When cold settles in the centre
A belly that welcomes warmth, a weak appetite, slow digestion, a preference for hot drinks, fatigue, cool hands, discomfort after raw or iced foods… In TCM, these signs can be associated with Cold in the Middle Burner against a background of Spleen Qi Deficiency. The centre, the domain of the Spleen and Stomach, becomes cold and weak: it transforms food less well and lets the Fluids accumulate as Dampness.
Li Zhong Wan, the “Pill that Regulates the Centre”, appeared around 200 AD, at the end of the Eastern Han, in the Shang Han Lun (《伤寒论》) by Zhang Zhongjing (张仲景). The character li (理) originally referred to the work of following the veins in jade. It has remained the reference formula for warming the Middle Burner. The original text already called for dissolving the pill in a little boiling water and drinking it warm.
Rekindling the fire under the pot
Dried ginger plays the leading role, because Cold is at issue: tradition distinguishes fresh ginger, which disperses towards the surface, from dried ginger, which concentrates its warmth in the centre. Ginseng rebuilds the Qi that the Cold has worn down. Commentators compare this pair to the fire rekindled under a cold pot.
Warms the Middle and dispels Cold: Hot and pungent, dried ginger restores warmth to the Middle Burner.
Tonifies the Spleen and supports the Qi: Ginseng supports Spleen Qi; prepared licorice completes it and soothes the centre.
Gently supports digestion: A warmed and supported centre regains its natural movement: the Spleen transforms and sends upwards, the Stomach receives and sends downwards.
Helps transform Dampness: A cold Spleen lets the Fluids accumulate; atractylodes dries this Dampness. Replace the ginger with poria and you get Si Jun Zi Tang: Li Zhong Wan is the same framework, turned towards Cold.
