It's a familiar story in Craig Williams' clinical practice: the pursuit of health through a high-protein diet ironically leading to a frustrating combination of digestive issues and anxiety. Many patients fail to connect these dots, unaware that their dietary choices can disrupt their spleen and stomach, potentially causing food stagnation and phlegm according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Interestingly, relief often doesn't come from common remedies like probiotics and digestive enzymes.

For mild digestive complaints alongside anxiety and potential phlegm, Williams often employs the classic formula Ban Xia Hou Po Tang. Traditionally used for the "Plum Pit Qi" sensation (something stuck in the throat due to qi stagnation and phlegm), its applications now extend to various issues related to qi stagnation and phlegm in the chest and throat, as well as psychological and emotional distress. Depending on the specific presentation, Ban Xia Hou Po Tang can be combined with other formulas like Chai Hu Shu Gan Wan for constipation linked to emotional issues, or Bao He Wan and/or Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang for food stagnation and spleen qi deficiency. This highlights how diet can intricately influence mental and emotional well-being, and how classical formulas offer insightful solutions for modern dietary challenges.