"Renshen Zhusan" and "Renshen Muxiang San" for Stomach Disorders
In the Song dynasty Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang, Prescriptions from the Taiping Imperial Pharmacy), there are two powder formulas for treating stomach disorders—"Renshen Zhusan" and "Renshen Muxiang San." Their compositions and effects are similar; both are used to relieve symptoms caused by stomach disease (gastritis, gastric ulcer, gastric cancer, etc.), such as epigastric distending pain and vomiting of phlegm-saliva.
Renshen Zhusan is composed as follows: Renshen (Ginseng Radix, ginseng) 120 g, Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride, green tangerine peel, white pith removed) 360 g, Zhigancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata, honey-fried licorice) 300 g, Paojiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Praeparatum, blast-fried dried ginger) 180 g, Weisanleng (Sparganii Rhizoma, roasted sparganium, crushed) 360 g, Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba, white peony root) 500 g, Dingxiangshupi (clove bark) 180 g, Fuling (Poria, poria, peeled) 250 g, Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma, atractylodes) 250 g (all the above doses are converted to modern equivalents). Grind all the above into a powder; each time take 6 g, add 150 ml of water, 5 slices of Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, fresh ginger) and 3 Dazao (Jujubae Fructus, jujube), and decoct together to 100 ml.
Renshen Zhusan warms the middle and strengthens the spleen, moves qi and harmonizes the stomach. It is indicated for spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, stagnation of qi in the middle epigastrium, epigastric and abdominal distending pain, poor appetite, retained cold-rheum that accumulates and does not disperse; or for injury to the spleen and stomach from excessive consumption of raw and cold food, with vomiting of phlegm-saliva, alternating chills and fever, or occasional sweating; or for cold-dampness in the stomach and intestines, with watery diarrhea in which food and water are not separated, gurgling in the abdomen, and deficiency-fullness of the hypochondria.
Renshen Muxiang San is composed as follows: Renshen (ginseng), Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix, saussurea), and Qingpi (green tangerine peel, white pith not removed) 1.5 kg each; Jianghuang (Curcumae Longae Rhizoma, turmeric) and Maiya (Hordei Fructus Germinatus, germinated barley) 1.5 kg each; Chao Gancao (stir-fried licorice) 5.5 kg; Peng'ezhu (Curcumae Rhizoma, zedoary) 2 kg; Chaoyan (stir-fried salt) 5.5 kg. Grind all the above into a powder; take 3 g each time, twice daily, dissolved in boiling water, at any time.
Renshen Muxiang San moves qi and loosens the middle. It is indicated for spleen-stomach qi stagnation, stuffiness and oppression in the chest and diaphragm, stabbing pain in the heart and abdomen, hypochondriac distension and fullness, reduced appetite, belching with acid regurgitation, and vomiting with choking and oppression.
The two formulas share some similar components. Ezhu (Curcumae Rhizoma, zedoary) and Sanleng (Sparganii Rhizoma, sparganium) have very similar effects—both break blood and disperse accumulation—and are clinically often used together as a mutually reinforcing pair. The diseases they treat are also similar: both are used to relieve clinical symptoms of chronic stomach disease such as indigestion, epigastric distending pain, vomiting, acid regurgitation, and heartburn caused by gastritis, gastric ulcer, and gastric cancer.
Note that stomach disease is difficult to cure quickly and generally requires a long course, so the principle of slow treatment for chronic disease should be followed. The two formulas in the Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang are powders rather than decoctions, which precisely reflects the characteristic of slow treatment for chronic disease. Modern patients can follow the above formula but use capsules or pills instead of powder, which is more convenient.
From the perspective of modern pharmacology, both formulas have some inhibitory effect on gastric cancer, though the antitumor action is limited. They can, however, genuinely relieve clinical symptoms and improve patients' quality of life.