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Prescriptions for Regulating the Liver and Spleen

Tongxie Yaofang

痛泻要方 痛瀉要方
By the TCMHH editorial team Not medically reviewed How we work Updated 6 Oct 2026
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Prescription of Importance for Diarrhea with Pain

The Prescription of Tongxie Yaofang

Source

The book Jing Yue Quan Shu

Ingredients

Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) 12 g,Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) 9 g,Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae) 6 g,Fang Feng (Radix Saposhinkoviae) 9 g.

Explanation

Bai Zhu: One of the principal drugs, being bitter and sweet in flavor and warm in nature, strengthening the spleen to dry pathogenic dampness.

Bai Shao: The other principal drug, being bitter and sour in flavor and slightly cold in nature, nourishing the liver to relieve pain.

Chen Pi: Regulating the middle-Jiao to remove pathogenic dampness.

Fang Feng: Dispersing the liver-Qi and regulating the spleen.

The Effect of Tongxie Yaofang

Effect

Replenishing the spleen-Qi and dispersing the liver-Qi.

Indications

Symdrome due to stagnation of the liver-Qi and deficiency of the spleen, marked by bowel sound, abdominal pain, loose stools, retention of abdominal pain after laxation, thin whitish tongue coating, and taut slow pulse; including such diseases with the above symptoms as allergic colitis, acute enteritis, etc.

Administrations

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

Spotted an error or a better source? Tell us — corrections are logged on our editorial policy page.

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