Center-Rectifying Combination - Li Zhong Wan

Formula Type

Extract & Concentrate

TCM Pattern

Because yang-vacuity cold leaves the spleen unable to transform and transport, the clear fails to ascend and the turbid fails to descend. This disharmony results in nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, belching, lack of appetite and pain and/or fullness in the abdomen. These symptoms are often accompanied by fatigue, a pale complexion and clouded thinking.

Therapeutic Functions

Warms the center, dispels cold, supplements qi, and fortifies the spleen.*

Clinical Indications

Gastroenteritis, peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic dysentery, ulcerative colitis and other digestive tract ailments characterized by, pain, distention, diarrhea, and lack of appetite.

Symptoms & Signs

abdominal pain, fullness in the abdomen with lack of desire to eat, duck-stool diarrhea. Less commonly this formula is applied to chest pain (thoracic bi patterns) and to bleeding disorders characterized by cold. This formula treats vacuity-cold in the central burner. The patient presents with aversion to cold and symptoms are typically reduced with application of warmth and worsened by cold (ingestion of raw or cold foods).

Precautions

This formula generally treats internal disorders and is not appropriate for use during the course of an external contraction. This is especially true if the external disorder is one with fever, since the herbs in this formula are decidedly warm.

Pulse Quality

Slow and tight or fine and deep.

Tongue Appearance

Pale with a white fur.