Si Shen Wan is used to treat kidney diarrhea due to yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney. Chief symptoms include fifth-watch (diarrhea at dawn) diarrhea, reluctance to eat or drink, poor digestion and absorption, chronic unremitting diarrhea, abdominal pain, lumbar pain, cold limbs, mental fatigue, and lack of strength. Usually, the tongue is pale with a white and thin coating. The pulse is deep, slow and weak.

1. Pattern of yang constraint and reversal counterflow cold of the limbs, marked by a lack of warmth in the extremities, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dysentery tenesmus, and a wiry pulse.
2. Pattern of disharmony of the liver and spleen, marked by distention and fullness in the rib-side, pain in the stomach cavity and abdomen, and a wiry pulse.

Reversal counterflow cold of the four limbs is due to heart and kidney yang deficiency. This pattern is marked by reversal counterflow cold of the four limbs, aversion to cold, lying in bed curled up, debilitated spirit, desire to sleep, pale complexion, stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, no thirst, a white, slippery tongue coating, and a feeble, thin pulse.

Shi Xiao San is indicated for pain due to blood stasis such as stabbing pain in the chest and abdomen, inhibited lochia, irregular menstruation, and acute pain in the lower abdomen.