Zhi Shi Dao Zhi Wan
Star枳实导滞丸 (Immature Bitter Orange Pill to Guide Out Stagnation)
Source: Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (1247)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Zhi Shi Dao Zhi Wan (Immature Bitter Orange Pill to Guide Out Stagnation), from the Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun, is used to remove food and damp-heat accumulation in the intestines.
Presentation: abdominal distension and pain; foul-smelling diarrhea; constipation; scanty urine; tongue: red tongue with yellow, sticky coating; pulse: deep and firm.
Syndrome: Syndrome of food accumulation.
Composition strategy:
- Herbs grouped to treat accumulated food, dampness and heat
- Strong reducing herbs balanced by tonifying herbs
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 230.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Da Huang
as printed: Da Huang (Rhei rhizoma)
|
30g | 29.41% | Jun (Chief) | purge the intestines and remove accumulation (large dose) |
|
Zhi Shi
as printed: Zhi Shi (Aurantii fructus immaturus)
|
15g | 14.71% | Chen (Deputy) | descend intestinal Qi, reduce distending pain |
|
Shen Qu
as printed: Shen Qu (Massa medicata fermentata)
|
15g | 14.71% | Zuo (Assistant) | aid digestion |
|
Huang Lian
as printed: Huang Lian (Coptidis rhizoma)
|
9g | 8.82% | Zuo (Assistant) | clear damp-heat, treat diarrhea and pain |
|
Huang Qin
as printed: Huang Qin (Scutellariae radix)
|
9g | 8.82% | Zuo (Assistant) | clear damp-heat |
|
Fu Ling
as printed: Fu Ling (Poria)
|
9g | 8.82% | Zuo (Assistant) | leach out dampness, strengthen Spleen; corrective |
|
Ze Xie
as printed: Ze Xie (Alismatis rhizoma)
|
6g | 5.88% | Zuo (Assistant) | leach out dampness, stop diarrhea |
|
Bai Zhu
also corrective assistant; as printed: Bai Zhu (Atractylodis macrocephalae rhizoma)
|
9g | 8.82% | Zuo (Assistant) | strengthen Spleen, dry dampness; protect against cold and harsh herbs |
Energetics dose-weighted
The formula's overall nature, taste balance and channel reach, weighted by each herb's dose. Classical formulas often pair warm and cool herbs on purpose, so a net figure summarises the mix — it doesn't describe every herb in it.
Nature
Net cool (-0.97)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 53%, cool 15%, neutral 9%, warm 24%.
Small but decisive: Huang Lian 9g (cold, 9% of the grams), Huang Qin 9g (cold, 9% of the grams), Ze Xie 6g (cold, 6% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 12%
- sweet 19%
- sour 5%
- bitter 56%
- bland 7%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Spleen 94%
- Stomach 85%
- Large intestine 62%
- Liver 38%
- Pericardium 29%
- Heart 27%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
Dose-weighted from each herb's recorded nature, taste and channels (missing values are left out, never counted as neutral). It describes the composition — it is not a recommendation.
Preparation
Powder, steam and form into small pills; 6-9g twice daily with warm water. May be decocted.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 829.
Relationships
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Formula family
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.
Similar Formulas by composition
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.
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