Origin and recipe
Traditional Chinese Medicine Xiao Chengqi Decoction comes from the Treatise on Febrile Diseases by Zhang Zhongjing, a famous doctor in the Eastern Han Dynasty. This is a classic work that holds an important position in the history of Chinese medicine. In the era of epidemics, Zhang Zhongjing, with his extraordinary medical skills and compassion, summarized many good prescriptions that are still used today, and Xiao Chengqi Decoction is one of the best.
The main ingredients of Xiao Chengqi Decoction include rhubarb, magnolia bark and immature bitter orange . The specific formula is as follows:
4 liang of rhubarb (washed with wine first)
2 liang of Magnolia officinalis (baked and skin removed)
3 large Citrus aurantiums (also need to be roasted)

Efficacy and Application
The main function of Xiao Chengqi Decoction is to help the body expel heat and toxins, promote defecation, eliminate the feeling of fullness in the chest and abdomen, slightly regulate stomach function, and remove heat and toxins from the upper body. It directly targets the heat accumulation in the small intestine, clears heat and toxins from the inside, relaxes the intestines and stomach, and smoothes the circulation of qi and blood.
Main Benefits
Treat Yangming Fushi Syndrome : Symptoms include constipation, slurred speech, irritability, dark yellow tongue coating, and slippery and rapid pulse.
Treats abdominal distension, constipation, hot flashes, and dizziness : These symptoms are common in cases of intestinal stagnation.
Treating damp-heat in the stomach and intestines : symptoms include abdominal distension, fullness, pain, and constipation.
Treating the initial stage of dysentery : symptoms include abdominal distension, tenesmus, and red and white diarrhea.
How to use
Boil these herbs in four liters of water, and finally concentrate to one liter and two liters, remove the residue, and then take it warm in two doses. After drinking the first dose, you should feel the urge to defecate soon. If you don't feel this reaction, drink all the rest. But once you have a defecation reaction, you don't need to continue taking it.
Contraindications
Although Xiao Chengqi Decoction has remarkable efficacy, it also has its contraindications.
Pregnant women are strictly prohibited from using it because its strong laxative effect may induce uterine contraction, leading to serious consequences such as miscarriage.
People with weak constitution and extremely poor gastrointestinal function should also use it with caution, otherwise it may further damage their vital energy and make the body even weaker.
Moreover, before using Xiao Chengqi Decoction, it is recommended that a professional Chinese medicine practitioner make a diagnosis and judgment, and never take it blindly on your own.
Differences from Traditional Chinese Medicine Dachengqi Decoction
Dachengqi Decoction also comes from Shanghan Lun. Its formula is based on Xiaochengqi Decoction with the addition of Glauber's Salt. Glauber's Salt is salty and can soften hard objects and induce diarrhea, greatly enhancing the laxative power of the prescription, making it good at relieving heat accumulation. Dachengqi Decoction is suitable for severe Yangming Fu Shi with symptoms of fullness, fullness, dryness and fullness. For example, patients have severe abdominal distension and pain, constipation for many days and hard stools, and even severe symptoms such as high fever, coma and delirium.

In comparison, the medicinal properties of Xiao Chengqi Decoction are relatively mild. It mainly targets the symptoms of distension, fullness, and solidity without obvious dryness, and is mainly used to relieve heat and constipation. Its effect is more like an orderly cleansing of the intestines rather than a "powerful assault" like Da Chengqi Decoction.
In the application process of Xiao Chengqi Decoction, in addition to drug treatment, diet therapy and massage can also be used as effective auxiliary means to help regulate the stomach and promote physical recovery.
Diet therapy
Diet therapy is an important part of TCM conditioning. A reasonable diet can help relieve gastrointestinal discomfort and promote digestive function. The following are some diet therapy methods suitable for use with Xiao Chengqi Decoction:
Barley porridge : Barley has the effect of strengthening the spleen and benefiting the body, and is suitable for people with dampness and heat in the stomach and intestines. Cooking barley with rice can help remove dampness from the body and promote digestion.
Yam soup : Yam has the effect of nourishing the spleen and stomach, and is suitable for people with weak stomachs. Slicing yam and boiling it into soup can help regulate the spleen and stomach and promote digestion and absorption.
Radish soup : Radish has the functions of eliminating stagnation, reducing phlegm and promoting diuresis, and is suitable for people with intestinal stagnation. Cutting radish into pieces and boiling it into soup can help clear intestinal stagnation and promote defecation.
Mung bean soup : Mung beans have the effects of clearing away heat and detoxifying, diuresis and relieving summer heat, and are suitable for people with stomach heat. Boiling mung beans into soup can help remove heat and toxins from the body and promote digestion.
massage
Massage can stimulate specific acupuncture points to promote gastrointestinal motility and relieve gastrointestinal discomfort. The following are some massage methods suitable for use with Xiao Chengqi Decoction:
Tianshu acupoint massage : Tianshu acupoint is located two inches on both sides of the navel and is an important acupoint for regulating the stomach. Gently massage the Tianshu acupoint with your fingers for 5-10 minutes each time to help promote gastrointestinal motility and relieve symptoms such as abdominal distension and constipation.
Zhongwan acupoint massage : Zhongwan acupoint is located four inches above the navel and is an important acupoint for regulating the spleen and stomach. Gently massaging the Zhongwan acupoint with your fingers for 5-10 minutes each time can help regulate the spleen and stomach and promote digestion and absorption.
Zusanli massage : Zusanli acupoint is located three inches below the knee and is an important acupoint for regulating the stomach. Gently massage Zusanli acupoint with your fingers for 5-10 minutes each time to help promote gastrointestinal motility and relieve symptoms such as abdominal distension and constipation.
Hegu acupoint massage : Hegu acupoint is located at the base of the palm on the back of the hand. It is an important acupoint for regulating the body's qi and blood. Gently massage the Hegu acupoint with your fingers for 5-10 minutes each time to help promote the circulation of qi and blood throughout the body and relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.

Conclusion
As a classic Chinese medicine prescription, Xiao Chengqi Decoction has a long history and excellent therapeutic effects. It is a precious treasure in the treasure house of Chinese medicine. If used correctly, it can help us solve the problems of gastrointestinal stagnation and help the body return to a healthy balance. However, when using Xiao Chengqi Decoction, you need to be cautious and follow the guidance of professional doctors to ensure safety and efficacy.
Reasonable diet therapy and massage can effectively assist the treatment of Xiao Chengqi Decoction, help regulate the stomach and promote physical recovery. However, the effects of diet therapy and massage vary from person to person, and it is recommended to be performed under the guidance of a professional Chinese medicine practitioner to ensure safety and efficacy. As a classic Chinese medicine prescription, Xiao Chengqi Decoction, combined with diet therapy and massage, can more comprehensively regulate the stomach and help the body return to a healthy balance.