HERB FORMULAS

LI CHANG TANG - 理肠汤 - RECTIFY THE INTESTINES DECOCTION

English: Rectify the Intestines Decoction
Also Known As:

HERBS AND ACTIONS

Pharmaceutical Latin
Pin Yin
Dosage
Actions
Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao 15g Nourishes the Blood, astringes Yin, adjusts the Ying and Wei, softens the Liver and relieves pain.
With Chai Hu, for flank pain due to Liver Qi Stagnation.
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu 15g Tonifies the Spleen, augments Qi, dries Dampness and promotes water metabolism.
Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu 9g Spreads Liver Qi, relieves Stagnation and raises Yang Qi.
With Bai Shao, for Liver Blood Deficiency with Liver Qi Stagnation.
Cx. Phellodendri Huang Bai 9g Drains Damp-Heat especially from the Lower Jiao.
Rx. Sophorae Flavescentis Ku Shen 9g Clears Heat and dries Dampness
Fr. Aurantii Immaturus Zhi Shi 6g Breaks up Stagnant Qi, reduces accumulation, descends Qi, unblocks the bowels and removes Stagnant Food.
Fr. Mume Wu Mei 6g Astringes the Intestines, stops diarrhea and stops bleeding.
Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao 6g Tonifies the Spleen, augments Qi, moderates spasms, alleviates pain, moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs and guides the herbs to all twelve channels.
With Bai Shao, moderates spasms and alleviates pain, for painful spasms of the leg or abdomen.

FORMULA ACTIONS

  • Clears Heat
  • Dispels Dampness
  • Soothes the Liver
  • Invigorates the Spleen
  • Invigorates the Blood
  • Nourishes the Blood
  • Moistens Dryness

SYNDROMES

  • Damp-Heat with Liver-Spleen Disharmony complicated by Blood Stasis, Blood Deficiency and damaged Fluids

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

  • A swollen, distended, firm abdomen
  • Epigastric and abdominal pain and distention that is worse with pressure
  • Feverishness
  • Flushing
  • A bitter taste in the mouth
  • Thirst or a dry mouth with with little desire to drink
  • Scanty, concentrated urine
  • Constipation and/or
  • Diarrhea
  • Maybe jaundice
  • Abdominal distention and pain
  • Gas
  • Borborygmus
  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Palpitations
  • Insomnia
  • Dry skin
  • Dry hair
  • Poor memory
  • Paleness
  • Fatigue
  • Scanty periods
  • Dry mouth
  • Thirst
  • Night sweats
  • Five Sole Heat
  • Malar flush
  • Low grade fever in the afternoon
  • Dry throat, maybe recurrent sore throat
  • Dry stools and/or
  • Constipation
  • Urine short and red
  • Heightened libido
  • Distention and pain in the sides or flanks
  • Suffocating sensation in the chest
  • Tendency to sigh
  • Melancholy
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Inappropriate anger
  • Women:
    Irregular menses
    Dysmenorrhea
    Breast distention and pain before and during menses
  • Pain that is fixed, stabbing and /or severe
  • Pain is worse with pressure
  • Dark complexion
  • Fixed, palpable masses
  • Bleeding with clots
  • Purple lips
  • Purple nails
  • Dry skin
  • Blue, dark or purplish discoloration of skin in small or large areas
  • Varicose and spider veins
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Tendency to hemorrhage dark blood or clots
  • T: Pink or Red tip and edges
  • C: White and greasy or Greasy and yellow or Grayish black
  • P: Slippery and wiry or Wiry and rapid

TREATS

CONTRAINDICATIONS AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

NOTES

MODIFICATIONS

For severe Qi Stagnation: For severe Blood Stagnation:
+ 9g Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis Hou Po + 15g Rz. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo
For severe diarrhea:
For severe Dampness: + 9g Per. Granati Shi Liu Pi
+ 9g Hb. Agastaches Huo Xiang For severe Damp-Heat:
For severe bleeding: + 3g Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian
+ 9g Rx. Sanguisorbae Di Yu + 12g Rx. Pulsatillae Bai Tou Weng
+ 15g Flos Sophorae Immaturus Huai Hua Mi For severe Spleen Qi Deficiency:
+ 12g Rx. Codonopsis Dang Shen
For Kidney Yang Deficiency:    
+ 9g Fr. Psoraliae Bu Gu Zhi    
+ 9g Sm. Myristicae Rou Dou Kou