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15 Powders to Warm the Stomach

'All disease begins in the Stomach' was an aphorism taken from Hippocrates. The ability of the Stomach to digest properly is directly related to the maintenance of Health, and the development of Disease.

"All Disease begins the the Stomach"
                                           Hippocrates


Therefore, making sure the Stomach is working properly is of prime importance. Medicines used to warm the Stomach and activate the Qi are used to stimulate digestion and absorption, clear Cold and Damp, and promote movement of food through the Digestive system.

The following are all related formulas traditionally used to warm the Stomach, promote Digestion, restore appetite, increases nutrition, and relieve Wind and bloating.


There are many, many variations, but basically they consist of warming spices along with aromatic seeds of the apiaceae (celery) family. Cinnamon and Ginger are the most important spices, Long Pepper, Mace, Nutmeg, Clove and Cardamon all being common additions.

Fennel and Aniseed are most commonly used of the seeds, these being sweetest and most grateful to taste and the stomach. Cumin, Caraway and Coriander are also often used.

Sugar is often added, or the seeds are used in their confected form. Sweetness is better liked by the Stomach and the sugar acts as a type of buffer to the very warming ingredients. Licorice was sometimes used with sugar, and can be used today in place of sugar, or else Honey can be used to form an Electuary.

These are pleasant, safe medicines for people with poor digestion, nausea, indigestion, bloating etc.


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Remember: 3 scruples = 1 dram;  8 drams = 1 oz.


Common Tragea (1)
  Cinnamon
  Ginger, 1 oz. each
  Clove, 1 
½ drams
  Anise ½
oz.
  Mace, 1 dram
  Sugar, sufficient



Common Tragea (2)
  Nutmeg
  Prepared Coriander, 2 oz. each
  Cinnamon
  Clove, 1 dram each
  Mace, 
½ dram
  Sugar, 3–6 oz.



Common Tragea (3)
  Cinnamon
  Ginger, 
½ oz. each
  Coriander seed 1 oz. each
  Nutmeg
  Clove
  Mace
  Galangal, 2 drams each
  Sugar, sufficient



Common Tragea (4)
  Confected Fennel seed
  Confected Aniseed
  Confected Caraway
  Licorice, equal parts of each
  Ginger
  Long Pepper, of each a little



Tragea Grossa
  Cinnamon, 
½ oz.
  Ginger, 3 drams
  Nutmeg, 1 ½ oz.
  Mace, 1 dram
  Clove, ½
dram
  Confected Aniseed, 2 drams



Tragea Grossa for the Stomach
  Calamus
  Licorice
  Gentian, 4 oz. each
  Tormentail
  Zedoary
  Amomum
  Galangal, 1 oz. each
  Ginger
  Nutmeg
  Long Pepper, 
½ oz. each
  Cinnamon
  Clove, 6 drams each
  Aniseed
  Fennel
  Caraway, 1 oz. each 



Tragea for the Stomach, Head, Lungs and Liver
  Cinnamon, 1 oz.
  Licorice, 3 
½ drams
  Nutmeg, 3 drams
  Ginger
  Galangal
  Aniseed, 2 drams each
  Clove
  Mace, 1 dram each
  Sugar, as desired



Common Tragea (5)
  Cinnamon, 
½ oz.
  Ginger
  Clove
  Mace
  Galangal, 2 drams each
  Calamus
  Zedoary, 2 scruples each
  Tabasheer, 1 scruple



Imperial Powder
  Cinnamon
  Ginger, 2 drams each
  Nutmeg
  Galangal
  Amomum
  Cardamon
  Long Pepper, 1 scruple each
  Calamus, 1 dram
  Clove, 
½ dram


Species Incisa
  Licorice, 1 oz. (8 drams)
  Cinnamon, 6 drams
  Ginger, 5 drams
  Calamus 
½ oz. (4 drams)
  Nutmeg
  Galangal
  Clove, 2 drams each
  Aniseed
  Caraway
  Fennel seed
  Coriander seed, 2 oz. each 

This was beaten with Sugar.



Tragea Optima
  Aniseed
  Fennel seed
  Caraway
  Cumin
  Calamint
  Pennyroyal, 1 dram each
  Long Pepper
  Spikenard (or Valerian)
  Mastic
  Rock Salt
  Licorice
  Cardamon, 
½ dram each 

Good for the Stomach and Digestion, clears Wind, benefits sight, Vertigo and Stones.



Powder to Season food with
  Cinnamon 2 oz.
  Ginger, 1 oz.
  Long Pepper
  Galangal
  Amomum, 2 drams each
  Cardamon
  Nutmeg
  Sandalwood
  Rose, 1 dram each
  Clove 
½ dram
  Saffron 1 scruple 



Optimal Powder to have with Food
  Amomum (Greater Cardamon)
  Lesser Cardamon
  Aniseed
  Fennel seed
  Caraway
  Cumin
  Zedoary
  Sage
  Long Pepper
  Clove
  Saffron, 2 drams
  Licorice
  Nutmeg, 
½ oz. (4 drams) ea.
  Cinnamon 1 oz.
  Pennyroyal 2 ½
oz.

Powder, to be taken with food
Purges the Brain; good against Vertigo, benefits Sight, restores when lost; strengthens digestion, increases appetite, clears intestinal wind, strengthens the cold and in convalescence, strengthens Lungs.

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Examples from Ayurveda

Trikatu – Three Pungents
  Ginger
  Black Pepper
  Long Pepper, equal parts

Despite this being a simple formula, only composed of three spices, it is the foundation of many formulas to warm the Stomach, clear Cold and Damp, and promote Digestion in both Ayurveda and Tibetan Medicine. It is also used in the other traditions occasionally.

Because so much importance is placed on Digestion in Ayurveda, this combination appears in many traditional formulas of that system, and not only for digestive disorders. As it enhances digestion and assimilation, when added to large formulas, or formulas with hard-to-digest medicines, it enhances their efficacy.

Asafetida 8 Powder
  Ginger
  Black Pepper
  Long Pepper
  Celery seed
  Cumin
  Nigella
  Asafetida
  Rock Salt, of each equal parts

The Asafetida is fried in Ghee, then the other ingredients are mixed.
This again combines Apiaceae seed with Spices, but adds Rock Salt and Asafetida. Ayurvedic prescriptions regularly add Rock Salt to such digestive formulas, and Rock Salt could be added to any of the above formulas with benefit.
Used similarly for Indigestion, Bloating, Abdominal Distention or Pain, Belching, Hiccups, Food Stagnation etc.
Dose: 1–2 grams




Other Related formula

Powder to Strengthen the Stomach of Andernacus
Powder for Digestion (Riverius)
Peptic Powder


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