论小建中汤

Discussion on Minor Center-Fortifying Decoction

小建中汤以甘润胶饴为君,温中补中缓急,以酸苦微寒之芍药为臣,养精血而敛阴,桂枝助阳、生姜温胃、大枣补脾、炙甘草益气。诸药合用,辛甘化阳之中又有酸甘化阴,共奏温中补虚、和里缓急、调和气血阴阳,复建中气之功。小建中汤甘温补脾、调和阴阳,主治阴阳两虚以阳虚为主之证,其证为气血阴阳俱虚,以阳虚失温为主。小建中汤治法重在甘温建中、调和阴阳。

In Minor Center-Fortifying Decoction, Yitang （Saccharum Granorum） is the king herb with sweet taste and effects of warming and tonifying the middle energizers and reliving spasm; Shaoyao （Radix Paeoniae Alba） is the minister herb with sour and bitter taste and slight cold nature and effects of nourishing essence blood and astringing yin; Guizhi （ Ramulus Cinnamomi） assists yang; Shengjiang （Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens） warms the stomach; Dazao （Fructus Jujubae） tonifies the spleen; Zhi- gancao （Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae Praeparata cum Melle） benefits qi. The combination of these herbs can achieve the effects of sweetness and pungency transforming yang and simultaneously sourness and sweetness transforming yin. warming the middle energizer and tonifying the deficiency, harmonizing the interior and relieving spasm, regulating qi, blood and yin and yang, and restoring qi in the middle energizer. Minor Center-Fortifying Decoction, sweet in ta^ste and warm in nature, can harmo- nize yin and yang with indications ofyin and yang deficiency within with yang deficiency is dominant; the syndrome should be de- ficiency of qi, blood, yin and yang, but dominant yang deficiency and warmth loss. The key of therapeutic method is to fortifying the middle energizer with sweet and warm herbs, harmonizing yin and yang. The sweet and warm herbs in whole prescription are the dominant to regulate and tonify qi, blood, yin and yang and focus on strengthen the spleen.