Zhili Pills，From *Qian Jin*, Volume 15.，Effective for a hundred ailments, including dysentery and typhoid fever with body heat, headache, red eyes, and persistent, unrelenting pain in the limbs; or for cases where a physician has already induced vomiting or purgation, resulting in abdominal restlessness, a craving for cold drinks that cannot be digested, acute abdominal pain, vomiting upon consuming warm food, and alternating chills and fever resembling warm malaria; or for difficulty urinating, bloating with vomiting, and unrelenting dysentery.
Zhili Pills
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All references in this article to TCM syndrome differentiation, herbal medicines, teas, and decoctions are intended to promote TCM culture and are provided solely for educational and reference purposes.
Formulas Name : Zhili Pills
Chinese Name : 陟厘丸
Drug Formulation
5 liang of Zhili soaked in water, 6 liang of Hanzhong Strophanthus, 3 liang of purple quartz, 1 liang of Magnolia officinalis, 4 liang of Longxi Angelica sinensis, 2 liang of Coptis, 5 sheng of three-year-old strong vinegar, and 3 sheng of high-quality fermented soybeans.
Source
From *Qian Jin*, Volume 15.
Processing
First, soak the Stephania root in 2 sheng of vinegar until thoroughly moistened; remove it, reserving the vinegar. Using a sharp knife, slice the Stephania root into pieces 1 fen thick, ensuring uniform thickness. Place a tile over a charcoal fire, line it with thick paper, and roast the Stephania slices on top, turning them regularly until they turn dry and withered.then soak it again in the remaining vinegar, remove it, and place it on the tile to simmer. Repeat this process until all the vinegar has been absorbed; do not use a fierce flame, but simmer slowly until it is completely dry. Grind each of the above ingredients into a fine powder separately; use the remaining 2 sheng of vinegar to soak the fermented soybeans overnight,the next morning, place them in a tile basin, cover with another basin, and place 5 sheng of soil on top to steam them, allowing the earth’s energy to circulate. Once the fermented soybeans are cooked, remove them; grind them in the basin, strain the thick juice through a new cloth, and mix it with the other herbs to form pills the size of water lily seeds. Divide them into pouches, hang them to dry in the shade, then seal them tightly with wax to protect them from wind and dust.
Benefits
Effective for a hundred ailments, including dysentery and typhoid fever with body heat, headache, red eyes, and persistent, unrelenting pain in the limbs; or for cases where a physician has already induced vomiting or purgation, resulting in abdominal restlessness, a craving for cold drinks that cannot be digested, acute abdominal pain, vomiting upon consuming warm food, and alternating chills and fever resembling warm malaria; or for difficulty urinating, bloating with vomiting, and unrelenting dysentery.
Instructions for Use
Take 3 pills per dose, once at dawn, once at noon, and once at dusk. At dawn, take with well water; at other times, take with plain water. When first taking the medicine, eat and drink sparingly. If food and drink are digested and the abdomen feels balanced after taking the medicine, you may take one additional dose. Once recovered, take one dose every 2–3 days. For severe cases where the medicine has not yet taken effect, take 4–5 doses daily.
Note
Avoid hot foods, raw fish, pork, garlic, raw vegetables, alcohol, spicy foods, and all greasy or hard-to-digest foods.
Copyright: Excerpt from From *Qian Jin*, Volume 15., Copyright belongs to the Original Author and all original sources, This article was shared by DeDe on August 31, 2026, Please credit the source and include a link to the original article when reposting.
Terminology Proofreading: [Cheng Bo] | August 31, 2026 Reviewed by: [Wang Zhongxiang, Associate Chief TCM Physician (China)] | August 31, 2026
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Zhili Pills,Effective for a hundred ailments, including dysentery and typhoid fever with body heat, headache, red eyes, and persistent, unrelenting pain in the limbs; or for cases where a physician has already induced vomiting or purgation, resulting in abdominal restlessness, a craving for cold drinks that cannot be digested, acute abdominal pain, vomiting upon consuming warm food, and alternating chills and fever resembling warm malaria; or for difficulty urinating, bloating with vomiting, and unrelenting dysentery.