小建中汤

Calculation of the total raw herb weight of the original formula (excluding malt sugar):

Gui Zhi (cinnamon twig) 9 g + Bai Shao (white peony root) 18 g + Zhi Gan Cao (honey-fried licorice root) 6 g + Sheng Jiang (fresh ginger) 9 g + Da Zao (Chinese date) 18 g = 60 g.

Converted to 5:1 granules:

60 g raw herbs ÷ 5 = 12.0 g granules.

Granule dose: Dissolve in warm water and take twice daily, morning and evening, about 6.0 g per dose. (When taking, an appropriate amount of malt sugar (about 15 g) should be dissolved in warm water and used to take the granules with, to complete the intended composition of the formula.)

5. Cautions and clinical notes

• Contraindications:
  1. This formula is sweet and warm in nature, and is therefore unsuitable for those with vomiting, abdominal fullness, or effulgent fire from yin deficiency.
  2. It should not be used for abdominal pain caused by internal accumulation of damp-heat.
• Key point: This formula is used for patterns of vacuity taxation with internal tension, dual deficiency of yin and yang, and intermingled cold and heat. The key to the pattern identification is abdominal pain relieved by warmth and pressure, together with signs of deficiency heat (such as vexing heat in the hands and feet, dry throat and mouth).
• Modern applications: Mainly used for gastric and duodenal ulcer, chronic gastritis, gastroptosis, neurasthenia, aplastic anemia, and functional fever, where the pattern is identified as middle burner deficiency cold with insufficiency of qi and blood and disharmony of yin and yang.
• Duration of use: This formula is a warming and tonifying regulating preparation; it should be taken continuously for a certain period to achieve its effect gradually, and may be taken long-term as directed by a practitioner.