Hou Po Wen Zhong Tang - 厚朴温中汤 - Magnolia Bark Decoction For Warming The Middle

English:	Magnolia Bark Decoction for Warming the Middle
Also Known As:	Magnolia Warm the Center Decoction Magnolia Combination Decoction of Magnolia to Warm the Spleen and Stomach

Herbs And Actions

Pharmaceutical Latin	Pin Yin	Dosage	Actions
Ginger Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis	Jiang Hou Po	9-30g	Promotes the movement of Qi in the Middle Jiao, resolves Stagnation, dries Dampness, transforms Phlegm, descends Rebellious Qi, and calms wheezing. With Gan Jian, for acute diarrhea from Cold attacking the Middle. With Gan Jiang and Cao Dou Kou, for Cold-Dampness in the Middle Jiao.
Sm. Alpiniae Katsumadai	Cao Dou Kou	6-15g	Dries Dampness, warms the Middle Jiao, stops vomiting and strengthens the Spleen. With Hou Po, for Cold-Dampness in the Middle Jiao when Dampness predominates.
Per. Citri Reticulatae	Chen Pi	6-30g	Regulates Qi, adjusts the Middle, relieves the diaphragm, dries Dampness and transforms Phlegm.
(Exocarpium Citri Grandis)	(Hua Ju Hong)	(10g)	(Substitutes for Chen Pi)
Rx. Aucklandiae	Mu Xiang	6-15g	Alleviates pain, Prevents Stagnation, Promotes the movement of Qi, Strengthens the Spleen.
Rz. Zingiberis	Gan Jiang	1.5-6g	Warms the Middle and expels Cold. With Zhi Gan Cao, for epigastric pain and vomiting due to Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold. With Jiang Hou Po, for epigastric distention and pain due to Cold-induced congested fluids.
Poria	Fu Ling	9-15g	Promotes urination, leaches out Dampness, strengthens the Spleen, harmonizes the Middle Jiao and transforms Phlegm. With Mu Xiang, for diarrhea and borborygmus due to Dampness.
Rx. Glycyrrhizae Preparata	Zhi Gan Cao	3-15g	Tonifies the Spleen, augments Qi and moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs.

Formula Actions

• Promotes the movement of Qi
• Eliminates fullness
• Dries Dampness
• Warms the Middle Jiao

Syndromes

• Cold-Dampness injuring the Spleen and Stomach
• Damp-Cold injuring the Spleen & Stomach (Secondary source)

Clinical Manifestations

Epigastric and abdominal distention and fullness Loss of appetite Tired extremities Loose stools or diarrhea Abdominal pain Flatulence

Vomiting of clear liquid Leukorrhagia Lethargy T: Pale C: White and slippery P: Deep and wiry or Slippery and thready

Treats

Peptic ulcer Chronic gastritis Chronic enteritis Chronic colitis Intestinal tuberculosis Vaginitis Irritable bowel syndrome Anorexia

Inflammatory bowel syndrome Chronic pancreatitis Leukorrhea Dyspepsia Cervicitis Infertility Abdominal pain

Contraindications And Herb/Drug Interactions

Notes

• This formula is usually prescribed for those with abdominal flatulence or pain due over consumption of raw and cold foods and damage of the Middle Jiao by Cold in a healthy individual.

Modifications

For severe epigastric pain:		For Food Stagnation:
+ Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae	Dan Shen	+ Fr. Crataegi	Shan Zha
For hypochondriac pain and acid reflux:		+ Fr. Hordei Germinatus	Mai Ya
+ Left Metal Pill Zuo Jin Wan		+ Massa Medicata Fermentata	Shen Qu
For abdominal pain and diarrhea:		For nausea and vomiting of clear, watery fluid:
+ Rz. Atractylodes	Cang Zhu	+ Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum	Zhi Ban Xia
+ Fr. Amomi	Sha Ren	+ Rz. Atractylodes Macrocephalae	Bai Zhu
For accompanying cold body and extremities due to Deficiency Cold:		For edema and a heavy feeling in the body:
+ Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata	Zhi Fu Zi	+ Per. Arecae	Da Fu Pi
+ Cx. Cinnamomi	Rou Gui	For severe pain:
For diarrhea with abdominal flatulence due to Cold-Dampness of the Spleen and Stomach with Qi stagnation:		+ Cx. Cinnamomi	Rou Gui
-- Rx. Glycyrrhizae Preparata	Zhi Gan Cao	+ Rz/ Alpiniae Officinarum	Gao Liang Jiang
+ Sm. Arecae	Bing Lang	For leukorrhea with a thin discharge and fullness of the lower abdomen due to Cold-Dampness Attacking Downward:
+ Rz. Atractylodes	Cang Zhu	-- Rx. Glycyrrhizae Preparata	Zhi Gan Cao
+ Rz. Atractylodes Macrocephalae	Bai Zhu
+ Ram. Cinnamomi	Gui Zhi