Li Zhong Tang理中湯
Regulate the Middle Decoction
Also known asRen Shen Tang
- Medicinals
- 4
- Preparation
- decoction, pill
Composition
- Gan Jiang6–9 g
- Ren Shen6–9 g
- Bai Zhu6–9 g
- Zhi Gan Cao6–9 g
Actions
- Warms the middle burner
- Strengthens the spleen and augments qi
- Dispels cold from the interior
Patterns treated
Cold from deficiency of the middle burner — spleen and stomach yang deficiency
Manifestations
Diarrhoea containing undigested food, a poor appetite, a dull cold ache in the upper abdomen that improves with warmth and pressure, vomiting of clear fluid, no thirst or a preference for warm drinks, cold hands and feet.
- Tongue body
- Pale, with a white moist coating.
- Pulse
- Deep, thin and slow, or simply forceless.
Indications
Interior cold from middle-burner yang deficiency. Also applied to chronic bleeding, excessive drooling and childhood convulsions when they arise from this same pattern.
Modifications
Yang deficiency is marked — cold limbs and a very faint pulse
- +Fu Zi
The formula then becomes Fu Zi Li Zhong Tang.
Vomiting dominates the picture
- +Sheng Jiang
- +Ban Xia
Directs stomach qi downward alongside the warming.
Cautions
The warmth IS the treatment, so a patient who is thirsty for cold drinks is the wrong patient. Not for diarrhoea from damp-heat, nor for interior cold accompanied by heat signs.
Notes
The pill form carries the same composition bound with honey. It acts more slowly and gently, which suits the long courses this pattern usually needs.