HERB FORMULAS

TAO HONG SI WU TANG

English: Four Substance (Things) Decoction with Safflower and Peach Pit
Also Known As:

HERBS AND ACTIONS

Pharmaceutical Latin
Pin Yin
Dosage
Actions
Rx. Ligustici Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong 3-12g Activates Blood, regulates Qi, expels Wind-Cold, alleviates pain and treats headaches.
With Dang Gui, for Blood Deficiency causing menstrual problems including dysmenorrhea, scanty menses, and amenorrhea and Wind-Damp Invasion blocking the Blood vessels causing pain, numbness, and paralysis.
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui 6-15g Tonifies Blood, regulates menses, invigorates and harmonizes Blood, disperses Cold, reduces swelling, expels pus, generates flesh and alleviates pain.
 With Bai Shao, regulates and harmonizes Qi and Blood.
With Bai Shao, Shu Di Huang and Chuan Xiong, for menstrual irregularity, amenorrhea, and dysmenorrhea due to Blood Deficiency or Stasis.
With Tao Ren and Hong Hua, for amenorrhea, pain, swelling and other symptoms associated with Blood Stasis.
Rx. Paeoniae Albae Bai Shao 6-12g Nourishes Blood, regulates menstruation, astringes Yin, calms Liver Yang and alleviates pain.
 With Dang Gui, nourishes Yin and Blood.
(Rx. Paeoniae Rubrae) (Chi Shao) (15g) (Clears Heat, cools the Blood, activates Blood, dispels Blood Stasis, eliminates pain and Clears Liver Fire. - Substitute for Bai Shao in some sources.)
 (With Chuan Xiong, for abscess, boils, and trauma induced pain.)
(With Tao Ren, for Blood Stasis induced menstrual disorders, especially those characterized by early period, excessive bleeding, and thick purple clots.)
Rx. Rehmanniae Shu Di Huang 6-30g Tonifies Blood and Nourishes Yin, Jing and Blood.
With Dang Gui and Bai Shao, for dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, and menstrual dysfunction due to Blood Deficiency.
(Rx. Rehmanniae) (Sheng Di Huang) (15g) (Clears Heat, cools the Blood, nourishes Yin and generates fluids. - Substitute for Shu Di Huang in some sources.)
 (With Bai Shao, for Blood Deficiency Heat.)
Sm. Persicae Tao Ren 3-9g Dispels Blood Stasis and invigorates Blood circulation.
 With Hong Hua, for dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea with abdominal pain, clotting and scanty flow and rheumatoid arthritis due to Blood Stasis.
With Hong Hua, Chi Shao and Dang Gui, for trauma with pain.
Flos Carthami Hong Hua 3-9g Invigorates Blood, regulates menstruation, dispels Blood Stasis and alleviates pain.
 With Chuan Xiong, for chest and abdominal pain due to Qi and Blood Stasis.

FORMULA ACTIONS

  • Tonifies and Invigorates the Blood
  • Regulates Blood Circulation
  • Breaks up Stagnation
  • Eliminates Blood Stagnation
  • Regulates menstruation
  • Alleviates pain

SYNDROMES

  • Concurrent Blood Deficiency and Blood Stagnation
  • Blood Stagnation due to Blood Deficiency

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

  • Copious bleeding of dark purple blood
  • The blood is sticky during menstruation
  • May or may not have clots
  • Menstrual cycle is shortened (early menstruation)
  • Palpitations
  • Dizziness
  • Blurred vision
  • Pale, lusterless complexion
  • Pale nails
  • Abdominal pain
  • Irregular menstruation with little flow
  • Fixed lower abdominal pain
  • Vertigo
  • Tinnitus
  • Pale lips
  • May be amenorrhea
  • Insomnia
  • Menstruation may also be accompanied by distention and pain
  • T: Pale
  • C: Normal
  • P: Thin and weak or Thin and choppy

TREATS

CONTRAINDICATIONS AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Use with caution for those with digestive weakness.
  • Use with caution for those with anemia with coldness.
  • Discontinue use once the desired effects have been achieved to avoid profuse bleeding.
  • Contraindicated during pregnancy.
  • Use with caution for those with menstrual disorders with underlying Qi and Blood Deficiency.
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

