When the Stomach lacks warmth

A Stomach that stays cold and heavy after meals, a feeling of fullness that lingers, a flagging appetite, belching, weary limbs, a marked preference for hot drinks and hot dishes… In TCM, these signs can be associated with insufficient Stomach Yang, accompanied by Dampness and stagnating Qi. Without warmth, the Spleen transforms less well, the Fluids accumulate as Dampness, and the Dampness in turn slows the Qi: the Stomach Qi, which should descend, tends to rise.

Xiang Sha Yang Wei Wan is attributed to Shen Jin’ao (沈金鳌), a scholar-physician from Wuxi, under the Qing dynasty. It appears in his major work, the Za Bing Yuan Liu Xi Zhu (《杂病源流犀烛》), completed around 1773. Yang wei (养胃) means “nourishing the Stomach”: not by loading it with tonics, but by restoring the conditions it needs to do its work, warmth, dryness and a Qi that flows. Tradition relates it to Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Wan, from which it drops the ginseng in favour of aromatic herbs. Our version does not contain pinellia (Ban Xia).

Warming, drying, moving

The formula works on three fronts in the same Burner. Nine of its ten herbs are warm or neutral, and six are aromatic: according to tradition, aroma “awakens” the Spleen and transforms Dampness. Atractylodes, tangerine peel and poria, the three herbs with the highest doses, form its base.

Harmonises the Stomach: Amomum, cardamom and patchouli, three herbs with a pronounced fragrance, transform Dampness and help the Stomach Qi resume its downward movement.

Warms the Middle Burner: Amomum warms the centre and awakens the Spleen. With cardamom and magnolia bark, it gives the Middle Burner back the warmth it needs to transform what it receives.

Supports the flow of Qi: Tangerine peel and magnolia bark move the Qi of the centre, immature bitter orange eases the feeling of fullness, and cyperus keeps the Liver supple. Meanwhile, atractylodes and poria, a classic Spleen pairing, keep the centre supported.