$6.95 USA Shipping • 90-Day Hassle-Free Returns

Shen Qu – Massa Fermentata – Massa Fermentata

Shen Qu

English Name: massa fermentata, medicated leaven

Pharmaceutical Name: Massa Fermentata

Medica Category: Digestive Herbs

Properties: Shen Qu enters the Spleen and Stomach channels; it is sweet and acrid in nature and warm in temperature.

What is Shen Qu?:

The Chinese Herb Shen Qu is a mixture of wheat flower, bran, and several different herbs (e.g. fresh xanthium leaves, polygonum, apricot kernels to name a few) which is covered and fermented for a week. It is then sun-dried and cut into chunks for use as medicine.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Shen Qu:

Shen Qu protects the Stomach and promotes digestion. It is especially effective at aiding in the processing and digestion of dietary starches and is commonly used for addressing epigastric and abdominal pain and bloating and indigestion (as in the formula Bao He Wan and in Curing Pills).

Shen Qu also helps the Stomach to deal with “hard-to-digest” substances and as such is added to TCM formulas that contain medical mineral substances. Along this line of thought, it can also help persons taking pharmaceutical drugs that are hard on the stomach (e.g. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

–safety note: Use with caution during pregnancy.

Latest Blog Posts

  • Spleen and Spleen (Chi)Qi in Chinese Medicine
    Spleen and Spleen (Chi)Qi in Chinese Medicine

    What do we mean by the Spleen: According to Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, the energetic organ system responsible for what we in modern times call “digestion” is the Spleen. This is not to be confused with the Western medical definition of the spleen as the organ that, among other things, makes antibodies, removes old red…

  • Sore Throat in Summer? Yin Chiao (Yin Qiao) to the rescue!
    Sore Throat in Summer? Yin Chiao (Yin Qiao) to the rescue!

    We tend to think of colds as a winter woe, but can you get a cold in summer? Unfortunately, yes. “Summer colds” are similar to winter colds, but tend to have hotter, drier, and longer-lasting symptoms. Thankfully, Chinese medicine has a simple solution in time-tested Yin Qiao San. Read on to learn more about summer…

  • Chinese Herbs for Atrial Fibrillation 
    Chinese Herbs for Atrial Fibrillation 

    Ever feel like your heart is dancing to its own beat? You may be experiencing Atrial Fibrillation (commonly known as AFib), which is a condition that causes irregular heartbeats. Having frequent palpitations or an irregular heartbeat can be quite unsettling, plus it may bring potential health risks along with it. While modern medicine offers various…