Traditional Chinese Medicine Healing Herbs(TCMHH)

Prescriptions for Regulating the Liver and Spleen

Sini San: Classic TCM Formula

Si Ni San 四逆散
By the TCMHH editorial team Not medically reviewed How we work Updated 6 Oct 2026
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Name

Powder for Treating Cold Limbs.

The Prescription of Sini San

Source

The book Shang Han Lun

Ingredients

Zhi Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata) 6 g,Zhi Shi (Fructus Aurantii Immaturus) 6 g,Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri) 6 g,Shao Yao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) 9 g.

Explanation

Chai Hu: The principal drug, being bitter and pungent in flavor and slightly cold in nature, smoothing the liver and regulating the circulation of Qi, clearing away pathogenic heat from the interior by inducing diaphoresis.

Zhi Shi: Making Qi flow downwards to relieve its stagnancy.

Shao Yao: Replenishing Yin to nourish blood, combining Chai Hu to disperse the depressed liver-Qi and regulate the spleen.

Gan Cao: Replenishing Qi to regulate the stomach, getting together with Bai Shao to relieve spasm and pain, tempering the actions of all the other drugs.

The Effect of Sini San

Effect

Let out pathogens and promoting the circulation of Qi, relieving the depressed Liver-Qi and regulating the spleen.

Indications

Cold limbs due to stagnation of Yang-Qi in the interior or syndrome due to the incoordination between the liver and the spleen, marked by cold limbs or pain in the chest and abdomen, or loose stools, and wiry pluse; including such diseases with the above symptoms as chronic hepatitis, chronic cholecystitis, gastroduodenal ulcer, intercostal neuralgia, etc.

Administrations

Decocted in water for oral dose to be taken twice (Taken as a powder originally)

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Sources and further reading

We cite classical materia medica and modern reference works. This article is health education, not medical advice.

  • Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Han dynasty.
  • Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen, 1578.
  • Chinese Pharmacopoeia, current edition — identity, quality and safety monographs.
  • NCCIH and WHO reference material on traditional medicine safety.

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