

Herb

Amount

bai zhu

12 g

zhi shi

6 g

Actions and indications

Strengthens the Spleen

Spleen Qi deficiency with food and Qi stagnation: a weak Spleen that cannot move food, rather than overeating with strong digestion
Poor appetite, tiredness and a tendency to loose stools
Often seen in convalescence, chronic illness, or elderly and weak patients
Tongue with a white coat, or a greasy yellow coat; pulse deficient, or slippery

Reduces focal distension and moves food stagnation

Focal distension of the chest, epigastrium and abdomen, often worse after eating, without much pain
Acid regurgitation

Modern uses

Functional dyspepsia
Obesity
Chronic gastritis
Anorexia
Gastroptosis
Gastroenteritis
Acid reflux
Urticaria
Indigestion
Indigestion in children
Chronic colitis
Peptic ulcer
Cholecystitis
Abdominal fullness and distension
Chronic hepatitis
Rectal prolapse

Modifications

General debility: + dang shen, + fu ling

Prolapse or ptosis (combined with Sheng Xian Tang)

Gastroptosis (combined with Sheng Xian Tang): + dan shen, + sha ren

Uterine prolapse (combined with Sheng Xian Tang): + wu yao, + dang gui

Rectal prolapse

Diarrhoea (combined with Sheng Xian Tang): + fu ling, + yi yi ren, + shi liu pi

Marked food stagnation: + shen qu, + shan zha, + mai ya

Indigestion in children: + chen pi, + gu ya, + mai ya

Damp stagnation from weak Spleen Qi: + zhi ban xia, + hua ju hong

Spleen Yang deficiency: + sha ren, + mu xiang

Urticaria: + sha ren, + chen pi, + jing jie, + fang feng, + xiang fu, + wu yao, + mu xiang

Cautions

contraindication Not suited to pure excess food stagnation in a strong digestion, where a stronger formula for reducing stagnation is used instead

contraindication Not for Heat or Damp-Heat food stagnation, which needs formulas that also clear Heat

contraindication Not for Spleen and Stomach deficiency Cold or Yin deficiency when there is no Qi stagnation

pregnancy Zhi Shi breaks Qi and moves downward strongly; use with caution in pregnancy and usually avoid

caution Avoid raw, cold and stimulating foods during treatment

Pinyin

zhi zhu wan

English Name

Immature Bitter Orange and Atractylodes Macrocephala Pill

zhi zhu wan

About zhi zhu wan

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Strengthens the Spleen

Reduces focal distension and moves food stagnation

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification