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Ping Wei San: A classic Chinese medicine prescription for treating dampness in the spleen and stomach

Writer's picture: Hongji MedicalHongji Medical

Ping Wei San, also known as Stomach-Calming Powder, is a classic prescription from traditional Chinese medicine. It was first seen in Boji Fang by Wang Kun of the Northern Song Dynasty and was later included in Taiping Huimin Hejiju Fang.


This prescription is mainly used to treat dampness stagnation in the spleen and stomach, and has the effects of drying dampness and moving the spleen, promoting qi and harmonizing the stomach. Due to its remarkable effect in treating gastrointestinal diseases, Ping Wei San is very popular in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and is always a popular Chinese medicine on Google Trend.


Pingweisan
平胃散

Ping Wei San prescription composition


The main ingredients of Pingwei San include:

  • Atractylodes: remove the black skin, grind into coarse powder, fry until yellow, 4 liang (120g)

  • Magnolia officinalis: remove the rough skin, apply ginger juice, roast until fragrant and cooked, 3 liang (90g)

  • Old tangerine peel: wash and dry, 2 liang (60g)

  • Roasted Licorice: Yellow, 1 liang (30g)

The method of use is to grind the above herbs into fine powder, take 4-6g each time, and drink with ginger and jujube decoction; or make it into a decoction and boil it in water.


Pingweisan
平胃散

Ping Wei San Effects and Indications


The main effects of Pingwei San can be summarized in two words: drying dampness and regulating the spleen and regulating qi and harmonizing the stomach. In simple terms, the role of this prescription is to remove dampness from the body, help the spleen and stomach function better, and at the same time regulate the qi and make the stomach more comfortable.


Indications


Ping Wei San is specifically used to treat a condition called "spleen and stomach dampness syndrome". This condition has many manifestations, including:

  • Abdominal distension : The abdomen feels bloated and uncomfortable.

  • Loss of appetite : no appetite, no desire to eat.

  • Tasteless mouth : There is no taste in the mouth, and nothing tastes good.

  • Nausea and vomiting : Feeling like vomiting and sometimes actually vomiting.

  • Belching and acid reflux : When you burp, there is a sour smell, and even acid water comes up.

  • Heaviness of limbs : The limbs feel heavy and you don’t want to move.

  • Lazy and sleepy : wanting to sleep all day long and feeling lazy.

  • Often selfish : often have diarrhea.

  • Thick and white tongue coating : There is a thick layer of white tongue coating on the tongue.

  • Bradycardia : The pulse beats slowly.


Pingweisan
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Pathogenesis Analysis


To understand the effect of Ping Wei San, we must first know what "dampness stagnation in the spleen and stomach" is. Simply put, it is a condition in which the dampness in the body is too heavy, affecting the function of the spleen and stomach.


The spleen belongs to the element of earth in the five elements. It likes dryness but not humidity. When humidity is too heavy, the function of the spleen will be affected, leading to problems such as indigestion, bloating, and loss of appetite. Humidity will also hinder the movement of the Qi, making people feel bloated, heavy limbs, and even wanting to sleep all day.


When humidity is high, the stomach will also be affected, causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and burping. In addition, humidity will also affect the function of the intestines, causing diarrhea.




Change and Development


The goal of "Ping wei San" is not only to treat stomach problems, but also to remove dampness from the body while dredging the meridians and regulating qi.


You can think of Ping Wei San as a dehumidifier in your body. Stomach problems are just a common symptom when there is a lot of moisture in the body. When there is a lot of moisture, if it is blocked in the head, it will cause head diseases; if it is blocked in the chest, it will cause heart and lung diseases; if it is blocked in the lower abdomen, it will cause kidney and bladder diseases. When moisture moves downward, it will cause pain in the feet, knees, ankles, heels and other parts of the body, and even cause arthritis.


There are many variations of the prescription of Pingwei San. Later generations combined Pingwei San with Xiao Chaihu Tang based on this, and called it Chaiping Tang. Another version combined Pingwei San with Wuling San, and called it Weiling Tang.


