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Formula温里剂· 温中补虚

小建中汤

Xiǎo Jiàn Zhōng Tāng

Minor Construct the Middle Decoction

The Shang Han Lun representative formula for consumptive disease with interior urgency. Derived from Gui Zhi Tang by doubling bai shao and adding yi tang (maltose), it belongs to the Gui Zhi Tang transformation lineage. It treats middle-burner vacuity cold with Liver-Spleen disharmony manifesting as cramping abdominal pain, palpitations, vacuity vexation, sallow complexion, and a fine wiry pulse.

Source《伤寒论》辨太阳病脉证并治中第102条

Treatment Principle

温中补虚，和里缓急

Warm the middle and tonify vacuity; harmonize the interior and relieve urgency

Formula Rhyme

小建中汤君饴糖，桂枝芍药草姜枣。温中补虚和缓急，虚劳里急腹痛良。

—— 方剂学 (中医药出版社)

Composition · 组成

Herb	Role	Dosage	Notes
饴糖Yí Táng	君Sovereign	30g	甘温质润为君，温补脾胃、缓急止痛，为建中之本；烊化服
白芍Bái Sháo	臣Minister	18g	酸甘敛阴，柔肝缓急止痛，与饴糖甘缓相合，建中缓急
桂枝Guì Zhī	臣Minister	9g	辛温通阳，温中散寒，与芍药配合一散一收
生姜Shēng Jiāng	佐Assistant	9g	温胃散寒，助桂枝温中
大枣Dà Zǎo	佐Assistant	6枚	甘温补脾，与生姜调和营卫
甘草Gān Cǎo	使Courier	6g	甘温益气，调和诸药；用炙甘草

Modifications · 加减

原方配伍说明
《伤寒论》原方以饴糖一升为君，甘温建中。临床用时必须加入饴糖（麦芽糖）30–50g，去滓后烊化温服，方称「小建中」之名。
气短、自汗
+ 黄芪
中气虚甚
虚劳便溏、食少
+ 白术、人参
脾虚甚

Treats Patterns · 主治证型

脾气虚证

Pí Qì Xū Zhèng

Spleen Qi Vacuity Pattern

胃寒证

Wèi Hán Zhèng

Stomach Cold Pattern

Preparation · 煎服法

上六味，以水七升，煮取三升，去滓，内饴（饴糖），更上微火消解，温服一升，日三服。

Editor-reviewed· 2026-04-17

PractitionerPatientDate

小建中汤Xiǎo Jiàn Zhōng Tāng

Minor Construct the Middle Decoction

Herb	Pinyin	Role	Dose
饴糖	Yí Táng	Jun (Sovereign)	30g
白芍	Bái Sháo	Chen (Minister)	18g
桂枝	Guì Zhī	Chen (Minister)	9g
生姜	Shēng Jiāng	Zuo (Assistant)	9g
大枣	Dà Zǎo	Zuo (Assistant)	6枚
甘草	Gān Cǎo	Shi (Courier)	6g

Preparation: 上六味，以水七升，煮取三升，去滓，内饴（饴糖），更上微火消解，温服一升，日三服。

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

Permalink · CC BY-SA 4.0

Cite this entry

@misc{bencaodian-xiao-jian-zhong-tang,
  author       = {{Bencaodian Editorial}},
  title        = {Xiǎo Jiàn Zhōng Tāng 小建中汤 (Minor Construct the Middle Decoction)},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {Bencao Dian: A Bilingual Knowledge Graph of Traditional Chinese Medicine},
  url          = {https://bencaodian.org/en/formulas/xiao-jian-zhong-tang},
  urldate      = {2026-04-17},
  note         = {CC BY-SA 4.0}
}

Permalink is fixed

Composition · 组成

Herb	Role	Dosage	Notes
饴糖Yí Táng	君Sovereign	30g	甘温质润为君，温补脾胃、缓急止痛，为建中之本；烊化服
白芍Bái Sháo	臣Minister	18g	酸甘敛阴，柔肝缓急止痛，与饴糖甘缓相合，建中缓急
桂枝Guì Zhī	臣Minister	9g	辛温通阳，温中散寒，与芍药配合一散一收
生姜Shēng Jiāng	佐Assistant	9g	温胃散寒，助桂枝温中
大枣Dà Zǎo	佐Assistant	6枚	甘温补脾，与生姜调和营卫
甘草Gān Cǎo	使Courier	6g	甘温益气，调和诸药；用炙甘草

Herb

Pinyin

Role

Dose

饴糖

Yí Táng

Jun (Sovereign)

30g

白芍

Bái Sháo

Chen (Minister)

18g

桂枝

Guì Zhī

Chen (Minister)

生姜

Shēng Jiāng

Zuo (Assistant)

大枣

Dà Zǎo

Zuo (Assistant)

6枚

甘草

Gān Cǎo

Shi (Courier)

@misc{bencaodian-xiao-jian-zhong-tang, author = {{Bencaodian Editorial}}, title = {Xiǎo Jiàn Zhōng Tāng 小建中汤 (Minor Construct the Middle Decoction)}, year = {2026}, howpublished = {Bencao Dian: A Bilingual Knowledge Graph of Traditional Chinese Medicine}, url = {https://bencaodian.org/en/formulas/xiao-jian-zhong-tang}, urldate = {2026-04-17}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }