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Curing Pills - Kang Ning Wan
Traditional Chinese Stomach Formula
By: Catherine Browne, L.A., MH, Dipl.Ac.
This popular formula was rightly named Curing Pills because they are able to address such a wide array of digestive complaints and conditions. Curing Pills have traditionally been used for any type of acute digestive disorder including indigestion from overeating, nausea associated with weak digestion, vomiting due to stomach flu, diarrhea associated with food poisoning, gas , acid reflux, and any type of stomach upset. Recently, Curing Pills have gained popularity as a hangover remedy.
In Chinese medicine, Curing Pills are used to address digestive disorders associated with Wind-Cold or Dampness. This formula is especially useful in cases of abdominal distention due to Stomach Qi Stagnation. Dampness blocks the free flow of Qi in the body, and the Stomach is especially susceptible to damage due to dampness. In the West, this is often due to poor dietary habits, including greasy foods, overly rich food, fried foods, iced drinks, sweets, and the over consumptiion of raw foods.
In Chinese medicine, the Stomach and Spleen are paired organs of the Earth Element. Chronic digestive disorders are typically associated with Spleen Qi Deficiency, and can be addressed with a Spleen Tonic. Dampness in the body is typically associated with Spleen Qi Deficiency. or a damaged Spleen function.
Common Ingredients in Curing Pills for the Stomach:
Poria , or fu ling, is one of the main herbs used in Chinese medicine for draining Dampness. Fu ling's neutral energy allows it to be utilized in many types of formulas that address internal dampness that can manifest as many different types of diseases in the body. Poria is a gentle diuretic and is said to actually drain Dampness from the body.
Atractylodes root or cang zu is an aromatic warm herb that strongly dries dampness and supports the Spleen function in its ability to transform and transport foods; this is vital with Damp-Cold stagnation in the stomach and Atractylodes is helpful with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distention.
Angelica dahurica is a warm, spicy herb that releases the exterior and expels dampness. There are many types of Angelica that are used medicinally, but Angelica dahurica is specific for expelling external pathogens.
Massa fermenta is also considered an herbal ingredient in Chinese medicine, but is actually a preparation of fermented wheat flour, bran, and herbs including Artemesia Annua (Sweet Annie herb or qing hao often used for malaria), xing ren, and can er zi, chi xiao dua typically. This blend helps to resolve food stagnation in the stomach resulting from undigested food. Massa fermenta is used generally to strengthen the stomach.
Mentha, mint, or bo he, is often seen in Western medicine as a digestive remedy and as a diaphoretic to resolve exterior pathogens such as a cold.
Others:
Coix lachryma seed, or Job's tears
Pueraria-Kudzu root
Agastaches rugosa herb
Fichosanthes kirilowii
Citris reticulate-Chen Pi
Chrysanthemum morifolium
Auklandia lappa- Costus root