Bihe Yin: A Decoction to Harmonize the Stomach and Stop Vomiting
"Bihe Yin" comes from the Gujin Yijian (Mirror of Medical Lore, Ancient and Modern), and is composed as follows: Renshen (Radix Ginseng) 1 qian (3 g), Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) 1 qian (3 g), Fuling (Poria) 1 qian (3 g), Huoxiang (Herba Agastachis) 8 fen (2.4 g), Chenpi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae) 5 fen (1.5 g), Sharen (Fructus Amomi) 5 fen (1.5 g), Shenqu (Massa Medicata Fermentata) 1 qian (3 g), Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) 5 fen (1.5 g). Crush the above to make one dose. Take Chencangmi (aged rice) 9 qian (27 g), add 400 ml of "downstream-flowing water" (stream water), bring to a boil, stir in Fulonggan (Terra Flava Usta, i.e. oven-heart earth), let it settle, and take 200 ml of the clear liquid; add 3 slices of Shengjiang (fresh ginger) and 2 Dazao (jujubes), decoct together to 140 ml, strain, and take slightly cool, three times daily.
This formula boosts qi and fortifies the spleen, harmonizes the stomach, and stops vomiting. It is indicated for vomiting due to stomach deficiency after prolonged illness, with no desire to eat. "Bihe Yin" is a modification of Xiangsha Liujun Decoction (composed of Renshen, Baizhu, Fuling, Gancao, Chenpi, Fabanxia [processed Pinellia], Sharen, and Muxiang), so its main effects are similar to that formula.
"Bihe Yin" removes Fabanxia and Muxiang from Xiangsha Liujun Decoction and replaces them with Huoxiang and Shenqu. Huoxiang is more pronounced in draining dampness, fortifying the spleen, and stopping vomiting; Shenqu aids digestion. Fulonggan (oven-heart earth) warms the stomach and harmonizes the middle; Chencangmi strengthens the stomach and aids digestion. Together, these herbs strengthen the spleen and harmonize the stomach, and their antiemetic, digestive effects are enhanced. Thus this formula is especially suitable for nausea and vomiting due to spleen deficiency with dampness obstructing the middle jiao, and for poor appetite.
This formula can be used as adjunctive therapy during radiotherapy and chemotherapy in cancer patients, to reduce side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and poor appetite. The dose should be light rather than heavy; in the original formula each herb is basically within 3 g, because such patients have weak spleen and stomach and cannot tolerate strong medicinal force—overdosing will backfire.
Modern patients using this formula can directly buy the prepared pieces from a TCM pharmacy at these doses and decoct them; purified water may be used instead of stream water. Fulonggan is now relatively hard to buy; an appropriate amount of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) may be used as a substitute.
This formula may also be used for patients with chronic gastritis or gastric ulcer presenting with nausea, vomiting, and no appetite. If the gastric ulcer is severe with acid reflux and heartburn, one may add Baiji (Rhizoma Bletillae) 3 g, Wuzeigu (Endoconcha Sepiae, cuttlebone) 3 g, and Walengzi (Concha Arcae) 3 g.