Verscienta

Hou Po Wen Zhong Tang

Star

厚朴温中汤 (Magnolia Bark Decoction for Warming the Middle)

Source: Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun — Li Gao (Jin, 1247)

Last updated October 1, 2026

Not yet clinically reviewed

peptic ulcerchronic gastritischronic enteritischronic colitisinflammatory bowel syndromechronic pancreatitisleukorrhea

Description

Hou Po Wen Zhong Tang (Magnolia Bark Decoction for Warming the Middle), from the Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (Clarifying Doubts about Injury from Internal and External Causes) by Li Gao.

Actions: Warms the middle jiao and activates qi circulation; Dries dampness and relieves abdominal fullness.

Presentation: Damp-cold affecting the Spleen and Stomach: epigastric and abdominal distention, fullness and/or pain, low appetite, lethargy, white tongue coating, deep, wiry pulse.

Cautions:

  • Avoid cold and raw foods while taking it.

Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 840.

Composition

Herb Amount % Role Function
Hou Po
printed dose 30g (no single modern dose); as printed: Hou Po (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis, zhi (prepared) with ginger) 30g
g — Jun (Chief) activates qi, dries dampness, reduces distention and fullness
Chen Pi
printed dose 30g (no single modern dose); as printed: Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae) 30g
g — Jun (Chief) activates qi and relieves pain
Cao Dou Kou
printed dose 15g (no single modern dose); as printed: Cao Dou Kou (Semen Alpiniae Katsumadai) 15g
g — Chen (Deputy) warms middle jiao, dispels cold, dries dampness, eliminates phlegm
Mu Xiang
printed dose 15g (no single modern dose); as printed: Mu Xiang (Radix Aucklandiae) 15g
g — Zuo (Assistant) activates qi and relieves pain
Gan Jiang
printed dose 2.1g (no single modern dose); as printed: Gan Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis) 2.1g
g — Zuo (Assistant) warms Spleen and Stomach to dispel cold
Fu Ling
printed dose 15g (no single modern dose); as printed: Fu Ling (Poria) 15g
g — Zuo (Assistant) dispels dampness and strengthens middle jiao
Gan Cao
printed dose 15g (no single modern dose); as printed: Zhi Gan Cao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae Praeparata cum Melle) 15g
g — Zuo (Assistant) dispels dampness and strengthens middle jiao
➕ Modify this formula — AI additions for what it isn't resolving

Preparation

Source: grind to coarse powder; cook 15g of powder with 3 slices of Sheng Jiang in 2 large bowls of water down to one bowl; take warm before meals.

Relationships

Full-screen graph →

Click a node for details · double-click to expand it · Ctrl/⌘ + scroll or two fingers to zoom and pan.

Loading graph…

Formula family

Contained in Zhi Suo Er Chen Tang = this + Ban Xia, Sha Ren, Xiang Fu and 3 more
Full herb lists
  • Zhi Suo Er Chen Tang = this formula + Ban Xia, Sha Ren, Xiang Fu, Xiao Hui Xiang, Yan Hu Suo and Zhi Shi

Each entry reads as the larger formula written out: “+” adds its other catalogue cores, then the herbs none of them hold. A catalogue formula counts as a core only when at least 80% of its herbs are present, no more than 1 is absent, and the absent herb is not its chief.

Formula Network

Formulas that share herbs with this one — the closer to the centre, the stronger the match. Click a node to explore.

75% 50% Closer to the centre = stronger match · thicker line = more shared herbs — hover a formula for details 58% Bu Xu Tang 5 shared Bu Xu Tang 58% match · 5 of 8 herbs shared Shares: Gan Cao, Fu Ling, Gan Jiang, Chen Pi, Hou Po 53% Gan Cao Gan Jiang Fu … 3 shared Gan Cao Gan Jiang Fu Ling Bai Zhu Tang 53% match · 3 of 4 herbs shared Shares: Gan Cao, Fu Ling, Gan Jiang 51% Jiu Wei Bing Lang Jia… 5 shared Jiu Wei Bing Lang Jia Wu Fu Tang 51% match · 5 of 11 herbs shared Shares: Gan Cao, Fu Ling, Chen Pi, Hou Po, Mu Xiang 50% Zhi Suo Er Chen Tang 7 shared Zhi Suo Er Chen Tang 50% match · 7 of 13 herbs shared Shares: Gan Cao, Fu Ling, Gan Jiang, Chen Pi, Hou Po, Mu Xiang, Cao Dou Kou 50% Liu An Jian 3 shared Liu An Jian 50% match · 3 of 6 herbs shared Shares: Gan Cao, Fu Ling, Chen Pi 49% Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang… 3 shared Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang 49% match · 3 of 5 herbs shared Shares: Gan Cao, Fu Ling, Gan Jiang 48% Shi Pi Yin 5 shared Shi Pi Yin 48% match · 5 of 12 herbs shared Shares: Gan Cao, Fu Ling, Gan Jiang, Hou Po, Mu Xiang 47% Xiang Sha Ping Wei San 5 shared Xiang Sha Ping Wei San 47% match · 5 of 12 herbs shared Shares: Gan Cao, Gan Jiang, Chen Pi, Hou Po, Mu Xiang Hou Po Wen Zhong Tang

Similar Formulas by composition

Bu Xu Tang
Bu Xu Tang
Sheng Ji Zong Lu
58% match
5 shared herbs of 8— Gan Cao, Fu Ling, Gan Jiang, Chen Pi +1
Gan Cao Gan Jiang Fu Ling Bai Zhu Tang
甘草干姜茯苓白术汤 · Gan Cao Gan Jiang Fu Ling Bai Zhu Tang
Jin Gui Yao Lue
53% match
3 shared herbs of 4— Gan Cao, Fu Ling, Gan Jiang
Jiu Wei Bing Lang Jia Wu Fu Tang
九味槟榔加吴茯汤 · Jiu Wei Bing Lang Jia Wu Fu Tang
Qian Tian Jia Fang
51% match
5 shared herbs of 11— Gan Cao, Fu Ling, Chen Pi, Hou Po +1
Zhi Suo Er Chen Tang
枳缩二陈汤 · Zhi Suo Er Chen Tang
Wan Bing Hui Chun
50% match
7 shared herbs of 13— Gan Cao, Fu Ling, Gan Jiang, Chen Pi +3
Liu An Jian
六安煎 · Liu An Jian
Jing Yue Quan Shu
50% match
3 shared herbs of 6— Gan Cao, Fu Ling, Chen Pi
Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang
苓甘五味姜辛汤 · Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang
Jin Kui Yao Lue
49% match
3 shared herbs of 5— Gan Cao, Fu Ling, Gan Jiang
Shi Pi Yin
实脾饮 · Shi Pi Yin
Chong Ding Yan Shi Ji Sheng Fang
48% match
5 shared herbs of 12— Gan Cao, Fu Ling, Gan Jiang, Hou Po +1
Xiang Sha Ping Wei San
香砂平胃散 · Xiang Sha Ping Wei San
Wan Bing Hui Chun
47% match
5 shared herbs of 12— Gan Cao, Gan Jiang, Chen Pi, Hou Po +1

Match score combines dosage-weighted composition (cosine, 70%) with shared-herb overlap (Jaccard, 30%).

Traditional formula information is for educational purposes only. Herbal formulas should be prescribed by a qualified practitioner — dosages and combinations are individualized and can interact with medications.

📝 Notes

Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Hou Po Wen Zhong Tang.

No notes yet.

Log in or register to add your own notes.

Back to Formula Library