Abstract: The difference in digestion and absorption of protein, carbohydrate and lipid was studied, between normal rats and "spleen deficiency"(脾虚)rats caused by rhubarb (大黄). It was shown that the speed of digestion and absorption of the three substances in "spleen deficiency" rats was much lower than that of normal rats. In another experiment, some of "spleen deficiency" rats were given with "Jian Pi Yi Qi decoction" (健脾益气汤) as a treated group, the others were given distilled water as control, The rate of recovery of the capability of digestion and absorption of carbohydrate in treated group was faster than those in control.

Key words: spleen deficieney, rhubarb, digestion and absorotion, Jian Pi Yi Qi decoction