胃舒宁

• Bai Shao (white peony root) - common dose 7.5 g: Bitter, sour, slightly cold. Enters the Liver and Spleen channels. Nourishes blood and astringes yin, softens the Liver and stops pain. Combined with Gan Cao (as in Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang, Peony and Licorice Decoction), the sour and sweet flavors combine to transform yin, markedly relieving spasm of the gastrointestinal smooth muscle; this is the core herb pair for relaxing tension and stopping pain.
• Yan Hu Suo (corydalis rhizome) - common dose 5 g: Acrid, bitter, warm. Enters the Heart, Liver, and Spleen channels. Invigorates blood, moves qi, and stops pain. Its pain-relieving power is outstanding, addressing epigastric pain due to qi stagnation and blood stasis, and strengthens the pain-relieving effect of the whole formula.

Assistant herbs (2 herbs) - fortify the Spleen and boost qi, dry damp and disinhibit water

• Bai Zhu (white atractylodes rhizome) - common dose 5 g: Bitter, sweet, warm. Enters the Spleen and Stomach channels. Fortifies the Spleen and boosts qi, dries damp and disinhibits water. By strengthening the transportation and transformation function of the Spleen and Stomach, it removes the source of damp generation and qi stagnation at its root.
• Dang Shen (codonopsis root) - common dose 2 g: Sweet, neutral. Enters the Spleen and Lung channels. Fortifies the Spleen and boosts the Lung, nourishes blood and generates fluids. It assists Bai Zhu in strengthening the supplementation of Spleen qi, supporting the already deficient Spleen and Stomach.

Key points of combination:

1. Treating both the root and the branch, addressing the branch first in acute cases: Hai Piao Xiao, Gan Cao, Bai Shao, and Yan Hu Suo directly address the two core symptoms of "acid and pain" (treating the branch); Bai Zhu and Dang Shen fortify the Spleen and boost qi (treating the root).
2. Synergistic pain relief through multiple targets: "Bai Shao-Gan Cao" relieves spasmodic pain; "Yan Hu Suo" addresses pain due to qi stagnation and blood stasis; Hai Piao Xiao reduces acid-induced pain by suppressing acid. Together the three achieve effective pain relief from different angles.
3. Regulating the Liver and Spleen together: Bai Shao softens the Liver, while Bai Zhu and Dang Shen fortify the Spleen, jointly regulating the Liver and Spleen to address the core pathomechanism of "disharmony between the Liver and Spleen."

2. Pattern and presentation

Main symptoms:

• Epigastric pain, or spasmodic pain.
• Excess Stomach acid, acid regurgitation and gnawing hunger sensation.

Systemic and accompanying symptoms:

• Poor appetite, fatigue and lack of strength.
• Pale tongue with thin white or thin yellow coating.

3. Tongue and pulse

• Tongue: Pale or somewhat red tongue body, with thin white or thin yellow coating.
• Pulse: Wiry and thin, or thin and weak.

4. Granule conversion and dose

Step 1: Calculate the total weight of raw herbs at the common dose

• Gan Cao 10 g + Hai Piao Xiao 10 g + Bai Shao 7.5 g + Bai Zhu 5 g + Yan Hu Suo 5 g + Dang Shen 2 g = 39.5 g.

Step 2: Convert to 5:1 granules

• 39.5 g raw herbs ÷ 5 = 7.9 g granules.

Step 3: Determine the dosing schedule

• Standard method: 3 times daily, dissolved in warm water.
• Single dose: 7.9 g ÷ 3 ≈ 2.63 g. (For convenience of dosing, this may be rounded to approximately 2.6 g per dose).

Summary and core conversion

The precise dosing schedule for ProCare Herbs Wei Shu Ning granules is:

Approximately 2.5 g per dose, 3 times daily, dissolved in warm water.

5. Cautions and clinical notes

Contraindications:

1. Because Hai Piao Xiao has an astringent nature, it should be used with caution in the early stage of acute gastroenteritis and in those with constipation.
2. This formula is not suitable for use alone in Stomach yin deficiency (presenting with burning epigastric pain, dry mouth and throat, and a red tongue with scant coating), as its warming and drying nature may damage yin.

Safety warnings:

1. This formula contains a relatively large dose of Gan Cao; long-term use of large doses may carry risks of water and sodium retention and hypokalemia ("pseudoaldosteronism"). It should therefore not be taken long term as a health supplement, and use should stop once the condition resolves.
2. The main component of Hai Piao Xiao is calcium carbonate, and constipation may occasionally occur after taking it.

Modern applications: Mainly used for gastric and duodenal ulcer, chronic gastritis, gastric acid hypersecretion, and gastrointestinal neurosis, in patterns of disharmony between the Liver and Spleen presenting with Stomach pain and acid regurgitation.

Duration of use: This formula is for regulating the body and may be taken for 2-4 weeks as directed. Once symptoms have eased, the dose may be reduced for maintenance or the formula discontinued. If pain persists without relief, other organic diseases should be ruled out.