By Eric Brand

Many of the products in the Blue Poppy Originals line were inspired from Chinese research journals. Bob Flaws often translated summaries of journal articles, and we have over 1400 articles available for free on the TCM Infoline at www.bluepoppy.com. However, we recently discovered that the journal article that inspired the Blue Poppy pediatric formula Tummy Qi had not been translated, so I have translated a summary and posted it below.

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The Use of Modified Xiao Chai Hu Tang and Wen Dan Tang in the Treatment of 32 Children with Bile Reflux Gastritis, from the Zhejiang Journal of Chinese Medicine, 2007, issue #5.

32 patients were treated in the cohort; 2 patients were in-patients and 30 patients were out-patients. There were 19 males and 13 females, with 7 patients under the age of 10 and 25 patients aged 10-15. The average age was 13. The shortest course of disease was 3 months and the longest was 4 years.

The clinical manifestations were as follows: pain around the navel or epigastic area, poor digestion and poor appetite, belching, bitter taste in the mouth with acid upflow, nausea, vomiting of bitter liquid. Some patients also exhibited symptoms such as vacuity vexation insomnia and fright palpitations. The tongues observed were dark or dark red, with yellow fur or yellow greasy fur. The pulse was often bowstring.

15 patients presented with liver-stomach disharmony, 11 patients presented with liver-stomach depressive heat, and 6 patients presented with liver-gallbladder damp-heat. Gastroscopic examination revealed bile in the stomach, inflamed mucous membranes of the stomach, and sometimes ulceration. 18 patients had moderate to severe reflux of bile, while 14 patients had mild reflux. 19 patients had chronic gastritis, 13 patients had ulcerative gastritis.

Treatment method

The formula was based on the combination of Xiao Chai Hu Tang and Wen Dan Tang: 8-10 g each of Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix), ginger-processed Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Zhu Ru (Bambusae Caulis in Taenia), Tai Zi Shen (Pseudostellariae Radix), and Zhi Qiao (Ke) (Aurantii Fructus); 6 g of Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), 5 g of Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) and Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix), and 4 pieces of Da Zao (Jujubae Fructus). This formula was made as a water decoction and taken at a dose of one pack per day in two divided doses.

10-15 g of Hai Piao Xiao (Sepiae Endoconcha) was added for patients with severe acid upflow. Patients with severe pain received the addition of 8-10 g of Yan Hu Suo (Corydalis Rhizoma) and Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba). In cases with more severe depressive heat, 3-6 g of Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma) was added. For spleen vacuity, 10 g of stir-fried Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) was added. Enduring cases with blood stasis received the addition of 8-10 g of Dan Shen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix). Cases with ulceration received the addition of 1 g of powdered San Qi (Notoginseng Radix) and 3 g of powdered Bai Ji (Bletillae Rhizoma), which was swallowed directly twice a day. 30 days constituted a single course of treatment, and the patients were re-assessed with a gastroscopic examination after one treatment course. The shortest duration of administration was 30 days, and the longest duration was 66 days, with an average administration period of 44 days.

After treatment, 26 patients were deemed clinically cured, as defined by absence of clinical symptoms, and absence of reflux, inflammation, and ulceration upon gastroscopic examination. 4 patients experienced a positive effect, as defined by a reduction in clinical symptoms, reduction in reflux frequency or severity, and reduced ulceration and inflammation. 2 patients had no effect (reduction in symptoms but with recurrences, and no change upon the gastroscopic examination). The total efficacy was thus estimated at 93.75%.