NOTES

MODIFICATIONS

For endometriosis and measles For psoriasis:
- Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata Shu Di Huang - Rx. Paeoniae Albae Bai Shao
+ Rx. Rehmanniae
+ Rx. Paeoniae Rubrae
- Rx. Paeoniae Albae Bai Shao + 9g Rz. Sparganii San Leng
+ Rx. Paeoniae Rubrae Chi Shao
+ 9g Rz. Zedoariae
+ Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Tails
 + 15g Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae Dan Shen
For more signs of Stagnation and Heat:
+ 30g Caul. Spatholobi
+ Cx. Moutan Mu Dan Pi + 9g Eupolyphaga Tu Bie Chong
+ Fr. Gardeniae
+ 15g Hb. Hedyotis Bai Hua She She Cao
For abdominal distention and pain during menstruation:
- Rx. Rehmanniae
+ Rz. Cyperi Xiang Fu
or
+ Rz. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo
+ Flos Lonicerae
For psoriasis with damaged skin with spots:
+ Hb. Taraxaci
+ Poria Fu Ling
+ Fr. Forsythiae
+ Sm Plantaginis Che Qian Zi
+ Rx. Arnebiae/ Lithospermi
+ Cx Dictamni Bai Xian Pi
+ Rx. Scrophulariae
+ Sm. coicis Yi Yi Ren
+ Rx. Isatidis
For psoriasis with sores (administer during remission):
or
+ Rx. Scrophulariae
+ Hb. Leonuri
+ Rx. Adenophorae/ Glehniae Sha Shen + Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng
+ Rx. Ophiopogonis Mai Men Dong + Cx Dictamni Bai Xian Pi
+ Cx. Moutan Mu Dan Pi + Periostracum Cicadae Chan Tui
+ Cx Dictamni Bai Xian Pi + Rx. Sophorae Flavescentis Ku Shen
+ Rx. Sophorae Flavescentis Ku Shen
For vascular headache
+ Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng
+ Ram. Uncariae cum Uncis
+ Periostracum Cicadae Chan Tui
+ Fr. Tribuli
+ Zaocys Wu Shao She
or
+ Scorpio Quan Xie
+ Rz. et Rx. Ligustici
For more Blood Stasis:
+ Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae
+ Rz. Sparganii
+ Hb. Asari
+ Rz. Curcumae
For optic nerve atrophy:
For cerebrovascular accidents and complications:
+ Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae
+ Rx. Astragali
+ Fr. Leonuri
+ Pheretima
+ Sp. Prunellae
+ Rx. Achyranthis Bidentate
+ Rx. Glycyrrhizae
+ Ram. Uncariae cum Uncis
or
For cerebral infarction:
+ Fr. Lycii
+ Rx. Puerariae
+ Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae
+ Hirudo
+ Rx. Ginseng
+ Rx. Astragali
+ Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
For injuries to tendons and ligaments:
+ Flos Chrysanthemi
+ Caul. Spatholobi Ji Xue Teng For optic neuritis:
+ Rx. Achyranthis Bidentate
+ Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae
For amenorrhea:
+ Poria Fu Ling
+ Hb. Leonuri
+ Fr. Aurantii
+ Hb. Lycopi Ze Lan
+ Medulla Tetrapanacis
+ Rx. Glycyrrhizae Preparata cum Melle Zhi Gan Cao
+ Rx. Glycyrrhizae
For diabetic neuropathy:
For bone fractures:
+ Rx. Astragali
+ Rz. Drynariae
+ Rx. Codonopsis Dang Shen
+ Rx. Dipsaci
+ Rz. Polygonati Huang Jing
+ Pyritum
+ Fr. Lycii Gou Qi Zi
+ Eupolyphaga/ Steleophaga
For diabetic neuropathy with irritability, polydipsia, polyphagia and thirst:
+ Rx. Aucklandiae
+ Rx. Astragali
For bone fractures with Heat:
+ Rx. Codonopsis Dang Shen
+ Rz. Drynariae
+ Rz. Polygonati Huang Jing
+ Rx. Dipsaci
+ Fr. Lycii Gou Qi Zi
+ Pyritum
+ Rx. Scrophulariae Xuan Shen
+ Eupolyphaga/ Steleophaga
+ Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian
+ Rx. Aucklandiae
For diabetic neuropathy with five sole Heat
+ Cx. Phellodendri
+ Rx. Astragali
For bone fractures with Cold:
+ Rx. Codonopsis Dang Shen
+ Rx. Aconiti Kusnezoffii (unprocessed)
