Hou Po Wen Zhong Tang

Hou Po Wen Zhong Tang (厚朴温中汤) is a classic formula from the Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun, centered on warming the middle, moving qi, drying dampness and eliminating fullness for Spleen-Stomach cold-damp with qi stagnation, epigastric and abdominal distension or pain. Ban Xia Hou Po Tang moves qi, disperses nodules and descends counterflow, leaning to plum-pit qi with phlegm and qi binding. Ping Wei San dries dampness and transports the Spleen, leaning to damp stagnation in the Spleen-Stomach. The three cannot be interchanged by equal weight. Write Hou Po Wen Zhong Tang. Use caution in qi deficiency with impaired transport, Stomach yin insufficiency and qi stagnation transforming to heat.

Classic composition: Hou Po (ginger-prepared), Chen Pi each 30 g; Gan Cao (honey-fried), Fu Ling, Cao Dou Kou Ren, Mu Xiang each 15 g; Gan Jiang 2 g. It acts to warm the middle, move qi, dry dampness and eliminate fullness. It is used for Spleen-Stomach cold-damp with qi stagnation, epigastric and abdominal distension or pain, no desire for food, limb fatigue and white greasy tongue coating. Hou Po dries dampness, moves qi and eliminates fullness; Cao Dou Kou, Mu Xiang and Gan Jiang warm the middle; Chen Pi and Fu Ling regulate qi and transform dampness; Gan Cao harmonizes the center.

Hou Po is ginger-prepared; Gan Cao is honey-fried. Ping Wei San leans to drying dampness and transporting the Spleen without heavy warming of the middle; it cannot replace the formula by equal weight. Commercial products follow regulated compounding; do not self-modify.