Kang Ning Wan (康宁丸) — Curing Pills

By Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto — registered Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner (BAcC, RCHM) with over 25 years’ clinical experience.

Kang Ning Wan, sold worldwide as Curing Pills, is a classic Chinese patent remedy carried for the sudden upset stomach, nausea and motion sickness of travel and over-eating. It is a household self-care remedy for short-term digestive upset — not a treatment for ongoing gastrointestinal disease, and not a substitute for medical advice.

On this page

What it is
What it is used for
Key ingredients
Safety and cautions
When to see a practitioner
Frequently asked questions
Related pages

1. What it is

Kang Ning Wan (“Health and Quiet Pill”), widely sold as Curing Pills, is an over-the-counter Chinese herbal formula for acute digestive upset. It sits in the category of remedies that harmonise the Stomach and transform Damp, and is a close relative of Bao Ji Wan (Po Chai Pills).

2. What it is used for

Traditionally used for the everyday stomach upset of food and travel:

Nausea, queasiness and mild vomiting
Motion sickness and travel sickness
Indigestion, over-fullness and bloating after rich or unfamiliar food
Mild diarrhoea and “stomach flu”-type upset
The queasy, heavy-headed stomach of a hangover

3. Key ingredients

It combines aromatic Damp-transforming and digestive herbs, including Huo Xiang (agastache), Tian Ma (gastrodia), Yi Yi Ren (Job’s tears), Fu Ling (poria), Ge Gen (kudzu) and Bai Zhi (angelica dahurica). It contains no animal products. Read the packet for the full list if you have allergies.

4. Safety and cautions

Short-term use only — for a passing upset. If symptoms persist beyond a day or two, or recur, stop and seek advice.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: do not use without professional advice.
Children and dehydration: vomiting or diarrhoea can dehydrate a child quickly — prioritise oral rehydration and see a doctor.
Red flags: severe or persistent abdominal pain, blood in vomit or stool, high fever or signs of dehydration need urgent medical care.
Tell your pharmacist about any regular medication before using herbal remedies.

5. When to see a practitioner instead

A patent remedy is a fixed formula for a passing complaint. Recurrent or persistent symptoms point to an underlying pattern that a one-size-fits-all pill will not resolve — for those, an individualised assessment and a tailored prescription address the root. See Chinese herbal medicine or arrange an online herbal consultation.

6. Frequently asked questions

What are Curing Pills used for?

Curing Pills (Kang Ning Wan) are traditionally used for acute, minor digestive upset — nausea, motion sickness, indigestion, bloating and mild diarrhoea from rich or unfamiliar food, travel or a hangover. They are a short-term self-care remedy, not a treatment for ongoing digestive disease.

What is the difference between Curing Pills and Po Chai Pills?

Both are Chinese digestive patent remedies for the same kind of acute stomach upset, and many people use them interchangeably. Curing Pills (Kang Ning Wan) place a little more emphasis on nausea and motion sickness; Po Chai Pills (Bao Ji Wan) on indigestion and travellers' tummy. The herb families overlap.

Are Curing Pills good for motion sickness?

They are traditionally taken before or at the onset of travel for motion and travel sickness, and many people find them settling. If you are prone to severe motion sickness, discuss options with your pharmacist as well.