Yí Táng (饴糖) — Maltose
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1. Overview
Yí Táng (饴糖) — malt sugar or maltose, prepared by saccharification of malted barley with rice or wheat — is a sweet, warm food-grade Chinese herb that gently tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, relieves abdominal pain due to deficiency-cold, and moistens the Lungs to stop cough. It is the namesake ingredient of Xiao Jian Zhong Tang (Minor Construct the Middle Decoction), the classical formula for children's cold-deficiency abdominal pain.
2. Properties
| Pinyin name | Yí Táng |
|---|---|
| Chinese characters | 饴糖 |
| Latin name | Saccharum Granorum |
| English name | Malt sugar, maltose |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Sweet |
| Channels entered | Spleen, Stomach, Lung |
| Category | Tonify Qi |
| Dosage | 15–60 g, dissolved in strained decoction |
3. Actions and indications
Principal actions
- Tonifies the Middle and relieves abdominal pain — for deficiency-cold abdominal pain that is relieved by warmth and pressure, typical of paediatric cramping pain.
- Moistens the Lungs and stops dry cough — for dry, hacking cough with Lung-Yin or Lung-Qi deficiency.
- Generates fluids and benefits Stomach Yin — for Stomach dryness with thirst.
4. Key formulas
- Xiao Jian Zhong Tang — the namesake formula; Yi Tang is the chief herb providing the sweet construction of the middle burner. Used widely for paediatric abdominal pain, irritable bowel and chronic gastritis with deficiency-cold.
- Da Jian Zhong Tang, Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang — classical variants.
5. Cautions
Sweet and warming — contraindicated in Damp-Heat, Phlegm-Damp obstruction, vomiting due to Damp and unresolved Food Stagnation. Diabetic patients should use cautiously. Generally well tolerated.
6. Treatment at my clinic
I prescribe Yi Tang as the chief ingredient of Xiao Jian Zhong Tang for paediatric and adult patients with deficiency-cold cramping abdominal pain, especially in functional bowel disorders. Online Chinese herbal consultations are available. See prices for costs.