Later generations added various "flavored" Ping Wei San, such as "Shenqu, malt", "ginseng, Poria", "Cyperus, Amomum", "Aucklandia, Wuyao", "Coptis, Scutellaria", etc. Regardless of which combination, the basic spirit is to improve the "spleen dampness" in the body , so that the spleen and stomach are peaceful and the rise and fall are natural and orderly, so it is called "Pingwei Powder".


Pingweisan
平胃散

Treatment Principle


The main function of Ping Wei San is to remove dampness from the body and help the spleen and stomach restore their normal functions. Specifically, it achieves its therapeutic effect through the following aspects:

  1. Drying and dampness : Removes dampness from the body so that the spleen is no longer trapped by dampness.

  2. Regulates the spleen : helps the spleen to restore its normal function of transportation and transformation, allowing the digestive system to function normally.

  3. Regulates Qi flow : regulates Qi flow, allowing Qi to flow smoothly in the body, reducing symptoms such as bloating and hiccups.

  4. Soothes the stomach : restores stomach function to normal and reduces symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.




You can think of the spleen and stomach as a kitchen, and moisture is like the accumulated water in the kitchen. When there is too much accumulated water, the work of the kitchen will be affected, the cooking speed will slow down, and even various problems will occur.


Ping Wei San is like a tool to clear the accumulated water, clearing the accumulated water and restoring the kitchen to normal operation. In this way, the kitchen's work efficiency is improved and cooking is smoother.


Modern Application of Ping Wei San


In modern medicine, Pingweisan is widely used, mainly for the treatment of chronic gastritis, digestive tract disorders, gastric and duodenal ulcers, and other syndromes that are caused by dampness in the spleen and stomach. Modern research has found that Pingweisan can promote gastrointestinal motility, improve gastric emptying and small intestinal propulsion function, and thus effectively relieve symptoms such as indigestion and gastrointestinal bloating.


In addition, Pingwei San is also used to treat eczema, fatty liver, dyshidrotic eczema, bacterial food poisoning, dysentery, chronic renal failure, gastric ulcer and many other diseases.




Studies have shown that Pingwei San has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, can reduce inflammatory responses, and promote tissue repair, thereby producing a positive therapeutic effect on a variety of skin diseases and digestive system diseases.


Modern applications of Pingwei San also include the treatment of viral hepatitis, bile reflux gastritis, chronic enteritis, intestinal obstruction, amenorrhea, premenstrual tension syndrome, cervicitis, whooping cough, pediatric anorexia, infantile diarrhea and many other diseases.


Modern pharmacological studies have found that Pingweisan can protect the intestinal barrier function and repair intestinal damage in rats with dampness-obstructed spleen and stomach syndrome, thereby effectively preventing and treating intestinal diseases. In addition, Pingweisan can also prevent and treat the pathological changes of dampness-obstructed middle-jiao syndrome by regulating the aquaporin (AQP) pathway, enhance the expression of gastrointestinal AQP, and regulate the disorder of water and electrolyte balance in the body. These research results further confirm the importance of Pingweisan in modern medicine and its broad application prospects.


Notes and taboos


Pingwei San is bitter, warm and dry, and can easily damage and deplete Yin, so it is not suitable for people with Yin deficiency and Qi stagnation, weak spleen and stomach, and pregnant women. The whole prescription is mainly used to dry dampness, and promotes Qi as a supplement. However, this prescription is always used for bitter and dryness, so it is only suitable for people with dampness and stagnation.


Conclusion


Ping Wei Sanis a classic Chinese medicine prescription for treating dampness in the spleen and stomach, with significant efficacy and wide application. Whether in traditional Chinese medicine theory or in modern medical research, Pingweisan has demonstrated its unique value and role. For those who suffer from gastrointestinal discomfort due to dampness, Pingweisan is undoubtedly a trustworthy choice. However, when using it, you need to pay attention to its contraindications and side effects, and make sure to use it under the guidance of a professional doctor.

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