+ Rz. Polygonati Huang Jing
+ Rz. Drynariae
+ Fr. Lycii Gou Qi Zi
+ Rx. Dipsaci
+ Cx. Lycii Di Gu Pi
+ Pyritum
For allergic rhinitis:
+ Eupolyphaga/ Steleophaga
+ Fr. Xanthii Cang Er Zi
+ Rx. Aucklandiae
+ Rx. Astragali Huang Qi
For bone fractures in the upper extremities:
+ Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng
+ Rz. Drynariae
+ Flos Magnoliae Xin Yi Hua
+ Rx. Dipsaci
For allergic rhinitis with a stuffy nose, frequent sneezing and profuse watery discharge:
+ Pyritum
+ Fr. Xanthii Cang Er Zi
+ Eupolyphaga/ Steleophaga
+ Rx. Astragali Huang Qi
+ Rx. Aucklandiae
+ Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng
+ Ram. Mori
+ Flos Magnoliae Xin Yi Hua
For bone fractures in the lower extremities:
+ Rx. Ephedrae Ma Huang
+ Rx. Achyranthis Bidentate
+ Hb. Asari Xi Xin
+ Rz. Drynariae
For allergic rhinitis with profuse yellow nasal discharge:
+ Rx. Dipsaci
+ Fr. Xanthii Cang Er Zi
+ Pyritum
+ Rx. Astragali Huang Qi
+ Eupolyphaga/ Steleophaga
+ Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng
+ Rx. Aucklandiae
+ Flos Magnoliae Xin Yi Hua
For cataract:
+ Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin
+ Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae
+ Cx. Moutan Mu Dan Pi
+ Fr. Lycii
For allergic rhinitis with Spleen Deficiency with a poor appetite:
+ Flos Chrysanthemi
+ Fr. Xanthii Cang Er Zi
+ Fr. Tribuli
+ Rx. Astragali Huang Qi
+ Periostracum Cicadae
+ Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng
+ Faeces Vespertilionis
+ Flos Magnoliae Xin Yi Hua
+ Sm. Celosiae
+ Poria Fu Ling
+ Sm. Cassiae
+ Rz. Dioscoreae Shan Yao
+ Magnetitum
+ Dry-fried Sm. Lablab Bai Bian Dou
+ Massa Medicata Fermentata
For allergic rhinitis with Kidney Deficiency:
+ Fr. Mori
+ Fr. Xanthii Cang Er Zi
+ Per. Citri Reticulatae
+ Rx. Astragali Huang Qi
For glaucoma:
+ Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng
+ Lignum Sappan
+ Flos Magnoliae Xin Yi Hua
+ Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii
+ Fr. Ligustri Lucidi Nu Zhen Zi
+ Fr. Psoraliae
+ Fr. Schisandrae Wu Wei Zi
+ Talcum
For allergic rhinitis with itchy nose:
+ Rx. Platycodi
+ Fr. Xanthii Cang Er Zi
+ Fr. Aurantii
+ Rx. Astragali Huang Qi
+ Rx. et Rz. Rhei
+ Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng
+ Rx. Glycyrrhizae
+ Flos Magnoliae Xin Yi Hua
For urticaria:
+ Hb. Schizonepetae Jing Jie + Hb. Schizonepetae Jing Jie
+ Periostracum Cicadae Chan Tui
+ Rx. Polygoni Multiflori
For itching:
+ Spina Gleditsiae
+ Rx. Polygoni Multiflori
+ Periostracum Cicadae Chan Tui
+ Fr. Kochiae Di Fu Zi
For stubborn urticaria:
+ Cx. Dictamni Bai Xian Pi
+ Bombyx Batryticatus
+ Fr. Tribuli Bai Ji Li + Periostracum Cicadae Chan Tui
For eczema:
For chloasma:
+ Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae
+ Ram. Cinnamomi
+ Rx. Paeoniae Rubra Chi Shao
+ Bombyx Batryticatus
+ Rx. Moutan Mu Dan Pi
For chloasma with painful menstruation:
For chloasma with amenorrhea or formation of nodules:
+ Ram. Cinnamomi
+ Ram. Cinnamomi
+ Bombyx Batryticatus
+ Bombyx Batryticatus
+ Rz. Corydalis
+ Rz. Sparganii San Leng
+ Rx. Linderae
+ Rz. Curcumae E Zhu
+ Fr. Toosendan
+ Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae Dan Shen
For chloasma with profuse leukorrhea:
+ Hb. Leonuri Yi Mu Cao
+ Ram. Cinnamomi
+ Thallus Eckloniae Kun Bu
+ Bombyx Batryticatus
For chloasma with irregular menstruation:
