Kuaipi San: A Dietary-Therapy Formula for Acid Regurgitation and Vomiting

"Kuaipi San" ("Quick-Spleen Powder") comes from Yangshi Jiacang Fang (Master Yang's Family-Transmitted Formulas). Its composition is: prepared licorice (Zhi Gancao) 600 g, tsaoko fruit (Caoguo) 300 g (peel not removed), fresh ginger 1200 g, and table salt 450 g. The above doses are modern conversions made by the author; the original book used the weights and measures of the Southern Song dynasty.

The preparation of Kuaipi San is unusual. Yangshi Jiacang Fang records that the ginger is first sliced, the tsaoko fruit and prepared licorice are chopped, and the three are pickled together with salt overnight; the herbs are then baked until dry and ground into a fine powder. Modern people may use an oven or microwave for baking, and a small household Chinese-medicine grinder or high-speed blender for powdering. To use, take 6 g each time, brew with boiling water, and drink directly; there is no fixed time or number of doses.

This Kuaipi San differs from ordinary Chinese medicinal powders in preparation—its method is somewhat like making pickles—and its ingredients are all foods that double as medicines. Licorice is a common sweetener in foods, tsaoko fruit is a seasoning in many cuisines, ginger is an everyday ingredient, and salt is an indispensable seasoning. Therefore this formula has essentially no side effects.

Kuaipi San warms the spleen and harmonizes the stomach, descends counterflow and stops vomiting. It is indicated for spleen-stomach disharmony, vomiting of sour water, and reduced appetite—these are the most common digestive symptoms, often caused by reflux esophagitis, gastritis, hyperchlorhydria, or gastric cancer; cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or targeted therapy may also develop these adverse reactions. Such conditions are usually chronic and prone to recurrence. Kuaipi San in Yangshi Jiacang Fang is food-grade, readily accepted by patients, has few side effects, and is inexpensive, making it well suited for daily use.

Patients with these conditions may prepare a batch following the method above, store it at home in a sealed jar, and take it whenever needed.