Shen Qu - 神曲 - Massa Medicata Fermentata - Medicated Leaven

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Massa Medicata Fermentata
Common English:	Massa Fermentata Medicated Leaven

Category

Herbs That Relieve Food Stagnation (Digestives)

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Sweet Acrid	Warm	Spleen Stomach	6-16g Tincture: 1-3ml

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Reduces Food Stagnation, promotes digestion and harmonizes the Stomach	Food Stagnation or accumulation due Stomach Cold with epigastric fullness or distention, lack of appetite, borborygmus and diarrhea
Moves Qi	Qi Stagnation

Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

Major Combinations

Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu (Rx. Codonopsis) (Dang Shen)	Fr. Aurantii Zhi Ke	Sm. Arecae Bing Lang
Food Stagnation and diarrhea due to Spleen Deficiency.	Reduced appetite and fullness and distention of the epigastrium and abdomen due to Cold Stagnation.	Childhood nutritional impairment or distention of the abdomen due to Food Stagnation.
Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang Fr. Amomi Sha Ren	Exterior releasing herbs	Fr. Hordei Germinatus Mai Ya Fr. Crataegi Shan Zha
Abdominal pain associated with Food Stagnation.	Diarrhea accompanying externally-contracted disorders.	Abdominal distention, belching, diarrhea and anorexia due to Food Stagnation. Indigestion. Childhood nutritional impairment due to improper breast feeding.
Rz. Sparganii San Leng Rz. Curcumae E Zhu Concha Ostreae Mu Li Carapax Trionycis Bie Jia
Chronic Food Stagnation with palpable masses.

Notes

1. This preparation is not standardized; it is a fermented blend of wheat flour, bran and assorted herbs such as Hb. Artemisiae Annuae Qing Hao, Sm. Armeniacae Xing Ren, Fr. Xanthii Cang Er Zi, Sm. Phaseoli Chi Xiao Dou, Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu, and others, depending on which mixture is used.
2. It works best for problems arising from overindulgence in alcohol, starches and grains.
3. It is also included in pills containing minerals to help with their digestion and absorption.
4. Its actions include directing Qi downward, transforming Phlegm, driving out water and transforming thin mucus.
5. For children, it tonifies the Spleen.
6. It diminishes lactation and helps with weaning.
7. Unfermented Medicated Leaven, Jian Shen Qu, regulates Qi, transforms Dampness, abates and transforms congestion, and disperses Wind-Cold.
8. Dry-fried Medicated Leaven, Chao Shen Qu, disperses less but is better at strengthening the Spleen, harmonizing the Stomach, reducing Food Stagnation and regulating the Middle Jiao.
9. Scorched Medicated Leaven, Jiao Shen Qu, is far stronger at reducing Food Stagnation and may be used on its own.