Jian Pi Wan - Strengthen Spleen Pills - TCM Herbal Formula

Chinese Name: Jian Pi Wan
English Name: Strengthen Spleen Pills

Formula Category


Clinical Usage and Indications

Coming Soon...

Related TCM Diagnostic Patterns


Staff Clinician Notes:

There are no staff notes at this time.

Cautions and Contraindications:

None at this time.  As always consult with an acupuncturist/herbalist before use.

Related Western Medical Conditions:


Individual Chinese Herbs In This Formula:


  • Bai Zhu
  • Herb Functions
    • Tonifies the spleen, augments qi, dries dampness - diarrhea, fatigue, lack of appetite, vomiting, edema.
    • Stabilizes the exterior and stops sweating - spontaneous sweating due to qi deficiency.
    • Calms the fetus - arising from spleen deficiency.

  • Chen Pi
  • Herb Functions
    • Regulates Qi, improves transportive function of the spleen, relieves diaphragm - epigastric/abdominal distention, fullness, bloating, belching, nausea, vomiting (promotes movement of qi in general; specifically directing it downward - good for different types of nausea/vomiting).
    • Important herb for drying dampness and the transformation of phlegm - coughs with stifling sensation in the chest/diaphragm, and copious viscous sputum (qi-level herb).
    • Prevents stagnation - prevents cloying of tonifying herbs.
    • Ju Hong is the red part of the tangerine peel - it is more drying and aromatic.

  • Fu Ling
  • Herb Functions
    • Promotes urination, drains dampness, transforms phlegm - urinary difficulty, diarrhea, edema, headache, dizziness, greasy tongue coat.
    • Strengthens the spleen, harmonizes the middle jiao - diarrhea, loss of appetite.
    • Quiets the heart and calms the spirit - palpitations, insomnia, forgetfulness.

  • Contraindications
    • Avoid Vinegar While Using This Herb.

  • Gan Cao
  • Herb Functions
    • Tonifies the spleen and augments qi - spleen deficiency w/shortness of breath, fatigue, loose stools (si jun zi tong).
    • Qi and/or blood deficiency w/irregular pluse or palpitations (Zhi Gan Cao Tang).
    • Moistens the lungs and stops cough - heat/cold in the lungs (Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang).
    • Clears heat and toxic fire (raw) - carbuncles, sores, sore throat due to fire toxin (internally or topically).
    • Alleviates pain and stops spasms - abdomen or legs (Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang).
    • Often used to harmonize and/or moderate characteristics of other herbs.
    • Antidote for toxic substances (internally and topically).

  • Contraindications
    • Avoid with excess dampness, nausea, vomiting.
    • Incompatible with Gan Sui, Da Ji, Yuan Hua, Hai Zao (although used in some formulas with Hai Zao).
    • If taken for long periods of time, may cause hypertension and/or edema.

  • Huang Lian
  • Herb Functions
    • Drains fire, relieves toxicity - high fever, irritability, disorientation, delirium, painful, red eyes, red tongue, sore throat, boils, carbuncles, abscesses.
    • Clears heat, drains dampness - for damp-heat in the stomach or intestine, diarrhea or dysenteric disorder, vomiting and/or acid regurgitation due to stomach heat.
    • Clears heart fire - irritability, insomnia.
    • Clears heat and stops bleeding - nosebleed, blood in the urine, stool, vomiting due to hot blood.
    • Topically for red, painful eyes and ulcerations of the tongue and mouth.

  • Mai Ya
  • Herb Functions
    • Reduces food stagnation, strengthens stomach (also useful for infants).
    • Inhibits lactation - for discontinuing nursing, distended and painful breasts.
    • Reduces liver Qi - intercostal or epigastric distention, belching, loss of appetite.

  • Mu Xiang
  • Herb Functions
    • Promotes the movement of Qi, alleviates pain - stagnant qi of the stomach and/or spleen causing lack of appetite, abdominal pain, distention, nausea; liver or gallbladder qi stagnation causing flank pain, distention.
    • Regulates stagnated Qi in the intestines - diarrhea, abdominal pain (common herb to treat tenesmus).
    • Strengthens the spleen and prevents stagnation, used with tonifying herbs to reduce side effects.

  • Ren Shen
  • Herb Functions
    • Strongly tonify yuan qi - extreme collapse of qi, shortness of breath, cold limbs, profuse sweating, weak pulse (often used alone for this condition after severe blood loss).
    • Tonify lung qi - wheezing, shortness of breath, w/kidneys failing to grasp the qi.
    • Strengthen the middle warmer - lethargy, no appetite, chronic diarrhea, prolapse of organs, distended chest/abdomen.
    • Generates fluids, stops thirst - xiao ke, damaged fluid due to high dever and profuse sweating.
    • Benefits heart qi, calms the spirit - palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, poor memory, restlessness due to qi and/or blood deficiency.

  • Contraindications
    • Avoid tea and turnips while taking ginseng.
    • Antagonist with Wu Ling Zhi, Incompatible with Li Lu.
    • Avoid with high blood pressure and/or liver yang rising.

  • Rou Dou Kou
  • Herb Functions
    • Binds the intestines, stops chronic/daybreak diarrhea due to cold from spleen and kidney deficiency.
    • Warms the middle burner, moves Qi - alleviates pain in abdomen, vomiting due to cold from deficiency of the spleen and stomach.

  • Sha Ren
  • Herb Functions
    • Transforms dampness, stops vomiting - nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea.
    • Promotes movement of Qi, strengthens stomach.
    • Calms the fetus, morning sickness.
    • Prevents tonifying herbs from causing stagnation. (See also Bai Dou Kou, Yi Zhi Ren)

  • Shan Yao
  • Herb Functions
    • Tonify the spleen and stomach qi - diarrhea, fatigue, spontaneous sweating, lack of appetite.
    • Tonify the lung qi and yin - chronic cough/wheezing.
    • Strengthen the kidney yin and yang - not hot nor cold, benefits both yin and yang, xiao ke, also binds the jing - spermatorrhea, vaginal discharge, frequent urination.

  • Shan Zha
  • Herb Functions
    • Reduces and moves food stagnation outward - accumulation of meat and/or greasy foods with distention, pain, diarrhea.
    • Transforms blood stasis, dissipates clumps - post-partum abdominal pain, hernial disorder.
    • Stops diarrhea (when partially charred).
    • Hypertension.

  • Shen Qu
  • Herb Functions
    • Reduces food stagnation, strengthens stomach - stomach cold with food stagnation or accumulation, with epigastric and abdominal fullness or distention, lack of appetite, borborygmus, and diarrhea.
    • Aids in mineral digestion and absorption.