Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang originated from "Gujin Mingyi Fanglun", a book compiled by Luo Mei, a Xin'an physician in the Qing Dynasty, which contains more than 150 commonly used prescriptions and more than 180 prescriptions. However, Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang was not created by Luo Mei, but quoted from the prescription of Ke Qin, a typhoid scholar in the Qing Dynasty. Ke Qin's prescription was quoted in "Gujin Mingyi Fanglun", which made Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction spread to this day.
The efficacy and indications of Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang is a Qi-tonifying prescription that has the effects of replenishing Qi and resolving phlegm, promoting Qi and warming the middle. It is mainly used to treat spleen and stomach Qi deficiency and phlegm blocking Qi stagnation. The manifestations of spleen and stomach Qi deficiency include digestive system problems, such as stomach obstruction and distension caused by improper diet.

Fang Yi Analysis
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang is Liu jun zi Tang with costusroot and amomum villosum added. The specific effects of each drug in the prescription are as follows:
Ginseng : strengthens the spleen and replenishes Qi, while Atractylodes macrocephala strengthens the spleen and dries up dampness.
Poria : penetrates moisture and benefits the spleen.
Licorice : replenishes Qi and harmonizes the stomach.
Pinellia : regulates Qi and resolves phlegm.
Chenpi : promotes qi and strengthens the spleen, dries dampness and resolves phlegm.
Costus root : Strengthens the spleen and promotes the flow of Qi, resolves stagnation and relieves pain.
Amomum villosum : removes dampness, invigorates the spleen, promotes qi and harmonizes the stomach.

The drug composition and its principal, secondary, adjuvant and guiding ingredients of Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang is composed of the following herbs: Radix Codonopsis, Atractylodes Macrocephala, Poria, Licorice, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Processed Pinellia, Fructus Amomi, and Aucklandia Sinensis. These herbs are combined according to the principle of monarch, minister, assistant, and envoy to form a complete prescription.
Dangshen and Atractylodes macrocephala: have the effect of replenishing Qi and are the main medicines in the prescription.
Poria : It can penetrate moisture and promote diuresis, and assist the main medicine in replenishing qi.
Licorice : regulates stomach qi and serves as an adjuvant.
Chenpi and costusroot : promote the flow of qi, eliminate stagnation, and aid digestion.
Pinellia : dries dampness and resolves phlegm, and is a guiding drug.
Amomum villosum : invigorates the spleen and warms the stomach, and enhances the effects of promoting qi and harmonizing the stomach.
The combined effects of these medicines allow Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction to replenish qi while harmonizing the stomach and resolving phlegm, making it an important prescription for treating spleen deficiency and stagnation, and internal obstruction of phlegm and dampness.

Daily use and clinical application of Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang is based on Liujunzi Decoction with the addition of costusroot and amomum villosum, which further enhances its efficacy of promoting qi and warming the middle meridians on the basis of treating spleen and stomach qi deficiency. It is suitable for problems of spleen and stomach qi deficiency manifested in the digestive system, such as stomach obstruction and distension caused by improper diet.
Differences from other Qi-replenishing prescriptions
Liu jun zi Tang and Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang are both modified from Sijunzi Decoction. Sijunzi Decoction adds dried orange peel and pinellia tuber to strengthen qi and spleen, dry dampness and resolve phlegm; adding costusroot and amomum villosum strengthens the effect of promoting qi and warming the middle, and is suitable for spleen and stomach qi deficiency, cold dampness and qi stagnation.

Compared with Bu zhong Yi qi Tang, Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction enhances the function of aiding digestion and is used for the situation of spleen deficiency and weak qi and food stagnation. However, if the indigestion is only caused by overeating, you can directly use prescriptions such as Xiang sha Zhi shu Pills or Jiawei Baohe Pills that are specifically used to help digestion and relieve food stagnation.
Modern applications and indications
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang has many applications in modern medicine, including anti-ulcer, enhancing gastrointestinal function, enhancing immune function, analgesia, etc. It is used to treat a variety of gastrointestinal diseases, such as gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastric relaxation, gastroptosis, gastric cancer, hyperacidity, chronic peritonitis, loss of appetite, azotemia, etc.
Its main symptoms include spleen and stomach weakness, dampness blocking qi stagnation, chest and abdominal distension, abdominal distension after eating, loss of appetite, vomiting and belching, heartburn, white and greasy tongue coating, and weak pulse.
Key points of diagnosis
The key points of syndrome differentiation of Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang include epigastric distension, poor appetite and preference for hot soup, dysuria and acid reflux, white and greasy tongue coating, and weak pulse. These symptoms indicate spleen and stomach qi deficiency and dampness blocking qi stagnation, and are suitable for treatment with Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction.

Addition and subtraction
According to the specific symptoms, Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang can be added or subtracted:
For those with severe spleen and stomach deficiency and coldness : add Cornus officinalis, dried ginger, and cinnamon.
For those with spleen and kidney yang deficiency : add Psoralea corylifolia and Aconitum carmichaelii.
For those with exterior symptoms : add Saposhnikovia divaricata, Perilla leaf, Bupleurum chinense, and White Peony Root.
Poor appetite : add hawthorn and malt.
Pantothenic acid : Combined with Wubei San.
Dampness and diarrhea : add Pueraria root, talc, coix seed, and Atractylodes macrocephala.
Diet therapy combined with adjunctive therapy
When using Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang, you can use some dietary therapy to enhance the efficacy. For example, you can eat some foods that strengthen the spleen and replenish qi, such as yam, red dates, lotus seeds, etc. These foods can help regulate the spleen and stomach, enhance digestive function, and thus better cooperate with drug treatment.
Conclusion
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang is a very effective Chinese medicine prescription, mainly used to treat spleen and stomach qi deficiency, phlegm blocking qi stagnation syndrome. It can effectively improve a variety of digestive system problems by replenishing qi and resolving phlegm, promoting qi and warming the middle. In modern medicine, Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction is also widely used in the treatment of a variety of gastrointestinal diseases. Through reasonable drug compatibility and diet therapy, its therapeutic effect can be better exerted to help patients recover their health.