Chenxiang Huaqi Wan for Abdominal Distension Due to Qi Stagnation

Chenxiang Huaqi Wan (Aquilaria Qi-Moving Pill) is a commonly used Chinese patent medicine; its prescription is included in Part One of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (2005 edition). Its composition is: chenxiang (aquilaria wood) 25 g, muxiang (costus root) 50 g, guanghuoxiang (agastache herb) 100 g, xiangfu (cyperus rhizome, vinegar-processed) 50 g, sharen (amomum fruit) 50 g, chenpi (tangerine peel) 50 g, ezhu (curcuma zedoaria, vinegar-processed) 100 g, liushenqu (medicated leaven, stir-fried) 100 g, maiya (germinated barley, stir-fried) 100 g, and gancao (licorice root) 50 g. Preparation: crush these ten herbs into a fine powder, sift, mix evenly, pill with water, then dry at low heat; the product is ready.

On the market there are Chinese patent medicines made from this formula, sold as Chenxiang Huaqi Pian or Chenxiang Huaqi Wan. Chenxiang Huaqi Wan has the actions of soothing the liver and moving qi, and of dispersing food stagnation and harmonizing the stomach. It is indicated for liver-stomach qi stagnation with epigastric and abdominal distending pain, fullness and oppression in the chest and diaphragm, lack of appetite, belching and acid regurgitation. Such symptoms are mostly caused by chronic gastroenteritis. In addition, clinical reports show that Chenxiang Huaqi Wan is very effective in treating constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.