Xiang Sha Liu Jun (Six Noble Tonic, also known as Six Gentlemen Decoction) is a one of the most popular and well-regarded classical formulas in the Chinese medicine canon.
It contains a core of herbs including citrus sinensis (Chen Pi or aged tangerine peel), pinellia root, amomum and cyperus root that relieve acid reflux, GERD, bloating, gastritis, inflammation, flatulence, slow gastric emptying, and nausea. It's also become popular in recent years within biohacking circles for its ability to reduce inflammation.
Unlike biomedical drugs, which only suppress stomach acid but fail to treat the underlying causes, Chinese herbal medicine addresses the root of the disease, targeting the deficiency, stagnation, and inflammation which are the actual causes of reflux.
This formula first appeared in the early Qing Dynasty medical reference book by Luo Mei, Gu Jin Ming Yi Fang Lun, “Ancient (and) Modern Famous Doctors’ Formulas Discussion” published in 1675.
Xiang Sha Liu Jun targets inflammation (“internal heat” in Chinese medicine terms) and bloating using citrus sinensis and pogostemon, herbs with strong anti-inflammatory capabilities--citrus sinensis also relieves bloating and increases motility. It also includes licorice root and ginger, herbs renowned for their anti-inflammatory effects. And unlike our other (similar) formula, Xiang Sha Yang Wei, this one also targets deficiency with the addition of codonopsis root, an herb similar to ginseng commonly included in formulas to help build vitality.
Modern research suggests Xiang Sha Liu Jun may improve digestion through several complementary mechanisms. A 2015 study found that it regulated the brain–gut axis and increased key digestive neuropeptides including ghrelin, cholecystokinin (CCK), and VIP, which help regulate appetite, gastric motility, secretion, and digestion.
Clinical evidence is also substantial: a 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis of 23 randomized trials involving 2,101 patients found significantly greater overall symptom improvement, better gastric emptying, and lower digestive-symptom scores than control treatments. An earlier meta-analysis of nine randomized trials involving 648 patients found that it produced significantly greater symptom improvement than prescription medications used to speed stomach emptying and improve gastrointestinal motility, with patients having more than twice the odds of improvement.
Instructions: Take 8 small pills 3x a day with warm water.
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