香砂六君子汤

4. Granule conversion and dose

Calculation of the total raw herb weight of the original formula (excluding ginger and jujube):

Ren Shen (ginseng root) 6 g + Bai Zhu (white atractylodes rhizome) 9 g + Fu Ling (poria) 9 g + Mu Xiang (costusroot) 6 g + Sha Ren (villous amomum fruit) 3 g + Ban Xia (pinellia rhizome) 6 g + Chen Pi (aged tangerine peel) 6 g + Zhi Gan Cao (honey-fried licorice root) 3 g = 48 g.

Converted to a 5:1 granule extract:

48 g raw herbs ÷ 5 = 9.6 g granules.

Granule dose: Take dissolved in warm water in 2 doses, morning and evening, about 5 g per dose.

5. Cautions and clinical notes

• Contraindications:
  1. This formula is warming and drying in nature, and is therefore contraindicated for those with yin deficiency and effulgent fire, or insufficient Stomach yin.
  2. Not suitable for epigastric and abdominal distension and pain caused by excess heat patterns.
• Safety warning: Ban Xia in this formula is toxic; when preparing ProCare Herbs granules, processed Ban Xia (such as Fa Ban Xia) must be used to ensure safety.
• Characteristics: This formula is a representative formula for Spleen-Stomach qi deficiency with concurrent qi stagnation; compared with Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) and Liu Jun Zi Tang, it has a stronger action for moving qi and relieving distension.
• Modern applications: Widely used for chronic gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcer, indigestion, vomiting during pregnancy, and chronic bronchitis, where the pattern is Spleen-Stomach qi deficiency with phlegm obstruction and qi stagnation.
• Duration of use: This formula is a regulating formula; it must be taken for a certain period before its effects become apparent, and may be taken long-term as advised by a practitioner.