Zhong Man Fen Xiao Tang
Star中满分消汤 (Separate and Reduce Fullness in the Middle Decoction)
Source: Lan Shi Mi Cang (1336)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Zhong Man Fen Xiao Tang (Separate and Reduce Fullness in the Middle Decoction), from Secrets from the Orchid Chamber (1336).
Associated formula of Zhong Man Fen Xiao Wan.
Actions: Warms the middle; Moves the qi; Opens areas of constraint; Reduces fullness
Indications: Drum-like abdominal distention due to cold with no urination or bowel movements, irritability, vomiting immediately after eating; yin-type agitation, restless legs, cold extremities, cold in the abdomen, epigastric focal distention. Also cold bulging disorders and running piglet disorder.
Pattern: Drum-like abdominal distention due to cold
Usage: The cold-type counterpart to the pill, for drum-like distention from cold, cold bulging and running piglet disorder.
Category: Formulas that Clear Heat and Expel Dampness.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 724.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Zhi Chuan Wu
as printed: Aconiti Radix preparata (zhi chuan wu) 6g
|
6g | 2.78% | — | |
|
Ze Xie
as printed: Alismatis Rhizoma (ze xie) 6g
|
6g | 2.78% | — | |
|
Huang Lian
as printed: Coptidis Rhizoma (huang lian) 6g
|
6g | 2.78% | — | |
|
Ren Shen
as printed: Ginseng Radix (ren shen) 6g
|
6g | 2.78% | — | |
|
Qing Pi
as printed: Citri reticulatae viride Pericarpium (qing pi) 6g
|
6g | 2.78% | — | |
|
Dang Gui
as printed: Angelicae sinensis Radix (dang gui) 6g
|
6g | 2.78% | — | |
|
Sheng Jiang
as printed: Zingiberis Rhizoma recens (sheng jiang) 6g
|
6g | 2.78% | — | |
|
Gan Jiang
as printed: Zingiberis Rhizoma (gan jiang) 6g
|
6g | 2.78% | — | |
|
Ma Huang
as printed: Ephedrae Herba (ma huang) 6g
|
6g | 2.78% | — | |
|
Chai Hu
as printed: Bupleuri Radix (chai hu) 6g
|
6g | 2.78% | — | |
|
Bi Cheng Qie
as printed: Litseae Fructus (bi cheng qie) 6g
|
6g | 2.78% | — | |
|
Yi Zhi Ren
as printed: Alpiniae oxyphyllae Fructus (yi zhi ren) 15g
|
15g | 6.94% | — | |
|
Ban Xia
as printed: Pinelliae Rhizoma preparatum (zhi ban xia) 15g
|
15g | 6.94% | — | |
|
Fu Ling
as printed: Poria (fu ling) 15g
|
15g | 6.94% | — | |
|
Mu Xiang
as printed: Aucklandiae Radix (mu xiang) 15g
|
15g | 6.94% | — | |
|
Sheng Ma
as printed: Cimicifugae Rhizoma (sheng ma) 15g
|
15g | 6.94% | — | |
|
Huang Qi
as printed: Astragali Radix (huang qi) 15g
|
15g | 6.94% | — | |
|
Wu Zhu Yu
as printed: Evodiae Fructus (wu zhu yu) 15g
|
15g | 6.94% | — | |
|
Hou Po
as printed: Magnoliae officinalis Cortex (hou po) 15g
|
15g | 6.94% | — | |
|
Huang Bai
as printed: Phellodendri Cortex (huang bai) 15g
|
15g | 6.94% | — | |
|
Cao Dou Kou
as printed: Alpiniae katsumadai Semen (cao dou kou) 15g
|
15g | 6.94% | — |
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 (+0.49)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 13%, cool 10%, neutral 7%, warm 58%, hot 13%.
Small but decisive: Zhi Chuan Wu 6g (hot, 3% of the grams), Ze Xie 6g (cold, 3% of the grams), Huang Lian 6g (cold, 3% of the grams), Gan Jiang 6g (hot, 3% of the grams), Wu Zhu Yu 15g (hot, 7% of the grams), Huang Bai 15g (cold, 7% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 50%
- sweet 18%
- bitter 27%
- bland 5%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Spleen 82%
- Stomach 56%
- Lung 46%
- Kidney 39%
- Large intestine 31%
- Heart 21%
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
Coarse powder; take 3-9g warm as a draft before meals.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Ban Xia Hou Po Tang without Zi Su Ye + Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang + Zuo Jin Wan + Bi Cheng Qie, Cao Dou Kou, Chai Hu, Gan Jiang, Huang Bai, Ma Huang, Mu Xiang, Qing Pi, Ren Shen, Sheng Ma, Yi Zhi Ren, Ze Xie and Zhi Chuan Wu
- This formula = Xiao Ban Xia Jia Fu Ling Tang + Ban Xia Hou Po Tang + Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang + Zuo Jin Wan + Bi Cheng Qie, Cao Dou Kou, Chai Hu, Gan Jiang, Huang Bai, Ma Huang, Mu Xiang, Qing Pi, Ren Shen, Sheng Ma, Yi Zhi Ren, Ze Xie and Zhi Chuan Wu
- This formula = Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang + Ban Xia Hou Po Tang + Zuo Jin Wan + Bi Cheng Qie, Cao Dou Kou, Chai Hu, Gan Jiang, Huang Bai, Ma Huang, Mu Xiang, Qing Pi, Ren Shen, Sheng Ma, Yi Zhi Ren, Ze Xie and Zhi Chuan Wu
- This formula = Xiao Ban Xia Tang + Ban Xia Hou Po Tang + Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang + Zuo Jin Wan + Bi Cheng Qie, Cao Dou Kou, Chai Hu, Gan Jiang, Huang Bai, Ma Huang, Mu Xiang, Qing Pi, Ren Shen, Sheng Ma, Yi Zhi Ren, Ze Xie and Zhi Chuan Wu
- This formula = Zuo Jin Wan + Ban Xia Hou Po Tang + Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang + Bi Cheng Qie, Cao Dou Kou, Chai Hu, Gan Jiang, Huang Bai, Ma Huang, Mu Xiang, Qing Pi, Ren Shen, Sheng Ma, Yi Zhi Ren, Ze Xie and Zhi Chuan Wu
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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