If a person is particularly prone to getting angry, feels stuffy in the chest, and has pain in both sides of the ribcage, it first indicates that this person has a poor liver condition and liver qi stagnation.
The stomach is located in the lower left of the liver, so it is particularly vulnerable to the influence of the liver. The stomach functions properly when qi descends. For example, after we eat, we need the qi of the stomach to move downward so that the food can be digested along with the downward flow of the stomach qi. When liver qi stagnation persists for a long time, it will turn into liver fire due to stagnation. Liver fire tends to move upward. For instance, one of the most common symptoms of liver fire is red eyes, as the liver is connected to the eyes.
When the liver fire is quite obvious, it will affect the function of the stomach, forcing the stomach qi to rush upward, leading to a series of symptoms. Such as indigestion, acid regurgitation, vomiting, and a feeling of fullness and discomfort in the stomach.
A proprietary Chinese medicine can be used to solve this disharmony between the liver and the stomach. This medicine is called Jiawei Zuojin Pill. Jiawei Zuojin Pill is an adjustment based on Zuojin Pill. The original formula was created by Zhu Danxi, one of the four famous doctors in the Jin and Yuan Dynasties. The original formula only had two herbs, and its medicinal effect was relatively weak. Jiawei Zuojin Pill is a proprietary Chinese medicine improved by later medical practitioners.
Jiawei Zuojin Pill: Rhizoma Coptidis Praeparata Cum Zingiberis Recens, Fructus Evodiae Praeparatus, Radix Scutellariae, Radix Bupleuri, Radix Aucklandiae, Rhizoma Cyperi Praeparatum Cum Vinegar, Radix Curcumae, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride Praeparatum Cum Vinegar, Fructus Aurantii Praeparatus Cum Bran, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Rhizoma Corydalis Praeparatum Cum Vinegar, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Glycyrrhizae.
This formula consists of fourteen herbs. As the name implies, it is an upgrade based on Zuojin Pill. The original Zuojin Pill only had two herbs, Rhizoma Coptidis and Fructus Evodiae, which were used to clear liver heat and lower stomach qi. Jiawei Zuojin Pill continues this concept.
Rhizoma Coptidis Praeparata Cum Zingiberis Recens: Coptis can clear heat, and it can clear both liver fire and stomach fire. However, if it is not processed, it is a very cold substance and is likely to damage the spleen and stomach. There are two advantages of processing Coptis with ginger. Firstly, it prevents the excessive coldness from harming the spleen and stomach. Secondly, ginger itself has the function of suppressing reverse qi and stopping vomiting.
Fructus Evodiae Praeparatus: Its function is somewhat similar to that of ginger. It can prevent Rhizoma Coptidis from over-clearing liver fire and stomach fire and harming the spleen and stomach, and it can also suppress reverse qi and stop vomiting. In addition, Fructus Evodiae Praeparatus can also dredge liver qi and relieve the stagnant heat in the liver meridian.
These two together form a combination to clear liver heat and lower stomach qi. If the symptoms of liver and stomach fire are not too severe, Zuojin Pill can be used. If the symptoms are more severe, the following herbs, that is, the other ingredients of Jiawei Zuojin Pill, are needed.
Radix Bupleuri, Radix Aucklandiae, Rhizoma Cyperi, Radix Curcumae, and Rhizoma Corydalis Praeparatum Cum Vinegar: This group of herbs strengthens the functions of soothing the liver, promoting qi circulation, and relieving stagnation.
Radix Scutellariae: It clears heat and purges fire, strengthening the function of clearing liver and stomach fire.
Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride, and Fructus Aurantii Praeparatus Cum Bran: These three herbs promote qi circulation and harmonize the stomach. On the one hand, they enhance the effect of promoting qi circulation, and after promoting qi circulation, the stagnation of liver qi can be improved. On the other hand, they have the function of harmonizing the stomach, which can improve indigestion, acid regurgitation, and a feeling of fullness and discomfort in the stomach.
Radix Paeoniae Alba and Radix Angelicae Sinensis: These two herbs enrich the blood. Excessive promotion of qi circulation is likely to move and consume blood. With the addition of Radix Paeoniae Alba and Radix Angelicae Sinensis, there is no need to worry about the problem of moving and consuming blood.
Radix Glycyrrhizae: It harmonizes all the herbs, making them work together synergistically and enhancing the therapeutic effect.
By combining clearing and nourishing, the liver fire is cleared, the liver qi is dredged, and the stomach qi descends. Therefore, for those who are irritable, prone to losing their temper, prone to distending pain in the chest and ribcage, and also prone to acid regurgitation and a feeling of fullness and discomfort in the stomach, which are situations where the liver affects the stomach, these symptoms can all be treated with Jiawei Zuojin Pill.
In fact, the root cause of many stomach diseases lies in the liver. In the theory of the five elements in traditional Chinese medicine, the stomach belongs to earth, and the liver belongs to wood. Wood is particularly likely to restrain earth, leading to situations where the liver affects the stomach. Once the liver qi is dredged and the liver fire is cleared, the stomach problems will also be cured accordingly. If one only focuses on treating the stomach disease alone, the treatment effect is often not satisfactory.