Chen Pi Pericarpium Citri reticulatae
Sha Ren Fructus seu Semen Amomi
Hou Po Cortex Magnoliae officinalisExplanation
This remedy moves Liver-Qi and eliminates stagnation and is widely used for abdominal pain
from Qi stagnation. It should be noted that it contains many warm and pungent herbs which, with
prolonged use, may injure Yin. This remedy should therefore be used with caution if there is
some Yin deficiency.
Case History 16.2
Abdominal Pain: Stagnation of Liver-Qi-Male, Age 44
A 44-year-old man had been suffering from what had been diagnosed as irritable bowel
syndrome. His bowel movements alternated between diarrhoea and constipation, the latter being
more frequent. The stools were often small and round and he suffered abdominal pain on both
lateral sides without much distending feeling. He also suffered from hiatus hernia which caused
heartburn, belching and dry vomiting. His sleep was disturbed. His tongue was of a normal
colour and only slightly Red on the sides; it had a very sticky coating all over. His pulse was
Slippery and slightly Overflowing on the Stomach position.
Diagnosis In this case there is stagnant Liver-Qi invading both Spleen and
Stomach. The symptoms of stagnant Liver-Qi invading the Spleen are
abdominal pain, diarrhoea and slightly Red sides of the tongue. The
symptoms of stagnant Liver-Qi invading the Stomach are heartburn,
belching, dry vomiting and a slightly Overflowing pulse on the Stomach
position. The deficiency of Spleen-Qi has also given rise to Dampness
causing the pulse to be Slippery and the tongue to have a sticky coating.
Treatment principle The treatment principle adopted was to tonify the Spleen and move
Liver-Qi. This patient was treated only with acupuncture.
Acupuncture The points used were chosen from the following:
SP-4 Gongsun on the left with P-6 Neiguan on the right, with even
method, to open the Penetrating Vessel. This extraordinary vessel
subdues rebellious Qi in the abdomen and chest and is therefore
especially well indicated for stagnation of Liver-Qi in the abdomen and
epigastrium.Ren-13 Shangwan, with even method, to subdue rebellious Stomach-Qi.ST-40 Fenglong, with reducing method, to resolve Dampness and