The strongest defender of the spleen, everyone who understands it will benefit

In the history of Chinese medicine, there is an important school called the Bu Tu School, whose founder was Li Dongyuan (1180-1251). Li Gao, whose courtesy name was Mingzhi, was a native of Zhending (now Zhengding, Hebei Province). In his later years, he called himself Old Man Dongyuan. He was one of the "Four Great Masters of Jin and Yuan Dynasties" in Chinese medical history and the founder of the "Spleen and Stomach Theory" of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He emphasized the important role of the spleen and stomach in the human body. Because among the five elements, the spleen and stomach belong to the central earth, his theory is also called the "earth-replenishing school." Spleen Earth, also known as Kun Earth, is the acquired foundation of the human body. It is responsible for the growth of all things and is the acquired foundation of the human body. The "Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor" states: The spleen and stomach are the officials of the granary, and the five flavors come from them.

The spleen and stomach belong to the earth element and are located in the middle. They have close relationships with the other four internal organs. No matter which internal organ is affected by evil or is injured by overwork, the spleen and stomach will be harmed. At the same time, diseases of various organs can also be harmonized, nourished and coordinated through the spleen and stomach. Deficiency of the spleen and stomach is manifested by: loss of appetite, poor appetite, loose stools, limb fatigue, or edema, weight loss and other symptoms of spleen dysfunction. At this time, it is necessary to strengthen the spleen and replenish qi. Among the many spleen-strengthening and qi-replenishing medicines, Atractylodes macrocephala should be the first choice. It can be said that Atractylodes macrocephala is the king of Chinese medicines for spleen-strengthening and qi-replenishing.

"Bencao Tongxuan" says: Atractylodes is a medicine for nourishing the spleen and stomach, and there is no better medicine than it. When the earth is strong, it can move healthily, so it can be used by those who cannot eat, those with food stagnation, and those with abdominal distension. When the earth is strong, it can overcome dampness. Therefore, those who suffer from phlegm, swelling, and arthritis all rely on it. When the earth is strong, the clear air can rise and the essence can be transported upward, while the turbid air can descend and the dross can be transported downward. Therefore, it is indispensable for those who vomit and have diarrhea.

"Ben Jing Feng Yuan" says: Atractylodes macrocephala, when used raw, can remove dampness and replenish dryness, eliminate phlegm and promote diuresis, treat wind-cold and dampness arthritis, dead muscles, spasm and jaundice, disperse blood between the waist and navel, and treat Chong meridian diseases, and the effects of reverse qi and urgency; when cooked, it can harmonize the middle and replenish qi, quench thirst, produce body fluid, stop sweating and eliminate heat, promote appetite, and stabilize the fetus.

"Origins of Medicine": Removes dampness and replenishes dryness, harmonizes the middle and replenishes Qi, warms the middle, removes dampness from the spleen and stomach, removes stomach heat, strengthens the spleen and stomach, promotes appetite, harmonizes the stomach, produces body fluids, treats muscle heat, fatigue in the limbs, unwillingness to open the eyes, laziness and love of lying down, loss of appetite, quenches thirst, and stabilizes the fetus.

【Nature and flavor and meridians】Bitter, sweet, warm. It enters the spleen and stomach meridians.

[Functions and indications] Strengthens the spleen and replenishes Qi, dries dampness and promotes diuresis, stops sweating, and stabilizes the fetus. It is used for spleen deficiency, poor appetite, abdominal distension and diarrhea, phlegm and fluid, dizziness and palpitations, edema, spontaneous sweating, and fetal movement disorder.

Atractylodes (scientific name: Atractylodes macrocephala) is a plant of the genus Atractylodes in the Asteraceae family. It has single, narrow leaves, purple flowers, and capitulate inflorescences. Its rhizomes are used as medicine. Its aliases include Atractylodes, Winter Atractylodes, Zhejiang Atractylodes, Seed Atractylodes, and Qi Atractylodes. It used to be a specialty of Zhejiang, China, and is now cultivated in Anhui, Hebei, Fujian, Hunan and other provinces.

