2Shen Qu-Medicated leaven

Shen Qu, also known as medicated leaven, is a traditional fermentation product made from wheat flour mixed with herbs and fermented. It is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to relieve food stagnation, promote digestion, and harmonize the Stomach. Shen Qu is particularly effective for digestive complaints such as bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, and poor appetite, especially after consuming heavy or greasy foods.

Functions & Benefits

Relieves Food Stagnation and Promotes Digestion
Used for indigestion, abdominal fullness, sour belching, and poor appetite, especially when caused by overeating or consuming starchy and greasy foods.

Harmonizes the Stomach and Alleviates Diarrhea
Treats loose stools or diarrhea due to food stagnation or weak digestion.

Supports Absorption of Nutrients
Improves nutrient assimilation and helps regulate digestive function in formulas with tonifying herbs.

Enhances the Effect of Herbal Formulas
Often used in combination to aid the digestive uptake of other herbs, especially in patients with weak digestion.

Indications
Individuals with bloating, belching, nausea, or poor digestion after meals
People experiencing loose stools or diarrhea due to food retention
Patients who feel full or sluggish after eating rich foods
Those with weak digestive capacity needing support in tonic formulas

Tongue & Pulse Diagnosis in TCM
Tongue: Thick or greasy coating (indicating food stagnation or dampness)
Pulse: Slippery or moderate (suggesting excess in the middle Jiao or mild stagnation)

Common TCM Patterns Treated by Shen Qu

• Food Retention in the Middle Burner – Fullness, nausea, indigestion

• Spleen Qi Deficiency with Damp Accumulation – Poor appetite, bloating, loose stools

• Stomach Disharmony – Belching, sour regurgitation, sluggish digestion

Precautions & Contraindications
Avoid in cases of true heat conditions or Yin deficiency with dryness
Use with caution in individuals with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, as it contains fermented wheat
Not suitable for prolonged use without underlying food stagnation or digestive weakness

Conclusion
Shen Qu is a mild, effective digestive aid used in TCM to treat food stagnation, poor digestion, and diarrhea, particularly after overindulgence in heavy foods. Its role in supporting the digestive system and improving nutrient absorption makes it a valuable addition to many formulas, especially for patients with weak Spleen and Stomach function.