BLACK PEARL BP020 SHEN LING BAI ZHU SAN GINSENG & ATRACTYLODES

SHEN LING BAI ZHU SAN
參苓白朮散
Ginseng & Atractylodes Formula
Product Code: BP020

TCM Actions
Tonifies the Spleen Qi, harmonises the middle Jiao, drains Damp and alleviates diarrhoea.

Indications
Chronic gastroenteritis, chronic ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, gastritis, duodenitis, anemia, malabsorption syndrome, malnutrition, leucorrhoea, peptic ulcer disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, general debility, diabetes mellitus, side effects of chemotherapy.

Dosage & Course Of Treatment
8 pills, 3 times daily, half to one hour away from food.

Course of treatment: 3 – 6 months.

Suitable for long term use.

Signs and Syndromes
Spleen-Stomach Qi deficiency Stagnation of Damp in the middle Jiao

Loose stools or diarrhoea

Poor appetite and digestion

Weight loss or emaciation with inability to gain weight

Fatigue

Muscular weakness

Pale or sallow complexion with little lustre

Nausea or vomiting

Oppressive sensation in the chest

Abdominal discomfort or mild pain

White or watery leucorrhoea

Pale tongue with a greasy white coat

Weak pulse that may also be thready or moderate

Cautions & Contraindications
None noted.

Comments
This formula was originally recorded in the Formulary of the Tai Ping Welfare Dispensary Bureau (tai ping hui min he ji ju fang) (1151 CE), a compilation of popular and effective formulas that were used in the public dispensaries of the Song dynastic period. It is a well designed formula with a mild and balanced action that may be taken by all age groups for prolonged periods without adverse effect. This is especially pertinent as it aims to treat retained Damp, which is a pathogen that is generally slow to resolve. Weakness of the Spleen Qi may lead to failure of the astringing action of the Qi, resulting in loose stools or diarrhoea. In addition, failure of the Spleen’s transportation function may lead to stagnation of the Fluid passages, resulting in retention of Damp. This also manifests clinically with loose stools (together with a thick white or cream tongue coat). Because the Damp is generated and hence also retained in the middle Jiao, it causes stagnation of the Qi, both in this location and also in the Lung – as the pathology is transmitted via the promotion (sheng) relationship amongst the five phases. This leads to impaired digestion, a sensation of oppression in the chest (due to the stagnation of the Lung Qi), and possibly also nausea or vomiting. In order to address these pathologies, this formula contains a mixture of Qi tonifying, Damp dispelling, astringent and Qi regulating herbal ingredients. Several of the ingredients have been specially pre-prepared to enhance their therapeutic actions: Atractylodes (bai zhu), Coix (yi yi ren), Dolichos (bai bian dou) and Dioscorea (shan yao) have been dry-fried so that they tonify the Spleen Qi while also drying Damp and astringing the Intestines. The synergistic actions of the herbs are as follows:

• Codonopsis root (dang shen), Atractylodes rhizome (bai zhu), Wolfiporia cocos (fu ling), Dioscorea root (shan yao), Dolichos seed (bai bian dou), Ziziphus fruit (da zao): tonify the Spleen Qi

• Atractylodes rhizome (bai zhu), Wolfiporia cocos (fu ling), Coix seed (yi yi ren), Dolichos seed (bai bian dou): tonify the Spleen Qi and drain Damp

• Dioscorea root (shan yao), Dolichos seed (bai bian dou), Nelumbo seed (lian zi), Coix seed (yi yi ren): tonify the Spleen Qi and astringe the Intestines to stop diarrhoea

• Platycodon root (jie geng), Amomum fruit (sha ren): regulate the Qi of the Lung and middle Jiao respectively

Ingredients
CODONOPSIS PILOSULA, ROOT (dang shen) – 黨參 – 45mg
ATRACTYLODES MACROCEPHALA, RHIZOME (bai zhu) – 白朮 – 45mg
WOLFIPORIA COCOS, FRUIT. BODY (fu ling) – 茯苓 – 45mg
DIOSCOREA OPPOSITIFOLIA, ROOT (shan yao) – 山藥 – 45mg
NELUMBO NUCIFERA, SEED (lian zi) – 蓮子 – 45mg
DOLICHOS LABLAB, SEED (bai bian dou) – 白扁豆 – 45mg
COIX LACHRYMA-JOBI, SEED (yi yi ren) – 薏苡仁 – 37.5mg
GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS, ROOT (gan cao) – 甘草 – 22.5mg
PLATYCODON GRANDIFLORUS, ROOT (jie geng) – 桔梗 – 22.5mg
AMOMUM VILLOSUM, FRUIT (sha ren) – 砂仁 – 15mg
ZIZIPHUS JUJUBA, FRUIT (da zao) – 大棗 – 7.5mg