+ Rz. Atractylodis
+ Ram. Cinnamomi
+ Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
+ Bombyx Batryticatus
+ Poria
+ Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu
+ Cx. Ailanthi
+ Rz. Cyperi Xiang Fu
For chloasma prior to the period:
+ Sm. Cuscutae Tu Si Zi
+ Bombyx Batryticatus
+ Fr. Lycii Gou Qi Zi + Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu
For chloasma after the period:
- Sm. Persicae
+ Bombyx Batryticatus
- Flos Carthami
+ Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu
+ Cx. Moutan
+ Rz. Zingiberis Preparatum Pao Jiang
+ Rx. Astragali
+ Cx. Cinnamomi Rou Gui
For dysmenorrhea:
For dysmenorrhea with Qi Stagnation:
+ Sudden Smile Powder
Shi Xiao San
+ Sudden Smile Powder
Shi Xiao San
For dysmenorrhea with Blood Stagnation with Interior Cold:
+ Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu
+ Sudden Smile Powder
Shi Xiao San
+ Per. Citri Reticulatae Viride Qing Pi
+ Fr. Foeniculi
+ Rz. Cyperi Xiang Fu
+ Cx. Cinnamomi
or
+ Fr. Evodiae
+ Rz. Cyperi Xiang Fu
For infertility:
+ Hb. Leonuri Yi Mu Cao + Rz. Cyperi Xiang Fu
+ Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang
+ Hirudo
For infertility with Kidney Deficiency:
+ Fr. Liquidamberis
+ Rz. Cyperi Xiang Fu
+ Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae
+ Hirudo
+ Rx. Notoginseng
+ Fr. Liquidamberis
For infertility with Dampness and Phlegm:
+ Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae
+ Rz. Cyperi Xiang Fu
+ Rx. Notoginseng
+ Hirudo
+ Fr. Mori Sang Shen
+ Fr. Liquidamberis
+ Rx. Dipsaci Xu Duan
+ Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae
For infertility with Damp-Heat:
+ Rx. Notoginseng
+ Rz. Cyperi Xiang Fu
+ Rz. Atractylodes
+ Hirudo
+ Per. Citri Reticulatae
+ Fr. Liquidamberis
+ Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum
+ Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae
- Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata
+ Rx. Notoginseng
For cosmetics induced dermatitis:
+ Cx. Phellodendri Huang Bai
+ Rx.Saposhnikoviae
+ Sm. Coicis Yi Yi Ren
+ Hb. Taraxaci
+ Rz. Smilacis Glabrae Tu Fu Ling
+ Hb. Violae
+ Hb. Taraxaci Pu Gong Ying For a heavy flow:
- Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata
- Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui
For spotting: - Rz. Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong
+ Rx. Notoginseng San Qi + Hb. Leonuri Yi Mu Cao
+ Sm. Persicae Tao Ren + Crinis Carbonisatus Xue Yu Tan
For metrorrhagia with Qi Stagnation leading to Blood Stagnation:
For metrorrhagia with long term bleeding leading to Qi and Blood Deficiency:
+ Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu + Rx. Codonopsis Dang Shen
+ Rx. Curcumae Yu Jin + Rx. Astragali Huang Qi
+ Fr. Toosendan Chuan Lian Zi + Rz. Atractylodis Bai Zhu
For dysmenorrhea with severe pain:
For skin Bi:
+ Sudden Smile Powder
Shi Xiao San
- Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao
+ 10g Rx. Astragali Huang Qi
+ Rx. Cyathulae Chuan Niu Xi +10g Rx. Codonopsis Dang Shen
+ Rz. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo + 12g Rx Salviae Miltiorrhizae Dan Shen
For obesity due to Qi and Blood Stagnation:
+ 9g Caulis Spatholobi Ji Xue Teng
+ Bupleurum Powder to Spread the Liver
Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang
 + 9g Pheretima Di Long
For irregular menstruation:
   
+ Lindera Decoction
Wu Yao Tang