[Single Ingredient Proven Recipe] ① Treats spleen and stomach qi deficiency syndrome, sallow complexion, low voice, shortness of breath and fatigue, poor appetite and loose stools, pale tongue with white coating, and weak and rapid pulse. It is commonly used clinically to treat chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer and other diseases caused by spleen and stomach qi deficiency. 90 grams each of ginseng, Atractylodes macrocephala, and Poria cocos, and 60 grams of licorice. Grind the above into fine powder. Take 6 grams each time, add a cup of water, boil until 70% cooked, and take orally at any time; add a little salt, and it can also be eaten with plain soup. Modern usage: decoction in water, dosage determined by discretion. (Taiping Huimin Hejijufang Sijunzi Decoction)

②Treat spleen deficiency and distension: 60 grams of Atractylodes macrocephala and 120 grams of tangerine peel. Grind into powder, sprinkle into paste and make into pills the size of walnuts. Take 30 pills with costus root soup before each meal. (Kuanzhong Pills from Quansheng Zhimi Fang)

③ Treat abdominal distension, help digestion and strengthen the stomach: 30g of Citrus aurantium (fried with bran until yellow), 60g of Atractylodes macrocephala. Grind the above ingredients into very fine powder, wrap them with cooked rice in lotus leaves and make them into balls, once the size of mung beans. Take 50 pills each time with white soup, at any time, and adjust the dosage according to the extent of injury. (Jishu Pills from "Secret Treasures of the Orchid Chamber")

④Treat diarrhea due to spleen deficiency: 30 grams of Atractylodes macrocephala, 15 grams of Paeonia lactiflora (Do not use Paeonia lactiflora in winter, add nutmeg, and stir-fry for diarrhea). Grind the above ingredients into powder and make into pills with porridge. (Baizhu Pills from Danxi's Heart Method)

⑤ Treat diarrhea caused by dampness and summer heat: Take equal parts of Atractylodes macrocephala and Plantago seed, stir-fry until ground into powder, and take 6-9 grams with white soup. (Simple single prescription)

⑥To treat hardness under the heart, as big as a plate, with edges like a rotating plate, caused by drinking water: 7 pieces of Citrus aurantium, 60 grams of Atractylodes macrocephala. Take the above two ingredients, add five liters of water, boil and take out three liters. Divide into three portions and take warm. The pain in the stomach will dissipate immediately. (Zhishu Decoction from the Golden Chamber)

⑦Treatment of spontaneous sweating: Take a spoonful of Atractylodes macrocephala powder with water, twice a day. (Qianjin Fang)

⑧Treat night sweats: 120 grams of Atractylodes macrocephala, divided into four portions, one portion is stir-fried with Astragalus, one portion is stir-fried with Dendrobium, one portion is stir-fried with oyster, and one portion is stir-fried with bran. Slightly fry the above ingredients until they turn yellow, then discard the remaining ingredients. Only use Atractylodes macrocephala and grind it into powder. Take 6 grams each time, mixed with corn soup, up to 120 grams. (Danxi's Heart Method)

⑨Treatment of spontaneous sweating in the elderly and children: 15 grams of Atractylodes macrocephala, a handful of wheat, boil them in water until dry, remove the wheat and grind them into powder, take 3 grams with Astragalus soup. (《All Children's Heart》)

⑩Treatment for postpartum vomiting and loss of appetite: 15 grams of Atractylodes macrocephala and 18 grams of ginger. Decoction in water and drink slowly while warm. (Good Prescriptions for Women)

⑾For treating muscle heat due to blood deficiency, or steaming heat due to spleen deficiency, or internal heat and cold: 3 grams each of Atractylodes macrocephala, White Poria cocos, White Peony Root (fried), 5 fen of Licorice (fried), ginger, jujube, decocted in water. (Qilijiasan from "Good Prescriptions for Women")

⑿ Treats water retention under the heart, which causes the clear yang to fail to rise and the turbid yin to invade, resulting in dizziness and dizziness. Now used for ear-related vertigo: 30 grams of Alisma orientalis and 15 grams of Atractylodes macrocephala. Add 300 ml of water to the above two herbs, boil and extract 150 ml, then divide into portions and take warm. (Zhixie Decoction in "Golden Chamber Synopsis? Phlegm and Cough Disease")