四神丸

4. Granule conversion and dose

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

Bu Gu Zhi (psoralea fruit) 12 g + Rou Dou Kou (nutmeg) 6 g + Wu Zhu Yu (evodia fruit) 3 g + Wu Wei Zi (schisandra fruit) 6 g + Sheng Jiang (fresh ginger) 12 g + Da Zao (jujube, about 10 g) = approximately 49 g.

Converted to 5:1 granules:

49 g raw herbs ÷ 5 = 9.8 g granules.

Granule dose: Take in 2 doses daily, morning and evening, dissolved in warm water, about 5 g per dose. (Recommended to take before meals.)

5. Cautions and clinical notes

• [Contraindications]:
  1. This formula is used for diarrhea due to spleen-kidney deficiency cold. It is absolutely contraindicated for diarrhea due to damp-heat or food stagnation.
  2. Not suitable for diarrhea due to acute gastroenteritis.
• [Timing of administration]: To enhance efficacy, the formula may be taken once each day at the fifth watch (before dawn) upon rising, so as to align with the body's rising yang qi and allow the medicinal force to reach the site of disease directly.
• Modern applications: Mainly used for chronic colitis, allergic colitis, intestinal tuberculosis, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome, in patterns identified as spleen-kidney deficiency cold.
• Duration of use: This formula is for regulating chronic deficiency-cold diarrhea; it must be taken for a certain period of time before effects become apparent, and may be taken long-term as directed by a practitioner.