A traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, Bao He Wan (BHW) has a long history of use for improving digestion. Documented in Tanxi Xinfa, it comprises eight herbs: Shan Zha (Chinese Hawthorn fruit), Shen Qu (Medicated leaven), Lai Fu Zi (Radish seed), Chen Pi (Aged Tangerine peel), Zhi Ban Xia (Prepared Pinellia Corm), Fu Ling (Poria mushroom), Lian Qiao (Forsythia fruit) and Mai Ya (Barley sprouts).                            

A large study found BHW  to be among the commonly prescribed herbal formulas for gastrointestinal disorders in post-surgery colon cancer patients ⁽¹⁾.

In preclinical studies, the constituents of BHW were shown to promote gastric emptying, increase gastric acid secretion, and exert anti-ulcer effects  ⁽²⁾. In mice that were fed a high-protein and high-fat diet, BHW conferred anti-diarrheal effect by modulating the intestinal composition of lactase-producing bacteria  ⁽³⁾; by inhibiting the growth of conditionally pathogenic bacteria Ralstonia in the intestinal mucosa  ⁽⁴⁾; and by improving activities of various digestive enzymes including protease and amylase  ⁽⁵⁾. Furthermore, BHW was found to normalize enzymatic activity after cessation of diarrhea  ⁽⁶⁾.

BHW was also shown to reduce total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels in rats that were fed a high-fat diet by modulating bacterial composition  ⁽⁷⁾.

Clinical trials are needed to determine the efficacy of BHW against digestive issues.