Chinese: 橘皮竹茹汤
Pinyin: Jú Pí Zhú Rú Tāng
Other names: Citrus–Bambusa Decoction, Tangerine Peel and Bamboo Shavings Decoction
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Formula category: Formulas for a rebellious Qi
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: HiccupsGastritisMorning sickness and one other condition
- Directs rebellious Qi downward
- Stops hiccup
- Augments Qi
- Clears heat
Contraindications: Contraindicated in cases of Heat from Excess or Cold from Deficiency.
Source date: Essentials from the Golden Cabinet
Source book: 220 AD
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi) and Bamboo Shavings (Zhu Ru) as principal ingredients.
Invented in Essentials from the Golden Cabinet, it belongs to the category of formulas for a rebellious Qi. Its main actions are: 1) directs rebellious Qi downward and 2) stops hiccup.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Rebellious Qi or Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as morning sickness, incomplete pyloric obstruction or gastritis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the six ingredients in Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang helps treat.
The six ingredients in Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang
Chen Pi is a king ingredient in Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi)
In general Chen Pi's main actions are as follows: "Warms the Spleen and regulates the Middle Burner Qi. Dries Dampness and disperses Phlegm from the Lungs and Middle Burner. Reduces the potential for Stagnation caused by tonifying herbs."
In the context of Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang, it is used because it harmonizes the Stomach and stops hiccup.
Zhu Ru is a king ingredient in Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Bamboo Shavings (Zhu Ru)
Part used: Dried middle shavings
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: GallbladderStomachLung
In general Zhu Ru's main actions are as follows: "Clears Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs. Clears Heat in the Stomach and stops vomiting. Cools the Blood and stops bleeding."
In the context of Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang, it is used because it clears Heat, calms the Stomach, and stops hiccup.
Ren Shen is a deputy ingredient in Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Ginseng (Ren Shen)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Ren Shen's main actions are as follows: "Very strongly tonifies the Qi. Tonifies the Lungs and Spleen. Assists the body in the secretion of Fluids and stops thirst. Strengthens the Heart and calms the Shen (mind/spirit)."
In the context of Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang, it is used because it tonifies Qi to complement the key herbs' regulation effects.
Sheng Jiang is a deputy ingredient in Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang)
In general Sheng Jiang's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Warms and circulates Qi in the Middle Burner. Calms a restless fetus and treats morning sickness. Treats seafood poisoning."
In the context of Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang, it is used because it is very effective in harmonizing the functions of the Stomach and stopping vomiting.
Gan Cao is an assistant ingredient in Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Gan Cao assists Ren Shen in augmenting the Qi and harmonizes the various actions of the other herbs in the formula
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Jujube Dates (Da Zao)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Da Zao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach Qi. Tonifies the Blood. Calms the Shen (spirit). Moderates the actions of other herbs in formula."
In the context of Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang, it is used because it assists Ren Shen in augmenting the Qi.
Conditions and patterns for which Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang may be prescribed
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang is used by TCM practitioners to treat two different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Morning sickness Incomplete pyloric obstruction Gastritis Hiccups
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang treats morning sickness" for instance. Rather, Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind morning sickness.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang.
Qi is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Qi in Chinese Medicine
Rebellious Qi
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Normal (light red), Red sides
Symptoms: Nausea Asthma Belching Vomiting Coughing Diarrhea Insomnia Hiccuping Headaches Restlnessness
Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Rebellious Qi. This pattern leads to symptoms such as hiccuping, belching, nausea and vomiting. Patients with Rebellious Qi typically exhibit wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a normal (light red), red sides tongue.
Rebellious Qi is an Excess/Full condition and it is another form of Qi Stagnation. In this case, Qi flows in the wrong direction from the normal physiological one for a given Organ or Channel.
The Organs whose Qi should descend are Stomach, Lungs, Heart, Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Kidneys... read more about Rebellious Qi
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach
Pulse type(s): Weak (Ruo), Wiry (Xian)
Symptoms: Belching Hiccuping Weak Limbs Irritability Epigastric pain Frequent sighing Hypochondrial pain Sour regurgitation Nausea or vomiting Epigastric distension Hypochondrial distention A feeling of oppression in the epigastrium
Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach. This pattern leads to symptoms such as irritability, epigastric pain, epigastric distension and hypochondrial pain. Patients with Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach typically exhibit weak (Ruo) or wiry (Xian) pulses.
Liver Qi is said to be rebellious when its horizontal movement is accentuated. This interferes with the descending of Stomach Qi, making it ascend instead. Hence the symptoms of belching, nausea and vomiting. It is one of the reason causing Rebellious Stomach Qi.
Rebellious Liver Qi also impairs... read more about Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach
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