Functions
Tong Xie Yao Fang mainly functions to soothe the liver, invigorate the spleen, relieve spasm and pain, and regulate the flow of qi and the function of the stomach. It is primarily used to treat disharmony in the flow of qi caused by liver dominance over the spleen, as manifested in these symptoms: abdominal distention and pain, which repeatedly lead to and subsides after diarrhea; whitish coating of the tongue; and slow yet taut pulses.
Dosage Info
1 dose of water decoction divided into 2 oral administrations. 5:1 concentrated extract: 9 grams/day.
Ingredients
Precautions
General: Avoid raw, greasy, and cold foods while under treatment with this formula.
Side Effects: In treating protracted diarrhea, processed Sheng Ma (cimicufuga) may be added to the formula.
Pharmacology
Effects on intestinal peristalsis: The water decoction of Tong Xie Yao Fang can significantly inhibit the movement of both isolated and in-vivo rabbit intestine. It can relieve the intestinal spasm induced by pilocarpine, acecoline, physostigmine salicylate, or barium chloride. Different ingredients of the formula have different effects on the peristalsis of rabbit’s isolated small intestine: Fang Feng and Bai Zhu have a stimulatory effect, while Bai Shao and Chen Pi have an inhibitory effect. Paired together, Fang Feng and Chen Pi has an inhibitory effect on the peristalsis of intestinal smooth muscles. (1) , (2)
Effects on gastric acid secretion: Tong Xie Yao Fang formula has no effect on the acidity of gastric acid. Administered to rats, however, the formula has a significant suppressive effect on gastric acid secretion. To be specific, the alcohol-based precipitation of the formula’s water decoction has a significant inhibitory effect on rats’ gastric acid secretion induced by gastric acid-stimulating drugs such as histamine and pentagastrin. (3)
Counteracting stomach ulcer: Tong Xie Yao Fang has a significant suppressive effect on pyloric ligation-induced stomach ulcer in rats. At the dosages of 25g/kg and 75g/kg (raw herb dosages), the formula has a suppressive rate of 68% and 98%, respectively. (4)
Antibacterial effects: At the concentration level of 25%, the formula has an inhibitory effect on Bacillus dysenteriae, E. coli, and Staphylococcus species. (5)
Clinical Applications
Irritable bowel syndrome
Deng treated 49 cases of irritable bowel syndrome with a modification of this formula. The modified formula consisted of Bai Zhu, Bai Shao, Chen Pi, Fang Feng, Fu Ling, Yi Yi Ren, and Gan Cao. One dose of the formula in water decoction was administered daily in three takes before a meal, and one unit of treatment called for three doses. The results: after 1-6 units of treatment, 37 cases significantly improved, 11 improved, and 1 did not respond to the treatment, with a total effective rate of 97.2%. (6)
Similarly, Liu used a modification of this formula in treating 32 cases of IBS. Here the formula was modified to include Chen Pi, Fo Shou, Bai Shao, Bai Zhu, Fang Feng, Mu Xiang, and Gan Cao. One dose of the formula was administered daily and one unit of treatment called for seven doses. The results: after two consecutive units of treatment, 19 cases resolved, 11 improved, and 2 did not respond to the treatment, with a total effective rate of 93.75%. (7)
Chronic colitis
Wang, et al. treated 57 cases of chronic colitis with a modification of this formula. The modified formula consisted of Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, Ge Gen, Chi Shao, Bai Shao, Chen Pi, Fang Feng, Guang Mu Xiang, Bai Tou Weng, Shan Zha, Huai Hua, and Bing Lang. One dose of the formula was administered daily, and one unit of treatment called for 20 doses. The results: 24 cases resolved, 30 improved, and 3 did not respond to the treatment, with a total effective rate of 94.74%. (8)
In another study, Zhang treated 28 cases of chronic non-specific ulcerative colitis with a modification of this formula. The modified formula consisted of Bai Shao, Bai Zhu, Chen Pi, Fang Feng, Shen Qu, Cang Zhu, Shan Yao, Yi Yi Ren, and Pu Gong Ying. One dose of the formula was administered daily in two takes and one unit of treatment called for 10 doses. While under treatment, the patients were urged to avoid greasy, spicy foods or foods with high raw fiber. The results: 19 resolved, 6 improved, and 3 did not respond to the treatment, with a total effective rate of 89.2%. (9)
Infantile diarrhea
Cai, et al. used a modification of this formula to treat 50 cases of infantile diarrhea due to fright. The modified formula consisted of Bai Zhu, Gou Teng, Chen Pi, Fu Ling, Chao Bai Shao, Fang Feng, and Zhi Gan Cao. One dose of the formula was administered daily in 2-3 takes and one unit of treatment called for 5 doses. The results: 38 cases resolved, 8 improved, and 4 did not respond to the treatment, with a total effective rate of 92%. (10)
Wang treated 232 cases of infantile diarrhea with a modification of this formula. The modified formula consisted of Bai Zhu, Bai Shao, Chen Pi, Wu Mei, Fang Feng, Ze Xie, and He Zi. One dose of the formula in water decoction was administered daily in frequent times taken. The results: after 5 days of treatment, 196 cases resolved and the remaining 36 cases improved, with a 100% total effective rate. (11)
Other applications
Chen, et al. used this formula to treat 30 cases of habitual constipation in young and middle-aged adults. A comparison group of 30 cases was treated with Da Huang (rhubarb) capsules. One unit of treatment was 14 days for both groups. The results: the treatment and comparison group’s curative rates were 40% and 10% (P
References
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- Zhang Bing, et al. Liaoning Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 1981(8):43-44.
- Han Zhao Feng. Journal of Pharmacology and Clinical Application of TCM. 1992(supplement):8.
- Han Zhao Feng. Journal of Pharmacology and Clinical Application of TCM. 1992(supplement):8.
- Dong Gui Lan. Journal of Hunan College of TCM. 1987(supplement):42.
- Deng Sheng Li. Sichuan Journal of TCM. 1999;17(1):32.
- Liu Hui Hua. Guangxi Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 1999;22(2):18.
- Wang Jian Ping, et al. Journal of Beijing TCMl University. 1998;21(4):63.
- Zhang Yu Mao. Hunan Journal of TCM. 1998;14(4):29-30.
- Cai Bi Shan, et al. National Journal of Medicine Forum. 1999;14(5):32.
- Wang Wen Hua. Journal of Applied TCM. 1998;14(9):12.
