痛泻要方

Conversion to 5:1 granules:

45 g raw herb ÷ 5 = 9.0 g granules.

Granule dosage:

Decoction method of administration: following the original formula's instruction of "2 doses per day."

o Each dose uses 45 g of raw herbs, yielding 9.0 g of granules. Two doses per day thus correspond to 18.0 g of granules.

o Method: Dissolve in warm water and take in 2 divided doses, morning and evening, about 9.0 g each time. (Suitable for the acute or severe stage.)

5. Cautions and clinical notes

• [Contraindications]:
  1. This formula is used for diarrhea due to Liver qi stagnation with Spleen deficiency. It is contraindicated for damp-heat diarrhea/dysentery, diarrhea due to food stagnation, or dawn (fifth-watch) diarrhea due to Kidney yang deficiency.
• [Key point]: The key to pattern identification for this formula is that abdominal pain precedes and accompanies diarrhea, with the pain not relieved or only slightly relieved after the bowel movement, and the condition being associated with emotional fluctuations.
• Modern applications: Mainly used for irritable bowel syndrome (diarrhea-predominant type), chronic colitis, and allergic colitis, where the pattern is identified as Liver wood overwhelming the Spleen.
• Duration of use and care: This formula is a regulating formula and requires sustained use. Attention should also be given to maintaining emotional balance in order to achieve the best results.