Disperses stagnant qi in liver, purges gallbladder heat, nourishes liver blood, tonifies spleen, disperses phlegm-damp. Use for stagnation of qi and food due to liver congestion, with retention of phlegm-damp in the stomach. Also useful for food stagnation due to cold food or drink, or to improper eating habits such as sleeping after a meal. Symptoms include erratic stools, belching, abdominal distension, and poor digestion. Source: Shen Shi Zun Sheng Shu, (Respect of Life Book), by Dr. Shen from the Qing Dynasty, 1644-1911. Function: Move struck qi in the middle warmer; stop pain, strengthen stomach; disperse food mass Application: Use to relieve feeling of fullness in the chest, daphragmand hypochondrium due to stuck liver qi or food mass. Use to increase peristalsis in the stomach and remove food mass in the stomach due to improper eating. The patient may have a foul smell in the mouth and foul belching. (This is sometimes associated with hypoacidity and insufficient acid to digest food in Western medicine.) Applications include the following: Chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver (early stage), chronic gastritis, intestinal spasms (abdominal pain).