What are the traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for 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, primarily composed of Coptis (Huang Lian), Magnolia bark (Hou Po), Ternate Arisaema Rhizome (Shi Chang Pu), and Pinellia (Ban Xia), is effective in clearing heat, resolving dampness, regulating qi, and harmonizing the middle jiao. It is suitable 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. This formula helps alleviate qi stagnation due to damp-heat blocking the middle jiao and improves digestive function.
For regulating damp-heat in the spleen and stomach, traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions such as Lian Pu Yin, Yin Chen Hao Tang, Ge Gen Qin Lian Tang, Huo Pu Xia Ling Tang, and Qing Zhong Tang can generally be selected. Detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Lian Pu Yin: Primarily composed of Coptis (Huang Lian), Magnolia Bark (Hou Po), Acorus Tatarinowii (Shi Chang Pu), Pinellia (Ban Xia), and other herbs, this formula excels at clearing heat, resolving dampness, regulating qi, and harmonizing the middle jiao. It is suitable for symptoms caused by damp-heat in the spleen and stomach, such as abdominal distension and fullness, nausea, vomiting, bitter taste and stickiness in the mouth, dark yellow urine, etc. It helps alleviate qi stagnation due to damp-heat blocking the middle jiao and improves digestive function.
2. Yin Chen Hao Tang: Centered around Capillaris (Yin Chen), Gardenia (Zhi Zi), and Rhubarb (Da Huang), this formula clears heat, promotes dampness elimination, and reduces jaundice. It is commonly used when damp-heat in the spleen and stomach affects the liver and gallbladder, causing symptoms such as yellowing of the skin and eyes, abdominal distension, poor appetite, unsatisfactory bowel movements, and short, dark yellow urine. It promotes the elimination of damp-heat through urine and stool, alleviating jaundice and abdominal distension.
3. Ge Gen Qin Lian Tang: Composed of Pueraria 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 is indicated for symptoms caused by damp-heat in the spleen and stomach, such as fever, irritability, anal burning, urgent diarrhea, or incomplete evacuation, with foul-smelling, yellowish-brown stools. It clears damp-heat from the intestines and relieves diarrhea and burning discomfort.
4. Huo Pu Xia Ling Tang: Composed of Agastache (Huo Xiang), Magnolia Bark (Hou Po), Pinellia (Ban Xia), Poria (Fu Ling), and other herbs, this formula disperses dampness with aromatic herbs, resolves exterior pathogens, and harmonizes the middle jiao. It is suitable for damp-heat in the spleen and stomach accompanied by external pathogenic factors, manifesting as epigastric fullness without appetite, heavy limbs, fever with slight aversion to cold, greasy white tongue coating, etc. It addresses both dampness transformation and exterior pathogen resolution, improving symptoms of dampness obstructing the spleen and stomach along with external syndromes.
5. Qing Zhong Tang: Contains Coptis (Huang Lian), Gardenia (Zhi Zi), Pinellia (Ban Xia), Poria (Fu Ling), Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi), and other ingredients. It clears heat, transforms dampness, regulates qi, and harmonizes the stomach. It is indicated for epigastric burning and pain caused by damp-heat in the spleen and stomach, epigastric discomfort, acid regurgitation, bitter taste and dry mouth, and either dry or sticky, unsatisfactory bowel movements. It clears damp-heat from the stomach, relieving epigastric discomfort and acid reflux symptoms.
During treatment, maintain a light diet and avoid greasy, spicy, raw, and cold foods. If discomfort occurs or symptoms do not improve, timely follow-up and adjustment of the treatment plan are recommended.
