What are the traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for treating damp-heat in the spleen and stomach?

Aug 28, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
The traditional Chinese medicine formula Lian Pu Yin, used for treating damp-heat in the spleen and stomach, consists of Coptis (Huang Lian), Magnolia bark (Hou Pu), Acorus tatarinowii (Shi Chang Pu), Pinellia (Ban Xia), and other ingredients. It clears heat, resolves dampness, regulates qi, and harmonizes the middle jiao. It is indicated for symptoms caused by damp-heat in the spleen and stomach, such as epigastric and abdominal distension and fullness, nausea, vomiting, bitter taste, sticky mouth, and dark yellow urine. It can alleviate qi stagnation due to damp-heat blocking the middle jiao and improve digestive function.

  For the treatment of spleen and stomach damp-heat in traditional Chinese medicine, commonly used herbal formulas include Lian Pu Yin, Yin Chen Hao Tang, Ge Gen Qin Lian Tang, Huo Pu Xia Ling Tang, and Qing Zhong Tang. Detailed analysis is as follows:

  1. Lian Pu Yin: Composed of Coptis (Huang Lian), Magnolia Bark (Hou Po), Acorus Tatarinowii (Shi Chang Pu), Pinellia (Ban Xia), and other ingredients, this formula clears heat, resolves dampness, regulates qi, and harmonizes the middle jiao. It is suitable for symptoms caused by spleen and stomach damp-heat such as epigastric distension and fullness, nausea and vomiting, bitter taste and stickiness in the mouth, dark yellow urine, etc. It helps relieve qi stagnation caused by damp-heat blocking the middle jiao and improves digestive function.

  2. Yin Chen Hao Tang: Primarily composed of Capillaris (Yin Chen), Gardenia (Zhi Zi), and Rhubarb (Da Huang), this formula clears heat, promotes dampness removal, and alleviates jaundice. It is commonly used when spleen and stomach damp-heat affects the liver and gallbladder, manifesting as jaundice of the body and eyes, abdominal distension, poor appetite, unsatisfactory bowel movements, and scanty, dark yellow urine. It facilitates the elimination of damp-heat through urine and stool, relieving jaundice and abdominal distension.

  3. Ge Gen Qin Lian Tang: Contains Kudzu Root (Ge Gen), Scutellaria (Huang Qin), Coptis (Huang Lian), and Fried Licorice (Zhi Gan Cao). This formula clears heat, dries dampness, and stops diarrhea. It targets symptoms caused by spleen and stomach damp-heat such as fever with irritability, anal burning, urgent or unsatisfactory diarrhea, and yellowish-brown foul-smelling stools. It clears intestinal damp-heat and alleviates diarrhea and burning sensations.

  4. Huo Pu Xia Ling Tang: Composed of Agastache (Huo Xiang), Magnolia Bark (Hou Po), Pinellia (Ban Xia), Poria (Fu Ling), and other ingredients. This formula aromatically resolves dampness, relieves exterior syndromes, and harmonizes the middle jiao. It is suitable for spleen and stomach damp-heat complicated by external pathogenic factors, manifesting as epigastric fullness without appetite, heavy limbs, fever with mild aversion to cold, white greasy tongue coating, etc. It simultaneously resolves dampness and treats exterior syndromes, improving spleen/stomach dampness retention and external symptoms.

  5. Qing Zhong Tang: Contains Coptis (Huang Lian), Gardenia (Zhi Zi), Pinellia (Ban Xia), Poria (Fu Ling), Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi), and others. This formula clears heat, resolves dampness, regulates qi, and harmonizes the stomach. It is indicated for epigastric burning pain, epigastric discomfort with acid regurgitation, bitter taste and dry mouth, and constipation or sticky, unsatisfactory bowel movements caused by spleen and stomach damp-heat. It clears damp-heat from the stomach and relieves epigastric discomfort and acid reflux.

  Maintain a light diet during treatment, avoiding oily and spicy foods. If discomfort occurs or symptoms do not improve, timely follow-up is needed to adjust the treatment plan.