🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Zhao, male, 29 years old. On July 30, 1999, he experienced severe gastric pain after eating large quantities of watermelon and green beans while hungry and emotionally upset. The pain progressively worsened, prompting emergency visit to a hospital’s surgical department, where gastric perforation was suspected and exploratory laparotomy performed. Diagnosis confirmed acute gastric dilatation due to superior mesenteric artery syndrome. A nasogastric tube was inserted to aspirate gastric contents, the duodenum was repositioned downward, and the abdomen closed. Two days after discharge, the pain recurred with identical symptoms. The hospital recommended subtotal gastrectomy, but the patient and family refused. They sought consultation from the author. Lacking confidence in handling such emergencies, the author consulted with a Western medicine surgeon.
Current Condition: Severe epigastric and abdominal distension, unbearable pain, continuous moaning, emaciated physique, fatigue, no bowel movement for three days, normal urination, red tongue with thick, sticky coating, slippery pulse. The Western medicine surgeon believed another surgery was contraindicated and recommended herbal medicine as the best option. Under supportive therapy, the treatment focused on opening the gastrointestinal tract using a method combining drying dampness, harmonizing the stomach, tonifying qi, descending rebellious qi, and bitter-cold/sweet-warm modulation. Formula: Er Chen Tang combined with Banxia Xie Xin Tang with modifications: 15g Pinellia, 10g Citrus peel, 12g Coptis, 12g Codonopsis pilosula, 20g Citrus aurantium, 50g Astragalus membranaceus, 6g Cimicifuga heracleifolia, 12g Atractylodes macrocephala, 15g Poria cocos, 12g Atractylodes lancea, 15g Magnolia bark, 12g Bamboo shavings, 20g Hematite, 12g Agarwood, 12g Angelica sinensis, 12g Paeonia lactiflora, 5g Glycyrrhiza, 3g Ginger. One dose every 12 hours, decocted and taken in two portions. After 20 hours of medication, defecation occurred, epigastric and abdominal distension and pain disappeared, abdomen became soft and flat, desire for congee returned, and the sticky tongue coating slightly diminished. Continuing the original formula for three more doses resulted in safe discharge without recurrence.
Commentary: Dampness and phlegm obstructing the middle burner, with cold and heat intermingling, necessitated Er Chen Tang combined with Banxia Xie Xin Tang with modifications, employing the method of pungent opening and bitter descending. Citrus aurantium harmonizes the stomach, Astragalus tonifies qi and promotes diuresis—both helping restore gastric tone and enhance gastric motility. Hematite and agarwood descend stomach qi. Angelica and Paeonia activate blood circulation. Though lacking confidence in success, the outcome exceeded expectations. (Wang Sanhu)