GI Tonic

• General gastrointestinal deficiency and weakness: fatigue, poor appetite, loose stools or diarrhea, anorexia, borborygmus, bloating, weight loss, sallow complexion,
  weak pulse, and scalloped tongue
• Spleen qi deficiency causing various gastrointestinal disorders: diarrhea, superficial gastritis, and chronic colitis
• Malnutrition in children or those with poor appetite and loose stools

• Balancing effect to regulate and restore gastrointestinal functions
• General supportive effect to treat gastrointestinal disorders
• Strengthens the gastrointestinal tract to improve appetite, digestion, and absorption
  

• This formula is contraindicated in cases of interior heat accumulation, exterior wind-cold, or exterior wind-heat.
• This formula should not be used by itself in cases of diarrhea due to damp-heat in the Intestines, with such symptoms as burning sensations in the anus, tenesmus and foul-smelling stool. This condition is an indication of infection, and must be treated first with herbs that clear damp-heat from the Intestines.
  

• Eat a variety of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables of all colors.
• Incorporate more high-fiber whole grains and nuts into diet.
• Drink warm or hot liquids with meals. Putting cold and ice on any part of the body will immediately constrict the flow of blood to that region. Similarly, drinking cold or iced drinks with meals will hinder the naturalperistaltic movements of the digestive system.
  
• Foods with antioxidant effects, such as vitamin A, C and E are beneficial as they neutralize the free radicals and minimize damage to cells. Beneficial foods include citrus fruits, carrots, green leaf vegetables, and green tea.
  
• Chew food completely and thoroughly. The digestive tract can process and absorb smaller pieces of food much better than food that is incompletely chewed. Larger pieces of food can lead to incomplete digestion and digestive discomfort.
• Always eat breakfast. According to the TCM clock, the most optimal time for the digestive system is in the morning from 8 to 10 a.m.
  
• Give the body two to three hours between the last meal of the day and bedtime. During sleep, the digestive system slows down as well. Make sure the body has adequate time to digest the food before going into sleep mode.
• If the patient is allergic to any food or feel uncomfortable after eating certain foods, then avoid eating it.
• Avoid fast food, processed foods, junk food, artificial sugars, and carbonated drinks. Stay away from meat, greasy food, alcohol, caffeine, dairy products (except for unsweetened low-fat yogurt), tap water, iron supplements, and vegetables and fruits with pesticides.
• The Spleen is responsible for generating post-natal qi, and good Spleen function also contributes to a healthy immune system. Foods that damage the Spleen should avoided:
  - Avoid any and all foods that contain sugar, such as cake, dessert, candy, chocolate, soda, canned juice, soft drinks, caffeinated drinks, stevia, sugar substitutes, agave, xylitol, and corn syrup.
  - Avoid raw or uncooked meats, such as sashimi, sushi, steak tartar, and seared meat.
  - Minimize consumption of foods that are cooling in nature, including tofu, tomato, celery, asparagus, bamboo, seaweed, kelp, bitter melon, cucumber, gourd, luffa, eggplant, winter melon, watermelon, honeydew, citrus, oranges, guava, grapefruit, pineapple, plums, pear, banana, papaya, watermelon, white radish, mustard leaf, potherb mustard, Chinese kale, napa, and bamboo sprout. Do not eat foods straight from the refrigerator. Long-term intake of cold fruits and vegetables like the ones listed above may be damaging to the Spleen. The cooling property of foods can be neutralized by cooking or adding 20 pieces of Gou Qi Zi (Fructus Lycii).
  - Avoid carbohydrates like white rice or bread as they may produce dampness.
  - No seafood especially shellfish, like crabs, oyster, scallops, clams, lobster and shrimp (they enter the yangming Stomach channel).
  - Avoid fermented foods like cheese or fermented tofu.
  - Do not eat dairy products, such as milk, cream, cheese, and ice cream.
  - No lamb, beef, goose or duck.
  - Avoid deep-fried or greasy foods.
  
• Warm and hot natured foods that damage qi and yin should be avoided, such as:
  - certain fruits like mango and durian that produce heat.
  - stimulants like coffee, alcohol, and energy drinks.
  - spicy/pungent/aromatic vegetables such as pepper, garlic, onions, basil, rosemary, cumin, funnel, anise, leeks, chives, scallions, thyme, saffron, wormwood, mustard, chili pepper, and wasabi.
  
• Avoid food and drinks with artificial coloring.
• Consume as few meat products as possible. Do not eat processed meats, such as lunch meats, hot dogs and sausages, as they contain nitrites that are associated with inflammation and chronic disease.
• Sanitation of food is important to prevent further damage to the digestive system.
• Do not sit directly on wet cement or marble floors to prevent invasion of damp-cold.
• A positive outlook on life is important. Worrying and thinking too much consume Spleen qi.
• Individuals suffering from irritable bowel syndrome with alternating spells of constipation and diarrhea should stay away from stress as it may aggravate the symptoms.

Take 2 to 4 capsules three times daily on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after meals. The formula can be used to treat diarrhea symptomatically. However, to
achieve long-term and lasting effect, GI Tonic should be taken continuously for three to six months to change the constitution of the Spleen and the Stomach.

• Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae
• Semen Lablab Album
• Poria
• Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae
• Radix Platycodonis
• Semen Nelumbinis
• Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng
• Fructus Amomi
• Rhizoma Dioscoreae
• Semen Coicis
• Radix Astragali Praeparata cum Melle)