Formulas · Purge Downward 瀉下 · Taepyeong Hyeminhwajebang (太平惠民和劑局方)

Spleen-Bound Pill

Biyak-hwan

한글 비약환 · Pinyin Pi Yue Wan

脾約丸

The Bogam notes the alternative name 麻仁丸. This is the Shanghanlun's Spleen-Bound Hemp Seed Pill.

Composition 構成

Daehwang Da Huang
大黃 대황 · Rhubarb

160 g
Chief 君

steamed
Majain Huo Ma Ren
麻子仁 마자인 · Hemp Seed

60 g
Chief 君
Jisil Zhi Shi
枳實 지실 · Immature Bitter Orange

80 g
Deputy 臣
Hubak Hou Po
厚朴 후박 · Magnolia Bark

80 g
Deputy 臣
Jeokjakyak Chi Shao
赤芍藥 적작약 · Red Peony

80 g
Deputy 臣
Haengin Xing Ren
杏仁 행인 · Apricot Kernel

50 g
Assistant 佐
Bongmil Feng Mi
蜂蜜 봉밀 · Honey

—
Envoy 使

as paste for the pills

Total 510 g per packet (첩) · representative dosage — verify against source texts. Excludes 1 ingredient measured by count or used as a vehicle, shown as —.

Received this formula from your practitioner? Amounts shown here are classical reference values — granule and prepared products differ. Always follow your prescribed dosage and directions.

Actions 效能

Treats frequent urination with difficult stool
which is named the spleen-bound pattern

Indications 主治

Pattern-based

Stomach heat with fluid driven to the bladder and the bowel left dry

Biomedical correlates

Constipation with polyuria
Habitual constipation

Source text 原文

Donguibogam 東醫寶鑑

一名麻仁丸. 治小便數ㆍ大便難, 名爲脾約證. 大黃(蒸) 四兩, 枳實ㆍ厚朴ㆍ赤芍藥各二兩, 麻子仁一兩半, 杏仁一兩二錢半. 右爲末, 蜜丸梧子大, 空心, 溫湯下五十丸. 《局方》

Translation

Also called Main-hwan. Treats frequent urination with difficult stool, which is named the spleen-bound pattern. Steamed rhubarb, 4 nyang; bitter orange immature fruit, magnolia bark and red peony, 2 nyang each; hemp seed, 1.5 nyang; apricot kernel, 1 don 2 fun 5 ri over a nyang. Powder, make honey pills the size of a paulownia seed, and take fifty on an empty stomach in warm water. — Gukbang 局方 (Donguibogam · Daebyeon)

Clinical commentary 臨床

The spleen-bound pattern is one of the sharpest observations in the classical literature: the patient passes water often and the stool is hard, and the two are read as one disorder — the fluid that should have moistened the bowel is going out by the bladder instead. The Bogam gives it a section of its own. The formula is the Shanghanlun's, rhubarb and the three qi movers with two seed oils, and it remains in use under this name. Whether the mechanism is as described, the association of polyuria with constipation is real enough in diabetes and in diuretic use. — Eui Young (Justin) Chung, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M.