Hou Po Treats Various Stomach-Related Symptoms

Finding A Guiding Herb Makes Easier to Find the Most Efficient Formula (21)

It Should Be Used in Various Being Caused By the Dysfunction of Vagus Nerves

By Hyunchang Cho, L.Ac., Ph.D ([email protected])

1. Pharmacological Hypothesis of Hou Po

Hou Po seems to treat various symptoms arising from the lack of dilative peristalsis of smooth muscles in the thoracic and abdominal cavities caused by dysfunction of parasympathetic nerves (vagus nerves).

• Hou Po’s chest fullness and shallow breathing are caused by circulatory dysfunction of the chest, which is a result of narrowed bronchial smooth muscles and decreased motility of the diaphragm. Hou Po can treat such symptoms by expanding bronchial smooth muscles and increasing motility of the diaphragm, thereby improving thoracic circulation.
• Hou Po’s abdominal fullness and pain are caused by delayed movement of ingested food in the GI tract due to limited dilative peristalsis of the intestinal smooth muscles. Hou Po can treat such symptoms by promoting dilative peristalsis of the intestinal smooth muscles.

Hou Po seems to treat various symptoms arising from the lack of dilative movement of smooth muscles in our body, mainly caused by dysfunction of parasympathetic nerves (vagus nerves).

Hou Po can treat chest fullness (caused by circulatory dysfunction of the thoracic cavity) and shortness of breath (caused by narrowed bronchial smooth muscles) by enhancing thoracic circulation and expanding bronchial smooth muscles.

Also, decreased dilative peristalsis due to contracting of the intestinal smooth muscles in the abdominal cavity may induce stomach gas, discomfort, and sometimes, pain. Hou Po can treat such symptoms by enhancing dilative peristalsis of the intestinal smooth muscles and relieving stomach gas, discomfort and pain.

2. Clinical Signs of Hou Po

1) Stomach Symptoms

When Hou Po’s symptoms are mainly focused on the stomach, Main Symptoms would be manifested as stomach distention, gas and discomfort, which will sometimes accompany stomach pain as well.

Hou Po’s stomach fullness can be observed in formulas such as Hou Sheng Ban Gan Ren Tang, Xiao Cheng Qi Tang, Da Cheng Qi Tang, Hou Po San Wu Tang, Hou Po Qi Wu Tang, Hou Po Da Huang Tang, Ma Zi Ren Wan, and Zhi Zi Hou Po Tang. In such formulas, Hou Po is used with herbs like Da Huang, Zhi Shi and Shao Yao, making Hou Po’s symptoms more prominent. Among these formulas, Zhi Zi Hou Po Tang contains Hou Po and Zhi Shi but stomach fullness may not be always present. On the other hand, with Hou Sheng Ban Gan Ren Tang, Hou Po’s stomach fullness is almost always present and prominent.

Stomach distention of Da Huang and Zhi Shi either accompany constipation or is worsened by constipation. On the other hand, stomach fullness/distention of Hou Po and Shao Yao may have a bowel movement yet stomach fullness/distention is unresolved upon defecation. So, the discerning question for Hou Po and Shao Yao’s stomach fullness would be ‘I can clear out the bowels (defecate) but my stomach is still full of gas, and I still feel bloated and uncomfortable.’

2) Chest Symptoms

When Hou Po’s symptoms are mainly focused on the chest, Main Symptoms would be manifested as chest fullness and shallow breathing (mild asthma), which usually manifest together.

Gui Zhi Jia Hou Po Xing Zi Tang, Ban Xia Hou Po Tang, Zhi Shi Xie Bai Gui Zhi Tang, and Hou Po Ma Huang Tang are all formulas with Hou Po’s chest fullness and shallow breathing (mild asthma). In these formulas, Hou Po is used with herbs like Xing Ren, Ma Huang, Su Ye, Gua Lou Shi, and Xie Bai, making Hou Po’s symptoms of chest fullness and shallow breathing (mild asthma) more prominent.

3) Tendency