Jianpi Pills for Treating Chronic Gastritis
The gastric bloating, stomach pain, and indigestion caused by chronic gastritis are difficult to eradicate and recur in patients; they may be triggered by fatigue, overeating, mental tension, or unclean food. TCM treatment of such conditions generally follows the approach of fortifying the spleen and regulating qi, while clearing heat and lowering fire. Historically there have been many formulas named Jianpi Wan (Spleen-Fortifying Pills); although they differ slightly, their compositional logic is much the same, and all are excellent formulas for spleen-stomach disorders. The Jianpi Wan formula recorded in Lu Fu Jin Fang has a comprehensive compositional logic; this article uses that formula as a basis to explain the medication strategy of Jianpi Wan.
The formula recorded in that book is composed as follows: Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus; one liang, bran-fried), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma; three liang, bran-fried), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium; two liang), Shenqu (Massa Medicata Fermentata; one liang, fried), Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix; five qian), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma; processed with ginger), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma; fried), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix; fried), Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex; processed with ginger), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix; washed in wine), Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma; hair removed), Damaiya (Hordei Fructus Germinatus; fried), and Baishao (Paeoniae Alba Radix), one liang each; Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), five qian. Grind all together into a fine powder; boil lotus leaf and use a glutinous rice paste to make pills the size of a phoenix-tree seed. Take 40–50 pills each time with white rice water after meals.
This formula is based on Xiangsha Liujunzi Tang and Banxia Houpo Tang, with modifications. In it, Baizhu, Houpo, Chenpi, Zhishi, Banxia, Muxiang, and Xiangfu fortify the spleen and regulate qi; they promote intestinal peristalsis and gastric emptying and reduce intestinal gas, and are commonly used for abdominal bloating. Huanglian and Huangqin contain berberine and baicalin; modern pharmacology shows they have broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory effects and are commonly used for gastritis. Baishao softens the liver and stops pain and is commonly used for stomachache. Shenqu and Maiya aid digestion. Chuanxiong activates blood and regulates qi to stop pain; chronic diseases often involve stasis, so a small amount of blood-activating herbs is appropriate.
Thus the compositional logic of this formula, viewed from both traditional TCM and modern pharmacology, relieves abdominal bloating and stomach pain, and so can treat chronic gastritis.