Chinamed Digestive Tonic Formula 78c

This is a variant of Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Major Herbs Combination) from the 'Formulary of the Tai Ping Welfare Dispensary Bureau' (tai ping hui min he ji ju fang), 1151. This particular variant, however, was not recorded until 1695, when it appeared in 'Zhang's Dictionary of Medicine' (zhang shi yi tong), by Zhang Lu-xuan, 1695, a comprehensive collection, covering most branches of medicine from ancient to contemporary times. This formula is a good example of a treatment that addresses both the primary aspects (ben) as well as the secondary aspects (biao) of a specific condition. In this case the underlying pathology is Spleen Qi deficiency, which manifests as poor appetite and digestion, with lowered energy and reduction of vital function due to insufficient Qi production. Over time this leads to the retention of Damp which subsequently develops into Phlegm which disrupts the normal movements of the Qi. Clinically, these factors may manifest in various ways: Retention of Damp may give rise to heavy sensation of the head and body, muscular aches, lethargy, and a sense of fullness (or 'stuffiness') of the chest or epigastrium; loose stools (that may contain mucous), cloudy urine,…