Chinese: 肥儿丸
Pinyin: Féi Er Wán
Other names: Fat Baby Pill
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that reduce food accumulation and transform Stagnation
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: HookwormAscariasisChronic indigestion in children
- Kills parasites
- Reduces accumulation
- Strengthens the Spleen
- Clears Heat
Contraindications: This formula should be used only for primarily excessive types of childhood... This formula should be used only for primarily excessive types of childhood nutritional impairment, as it has no significant tonifying actions. Its name should not mislead one into using it as a general tonic or everyday supplement. see more
Source date: 1156 AD
Source book: Comprehensive and Subtle Discussion of Children's Health
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Fei Er Wan is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Quisqualis Fruits (Shi Jun Zi) and Areca Nuts (Bing Lang) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1156 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that reduce food accumulation and transform Stagnation. Its main actions are: 1) kills parasites and 2) reduces accumulation.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Fei Er Wan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Stomach Heat or Fire or Spleen Qi Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as ascariasis, hookworm or chronic indigestion in children for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eight ingredients in Fei Er Wan, we review the patterns and conditions that Fei Er Wan helps treat.
The eight ingredients in Fei Er Wan
Shi Jun Zi is a king ingredient in Fei Er Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Quisqualis Fruits (Shi Jun Zi)
Part used: The fluits
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that expel parasites
In general Shi Jun Zi's main actions are as follows: "Kills parasites. Improves children's digestion"
In the context of Fei Er Wan, it is used because it has a strong effect on killing parasites.
Bing Lang is a king ingredient in Fei Er Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Areca Nuts (Bing Lang)
Part used: Dried ripe seed
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: Large intestineStomach
Category: Herbs that expel parasites
In general Bing Lang's main actions are as follows: "Destroys parasites. Regulates Qi circulation. Promotes urination."
In the context of Fei Er Wan, it is used because it has a strong effect on killing parasites.
Huang Lian is a deputy ingredient in Fei Er Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Goldthread Rhizomes (Huang Lian)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLiverSpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
Huang Lian clears Heat. It also assists the key ingredients in directing the parasites downward. The combination of Nutmeg and Goldthread rhizome treats Spleen Deficiency due to accumulation with accompanying Heat.
Rou Dou Kou is a deputy ingredient in Fei Er Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Nutmeg (Rou Dou Kou)
Part used: Dried kernel
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: Large intestineSpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that stabilize and bind
Rou Dou Kou strengthens the Spleen. The combination of Nutmeg and Goldthread rhizome treats Spleen Deficiency due to accumulation with accompanying Heat.
Shen Qu is an assistant ingredient in Fei Er Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Medicated Leaven (Shen Qu)
Part used: This is a fermented combination of wheat flour, Artemisia annua, Xanthium, Polygonum hydropiper and other herbs.
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that relieve Food Stagnation
In general Shen Qu's main actions are as follows: "Assists the Stomach in removing Food Stagnation. Harmonizes the Earth element and improves digestion."
In the context of Fei Er Wan, it is used because it directly reduce Food Stagnation.
Mai Ya is an assistant ingredient in Fei Er Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Malt (Mai Ya)
Part used: Dried germinated ripe fruit
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that relieve Food Stagnation
In general Mai Ya's main actions are as follows: "Assists the Stomach to move Food Stagnation. Strengthens the Spleen. Stops the flow of mother's milk. Assists in the smooth flow of Liver Qi."
In the context of Fei Er Wan, it is used because it directly reduce Food Stagnation.
Mu Xiang is an assistant ingredient in Fei Er Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Costus Roots (Mu Xiang)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: GallbladderLarge intestineLiverLungSpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
In general Mu Xiang's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Stagnation of Qi of the digestion in the Spleen, Stomach and Intestines. Relieves Qi Stagnation of the Liver and Gallbladder. Strengthens the Spleen and is used with tonifying herbs to prevent their potential cloying effects."
In the context of Fei Er Wan, it is used because it promotes the Qi movement in the Middle Burner..
Zhu Dan is an envoy ingredient in Fei Er Wan. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
8. Pig Galls (Zhu Dan)
Part used: The pig gall often in the form of bile or bile powder
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderLarge intestineLiverLung
Zhu Dan , when combined Goldthread rhizome, it drains accumulated Stomach Heat, and conducts the actions of the other ingredients into the Stomach.
Conditions and patterns for which Fei Er Wan may be prescribed
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Fei Er Wan is used by TCM practitioners to treat two different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Ascariasis Hookworm Chronic indigestion in children
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Fei Er Wan treats ascariasis" for instance. Rather, Fei Er Wan is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind ascariasis.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Fei Er Wan.
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Stomach Heat or Fire
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua), Full (Shi)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red centre
Symptoms: Acne Nausea Dry mouth Dry stools Bad breath Mouth ulcers Constipation Irritability Painful gums Restlnessness Bleeding gums Swelling gums Intense thirst Feeling of heat Constant hunger Excessive hunger Frontal headache Sour regurgitation Desire for cold drinks Burning epigastric pain Vomiting of fluids soon after drinking
Fei Er Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Stomach Heat or Fire. This pattern leads to symptoms such as burning epigastric pain, intense thirst, desire for cold drinks and restlnessness. Patients with Stomach Heat or Fire typically exhibit rapid (Shu), slippery (Hua) or full (Shi) pulses as well as Red in the center with a dry thick yellow or dark yellow coating.
Stomach Fire indicates a true Excess of Heat in the Stomach, creating symptoms such as mouth ulcers, bad breath, intense thirst as well as strong desire for cold drinks and foods. The Blood in the Stomach Channel get rebellious due to the extreme Heat or Fire, so that it leaks out of vessels and... read more about Stomach Heat or Fire
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Spleen Qi Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu)
Tongue color: Pale
Symptoms: Gas Obesity Fatigue Bloating Lassitude Pale face Overweight Weak Limbs Weak voice Loose stools Poor appetite Poor digestion Pale complexion Desire to lie down Swollen complexion Slight abdominal pain Weakness in the limbs Slight abdominal distension after eating
Fei Er Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Spleen Qi Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as slight abdominal distension after eating, lassitude, desire to lie down and slight abdominal pain. Patients with Spleen Qi Deficiency typically exhibit empty (Xu) pulses as well as Pale or normal tongue with thin white coating. Possible swollen with tooth marks on sides and transverse cracks.
Spleen Qi Deficiency is one of the most commonly seen disharmony. The three most common causes for this pattern are unhealthy diet, emotional stress and mental-excertion as they can largely harm the transformation and transportation function of the Spleen. This pattern gives rise to various... read more about Spleen Qi Deficiency
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