The Shang Han Lun formula for Spleen-constraint (pi yue) syndrome, in which a strong Stomach but weak Spleen diverts fluids preferentially to the Bladder, causing frequent urination with dry, bound stool. Composed of huo ma ren, xing ren, bai shao, zhi shi, hou po, and da huang, it combines moistening and mild purgation without injuring the upright, formulated as pills for gradual treatment.
Moisten the intestines and drain heat; move qi and unblock the bowels
Formula Rhyme
麻子仁丸治脾约，大黄枳朴杏芍药。土燥津枯便难解，胃强脾弱此方约。
—— 方剂学教材 (traditional mnemonic)
Ma Zi Ren Wan treats Spleen-constraint — with Da Huang, Zhi Shi, Hou Po, Xing Ren and Bai Shao; when earth is dry and fluids depleted so the stool is hard, with a strong Stomach and weak Spleen, this formula constrains.
This prescription is provided only by the dispensing TCM practitioner. Take as directed; do not modify the dose or share it. If you experience any adverse effect, stop immediately and contact your practitioner. The content of this platform is educational reference, not medical advice. Bencao Dian · https://bencaodian.org · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Cite this entry
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@misc{bencaodian-ma-zi-ren-wan,
author = {{Bencaodian Editorial}},
title = {Má Zǐ Rén Wán 麻子仁丸 (Hemp Seed Pill)},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {Bencao Dian: A Bilingual Knowledge Graph of Traditional Chinese Medicine},
url = {https://bencaodian.org/en/formulas/ma-zi-ren-wan},
urldate = {2026-04-17},
note = {CC BY-SA 4.0}
}