Tong Xie Yao Fang
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
痛泻要方 · Tòng Xiè Yào Fāng
A classical formula for painful diarrhoea from Liver overacting on Spleen, with abdominal pain that precedes loose stools and is often linked to emotional stress.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Harmonising Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Qi Stagnation
- Primary Function
- Soothe Liver, strengthen Spleen, stop painful diarrhoea
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Tonify the Spleen, soften the Liver and stop pain with diarrhoea
- Classical Source
- Dan Xi Xin Fa (Zhu Danxi, Yuan dynasty)
- Available as Granules
- Yes
Formula Overview
A classical formula for painful diarrhoea from Liver overacting on Spleen, with abdominal pain that precedes loose stools and is often linked to emotional stress.
Therapeutic Principle
Traditionally selected when abdominal pain and diarrhoea are clearly linked to Liver-Spleen disharmony and emotion — not pure Spleen deficiency, Kidney deficiency or cold Middle patterns.
Composition: Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, Envoy
Every herb in the formula, grouped by the job it does in the classical hierarchy.
君SovereignTreats the main pattern
臣MinisterReinforces the sovereign
佐/使Assistant & EnvoyTreats accompanying patterns, harmonises the whole
陳皮Chen Pi6g
Tangerine Peel- regulates qi and dries dampness
- awakens the spleen and harmonizes the stomach
防風Fang Feng6g
Saposhnikovia Root- soothes the liver constraint and regulates the spleen qi
- guides the effects of the other medicinals to the spleen
Classical Composition
- Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Bai Zhu dry-fried) 3 liang (90g)
- Paeoniae Radix Alba (Bai Shao dry-fried) 2 liang (60g)
- Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chen Pi dry-fried) 1.5 liang (45g)
- Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng) 1 liang (30g)
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Supplements the spleen and softens the liver
- dispels dampness and arrests diarrhea.
Indications
- Painful diarrhea due to a deficient spleen and a vigorous liver, characterized by borborygmus, abdominal pain, diarrhea with abdominal pain, pain that is relieved after diarrhea, the guan pulses of both hands not in harmony (a wiry pulse on the left hand and a moderate pulse on the right).
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- Painful diarrhea is due to wood over-restricting the earth, liver-spleen disharmony, and the spleen failing to transport.
- As mentioned in《Investigations of Medical Formulas》, “diarrhea is caused by the spleen deficiency while the pain is due to liver excess.
- A deficient spleen and a vigorous liver may result painful diarrhea.” The methods of supplementing the spleen and inhibiting the liver, dispelling dampness, and arresting diarrhea are appropriate to use because there is diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Treatment strategy
- The treatment principle is to tonify the Spleen, soften the Liver and stop pain with diarrhoea.
How does this formula compare?
Clinical Perspective
Tong Xie Yao Fang soothes Liver and strengthens Spleen for painful diarrhoea. Shen Ling Bai Zhu San tonifies Spleen and drains damp for chronic loose stools. Si Shen Wan warms Kidney-Spleen for daybreak diarrhoea. Li Zhong Tang warms the Middle for cold-deficient diarrhoea.
Clinical Differentiation
- Tong Xie Yao Fang is a commonly used formula for painful diarrhea due to liver-spleen disharmony.
- This clinical pattern is marked byborborygmus, abdominal pain, diarrhea with abdominal pain, pain relieved after diarrhea, wiry pulse on the left guan, a moderate pulse on the right guan, and disharmony between both guan.
Safety notes: This formula is not appropriate for damp-heat or food-stagnation diarrhea, nor for kidney-yang daybreak diarrhea.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actions of Tong Xie Yao Fang?
Tong Xie Yao Fang has the actions of tonifying the Spleen, softening the Liver, expelling Dampness, and stopping diarrhea. It is the classic formula for painful diarrhea caused by Liver constraint overacting on a deficient Spleen (Liver-Spleen disharmony).
Which modern diseases is Tong Xie Yao Fang suited to?
Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within Liver constraint and Spleen deficiency, including diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D), chronic or recurrent colitis and enteritis of this pattern, and stress- or emotion-triggered abdominal pain with diarrhea.
Is Tong Xie Yao Fang suitable for improving abdominal pain with diarrhea that is relieved after the bowel movement?
For presentations of intestinal rumbling, abdominal pain that accompanies or precedes diarrhea, pain that eases after defecation, recurrent episodes often triggered by stress or emotion, a thin white tongue coating, and a left guan pulse that is wiry while the right is moderate — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms Liver excess overacting on Spleen deficiency — TCM commonly applies Tong Xie Yao Fang as an adjunct. It cannot replace standard medical treatment.
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Tong Xie Yao Fang: Classic TCM Formula for Painful Diarrhea, Liver-Spleen Disharmony
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Medical Disclaimer
For general TCM education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified TCM practitioner or licensed healthcare provider before use, especially if pregnant, nursing, on medication, or managing a chronic condition.