Abdominal Distension (Wood / Earth) (FBX)

Original case by: Fei Bo-Xiong (费伯雄)

Wood seizes the position of earth, hence only the abdomen is distended. [The appropriate strategy] is to curtail wood and support earth.

calcined Arcae Concha (wâ léng zî)
Corydalis Rhizoma (yán hú suô)
Benincasae Exocarpium (döng guä pí)
Benincasae Semen (döng guä zî)
Magnoliae officinalis Cortex (hòu pò)
Paeoniae Radix alba (bái sháo)
Codonopsis Radix (dâng shën)
Poriae Cutis (fú líng pí)
Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma (bái zhú)
Aurantii Fructus immaturus (zhî shí)
Gigeriae galli Endothelium corneum (jï nèi jïn)
Aucklandiae Radix (mù xiäng)
Zingiberis Rhizoma preparata (páo jiäng)
Angelicae sinensis Radix (däng guï)
Cinnamomi Cortex (ròu guì)

Comment: This is a simple diagnosis of Spleen deficiency allowing Liver to encroach on earth causing stagnation of the qi dynamic and hence distension. The formula directly addresses this patho-dynamic by tonifying the Spleen, harmonizing the Stomach, and regulating the Liver. Yet, it also brings into play a complex of five-phases relationships attesting to the importance of five-phases doctrine in Fei Bo-Xiong’s thinking.

Translated by: Volker Scheid

For more reading on Fei Bo-Xiong, please look for Volker’s upcoming book from Eastland Press. Its working title is, “Menge Medicine, Vol. 1, Fei Boxiong’s Refined Medicine Remembered with Commentaries and Fei Family Case Histories”