Zhi Zhu Wan
Star枳术丸 (Immature Bitter Orange and Atractylodes Macrocephala Pill)
Source: Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (1247)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Zhi Zhu Wan (Immature Bitter Orange and Atractylodes Macrocephala Pill), from the Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun, is used to strengthen the Spleen and dissolve food accumulation.
Presentation: poor appetite; fullness in the stomach; muscle weakness from malnutrition; especially children with impaired digestion.
Syndrome: Syndrome of food accumulation.
Composition strategy:
- Tonifying and reducing herbs together; tonifying dose much larger, showing the emphasis for chronic accumulation with weak Spleen-Qi
- Pill form suits chronic conditions and a sensitive stomach
- Taken with fragrant He Ye tea, which lifts Spleen clear-Qi and is easily accepted by children
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 231.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bai Zhu
as printed: Bai Zhu (Atractylodis macrocephalae rhizoma)
|
60g | 66.67% | Jun (Chief) | tonify Spleen-Qi and promote digestion (large dose) |
|
Zhi Shi
as printed: Zhi Shi (Aurantii fructus immaturus)
|
30g | 33.33% | Chen (Deputy) | descend Qi, remove accumulation, reduce distension |
Dui Yao — Core Herb Pairs
The classical two-herb combinations at the heart of this formula, as recorded on the herbs' own pages — each pair has an action neither herb has alone.
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 slightly warm (+0.33)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cool 33%, warm 67%.
Pairs warm and cool. 67% of the weighed grams are warm or hot and 33% cool or cold — the net is their average, not the whole story.
Taste
- pungent 11%
- sweet 33%
- sour 11%
- bitter 44%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Stomach 100%
- Spleen 100%
- Large intestine 33%
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
Pills taken with He Ye (Nelumbinis folium) tea, 2 g dissolved in 50 ml hot water, up to a total He Ye dose of 6–9 g.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- Yin Chen Fu Zi Gan Jiang Tang = this formula + Ju Ban Zhi Zhu Wan + Ze Xie Tang + Cao Dou Kou, Fu Ling, Pao Jiang, Yin Chen and Zhi Fu Zi
- Fen Xiao Tang = this formula + Si Ling San + Xiang Sha Zhi Zhu Wan + Cang Zhu, Chen Pi, Da Fu Pi, Hou Po and Xiang Fu
- Zhong Man Fen Xiao Wan = this formula + Ban Xia Hou Po Tang + Ju Ban Zhi Zhu Wan + Chun Ze Tang + Gan Cao, Huang Lian, Huang Qin, Jiang Huang, Sha Ren and Zhi Mu
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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