Mu Xiang Bing Lang Wan (木香槟榔丸) — Aucklandia & Areca Pill
On this page
Overview
Mu Xiang Bing Lang Wan — the “Aucklandia and Areca Pill” — is from Li Dong-yuan’s Jin-Yuan Ru Men Shi Qin. It treats Damp-Heat with food and Qi stagnation in the Stomach and Intestines, producing tenesmus, foul-smelling diarrhoea or constipation[11], marked abdominal distention, bitter taste and a sticky yellow tongue coat. The formula combines strong Qi-movers (Mu Xiang, Bing Lang, Qing Pi, Chen Pi, Xiang Fu) with purging cooling herbs (Da Huang, Mang Xiao) and Heat-clearers (Huang Lian, Huang Bai), making it a powerful intervention for acute Damp-Heat bowel disease.
I prescribe Mu Xiang Bing Lang Wan as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.
TCM pattern
Mu Xiang Bing Lang Wan is prescribed for Damp-Heat with food and Qi stagnation in the bowels:
- Marked abdominal distention and fullness
- Pain that resists pressure
- Foul-smelling diarrhoea or constipation
- Tenesmus (urgent unproductive bowel sensation)
- Bitter taste, dry mouth
- Anal burning
- Dark yellow urine
- Tongue — red, yellow greasy coat
- Pulse — slippery, rapid
Key herbs
- Mu Xiang (Rx. Aucklandiae, 3-60g), Bing Lang (Sm. Arecae, 3-60g) — chief; move Qi; descend accumulation
- Qing Pi (Per. Citri Reticulatae Viride, 3-60g), Chen Pi (Per. Citri Reticulatae, 3-30g), Xiang Fu (Dry-fried Rz. Cyperi, 10-120g) — move Liver and Stomach Qi
- Zhi Shi, E Zhu (Dry-fried Rz. Curcumae, 3-30g) — break Qi and Blood stagnation
- Da Huang (Rx. et Rz. Rhei, 5-90g), Mang Xiao — purge accumulation; drain Heat downward
- Huang Lian (Rz. Coptidis, 3-60g), Huang Bai (Cx. Phellodendri, 5-90g) — clear Damp-Heat from the Intestines
- Qian Niu Zi (morning glory seed, 10-120g) — purges water and accumulation strongly
Formula actions
- Moves Qi vigorously
- Purges accumulation
- Clears Damp-Heat
- Relieves tenesmus and abdominal distention
Conditions treated
- Acute bacterial dysentery in the excess phase (with conventional antibiotics if indicated)
- Diverticulitis with Damp-Heat pattern (alongside medical care)
- Severe acute IBS[5]-C with Damp-Heat pattern
- Acute UC flare with severe Damp-Heat (alongside conventional care)
- Functional dyspepsia with food retention and Damp-Heat
- Acute on chronic constipation with Damp-Heat pattern
Cautions
Contains Da Huang, Mang Xiao and Qian Niu Zi — strictly contraindicated in pregnancy.
Not appropriate for cold-deficient, Yin-deficient or Spleen-Qi-deficient patterns — the strong purging and Qi-moving herbs damage Yang and Qi.
For short-term acute use only; once stagnation clears, switch to a tonifying formula.
Acute severe abdominal pain may indicate appendicitis, perforation or bowel obstruction — needs urgent surgical assessment.
Severe bacterial dysentery requires conventional medical care including antibiotics and rehydration.
Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the RCHM.
Prefer to be treated from home? Chinese herbal medicine online consultations are available throughout the UK and worldwide.
References
[5] Liu Q, Shi Z, Zhang T, Jiang T, Luo X, Su X, Yang Y, Wei W. Efficacy and Safety of Chinese Herbal Medicine Xiao Yao San in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: A meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Front Pharmacol. 2022 Jan 19;12:821802. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.821802. PMID: 35126152.
[11] Lyu Z, Fan Y, Bai Y, Liu T, Zhong LL, Liang HF. Outcome of the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine for functional constipation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Clin Cases. 2022 May 26;10(15):4856-4877. https://doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v10.i15.4856. PMID: 35801027.
