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Treats Liver Qi Stagnation (Gan Yu) with Spleen Qi Deficiency (Pi Ruo), manifesting as distension and fullness in the chest and hypochondrium, and inability to eat. This condition should be referred to for discussion on treatment methods for Liver diseases.

Yetai Shen (Radix Ginseng, Wild Tai Type) (2 qian)
Sheng Huangqi (Astragali Radix, Raw) (2 qian)
Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) (2 qian)
Guang Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, Guangxi Origin) (2 qian)
Chuan Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, Sichuan Origin) (2 qian)
Sheng Jineijin (Galli Gigerii Endothelium Corneum, Raw) (2 qian, crushed into fine powder)
Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) (3 qian)
Sheng Hangshao (Paeoniae Radix Alba, Hangzhou Origin, Raw) (3 qian)
Guizhi Jian (Cinnamomi Ramulus, tip portion) (1 qian)
Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma) (1 qian)
Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, Fresh Ginger) (2 qian)

Secular physicians often indiscriminately use the term "calming the Liver" (Ping Gan). Consequently, when encountering patterns of Liver Qi Stagnation, they predominantly employ herbs that open and break up Liver Qi. When facing conditions where excessive Wood energy overacts upon Earth (Mu Sheng Wu Tu), leading to an inability to eat, they further assert that subduing the Liver can support the Spleen. They fail to realize that human Yuan Qi (Primordial Qi) is rooted in the Kidney but sprouts from the Liver. Just as the sprouts of all things are tender and fragile, easily damaged, if the Liver is the organ where Yuan Qi sprouts, using such opening and breaking methods, do they not worry about damaging the sprout of Yuan Qi? The *Neijing* states: "If Jueyin (Liver Meridian) cannot be treated successfully, seek treatment from Yangming (Stomach Meridian)." The *Jingui Yaolue* states: "When seeing a disease of the Liver, one must first solidify the Spleen." Therefore, this formula uses only small amounts of Guizhi and Chuanxiong to soothe Liver Qi; the remaining herbs serve solely to ascend Spleen Qi and descend Stomach Qi, cultivating the Middle Jiao (Zhong Gong) to enrich its Qi transformation, thereby allowing Liver Qi to regulate itself naturally. This essentially follows the profound principles of seeking Yangming in the *Neijing* and solidifying the Spleen first in the *Jingui*.

Note: The phrase "When seeing a disease of the Liver, one must first solidify the Spleen" has been interpreted by commentators traditionally as meaning that Liver disease transmits to the Spleen, and solidifying the Spleen prevents this transmission. While this interpretation is correct, it fails to grasp that solidifying the Spleen is itself a method of regulating the Liver. Only by combining these two meanings can one fully appreciate the subtlety of these two sentences.

An elderly woman, nearing sixty years of age, had always possessed a weak constitution. Additionally, due to the mental labor of managing household affairs, she developed palpitations (Xin Zhong Zheng Tong), Liver Qi Stagnation, distension and fullness in the chest and abdomen, inability to eat, black coating on the tongue, and dry, constipated stools, passing stool only once every ten-plus days. Physicians were widely consulted for treatment, but after half a year there was no effect; her emaciation and debility increased, and the disease worsened. Later, I examined her. Her pulse was thin as a thread, slightly wiry (Xian), but fortunately, the rate was normal, indicating that the condition was still treatable. I prescribed Shengjiang Tang. Because of the black tongue coating and constipation, I added 1 liang of fresh Digupi (Dugong Pi / Lycii Cortex, Fresh). After several doses, the black tongue coating and constipation gradually improved, and the dosage of Digupi was reduced accordingly. By the tenth dose, more than half of the illness had resolved. After taking a total of 100 doses, the disease was cured, and her physical health actually improved.