Source: Liu Caochuang’s recipe from Yixue Zhengzhuan (Orthodox Medical Records).

Ingredients:
No.1  Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) 90 g (baked)
No.2  Baishaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) 60 g (baked)
No.3  Chenpi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae) 45 g (baked)
No.4  Fangfeng (Radix Ledebouriellae) 60 g

Administration:
Grind the above drugs into coarse powder, take 9 g once and decoct in water for oral use.

Actions:
Purging liver fire and invigorating the spleen, relieving pain and diarrhea.

Clinical Application:
This recipe is used to treat painful diarrhea due to disharmony between the liver and spleen marked by borborygmus, abdominal pain, diarrhea with abdominal pain, thin whitish fur, taut and slow pulse. It is applicable to acute enteritis, chronic colitis, neurotic diarrhea and other diseases, which pertain to syndrome of hyperfunctioning liver restricting the spleen, and are characterized by diarrhea with abdominal pain and relieved pain after defecation. In case of protracted diarrhea, add Huangqi (Radix Astragali seu Hedysari) and Shengma (Rhizoma Cimicifugae) (baked) to supplement qi and lift yang to relieve diarrhea. If concomitant with damp heat manifesting yellowish greasy fur, add Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis) and Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae) to dispel pathogenic factors from the intestine and dry dampness to relieve diarrhea.

Elucidation:
The syndrome is due to excess of the liver and deficiency of the spleen, leading to abnormal transportation and transformation. It should be treated by purging liver-fire and invigorating the spleen to relieve pain and diarrhea. The first ingredient is monarch drug with the function of benefiting qi and reinforcing the spleen, drying dampness and relieving diarrhea. Ingredient No. 2 can nourish the liver and blood, and relieve spasm and pain, used as minister drug. Ingredient No. 3 bears the effect of regulating the flow of qi and drying dampness, invigorating the spleen and regulating the stomach.
The last ingredient is pungent and warm in nature with lifting and dispersing functions, which helps ingredient No. 2 disperse the stagnated liver-qi and ingredient No. 1 lift yang and regulate the spleen. So, ingredients No. 3 and No. 4 play the role of adjuvant drugs. Besides the last ingredient also serves as guiding drug, which leads other ingredients to the spleen.