Chinese: 当归六黄汤
Pinyin: Dāng Guī Liù Huáng Tāng
Other names: Tangkuei and Six-Yellow Decoction
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Heat from Deficiency
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: DiabetesTuberculosisHyperthyroidism and two other conditions
- Enriches the Yin
- Drains Fire
- Stabilizes the Exterior
- Stops sweating
Contraindications: Used with caution and in modified form, if at all, in cases with Spleen and... Used with caution and in modified form, if at all, in cases with Spleen and Stomach Deficiency. see more
Source date: 1336 AD
Source book: Secrets from the Orchid Chamber
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang is a 7-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Dong Quai (Dang Gui), Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) and Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1336 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat from Deficiency. Its main actions are: 1) enriches the Yin and 2) drains Fire.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as tuberculosis, diabetes or hyperthyroidism for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the seven ingredients in Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang helps treat.
The seven ingredients in Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang
Dang Gui is a king ingredient in Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Dong Quai (Dang Gui)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Dang Gui nourishes the Blood and increases the Body Fluids, which are then able to lubricate the Intestines and moisten the dry stools.
Di Huang is a king ingredient in Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang)
Part used: Prepared dried root tuber
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Di Huang sweet, bitter, and cooling. It is also particularly useful in treating Empty Heat from Yin Deficiency. It enriches and nourishes the Yin Fluids, Blood, and Essence. The combination of prepare and unprepared Rehmannia nourishes water, which enables it to control the Fire.
Shu Di huang is a king ingredient in Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
3. Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang)
Part used: Prepared dried root tuber
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiver
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Shu Di huang enriches and nourishes the Yin Fluids, Blood, and Essence. The combination of prepare and unprepared Rehmannia nourishes water, which enables it to control the Fire.
Huang Lian is a deputy ingredient in Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Goldthread Rhizomes (Huang Lian)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLiverSpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Huang Lian's main actions are as follows: "Expels Damp-Heat especially in the Lower Burner. Eliminates Fire toxicity especially when there is associated Dampness. Acts as a sedative by eliminating Heart Fire. Eliminates Stomach Fire. Expel parasites"
In the context of Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang, it is used because it drains Fire from the Heart.
Huang Qin is a deputy ingredient in Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Baikal Skullcap Roots (Huang Qin)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLungSmall intestineSpleen
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
Huang Qin , with the other deputies herb, it relieves irritability and drains Fire to remove the cause of damage to the Yin.
Huang Bo is a deputy ingredient in Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
6. Phellodendron Bark (Huang Bo)
Part used: Dried bark
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: BladderKidneyLarge intestine
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
Huang Bo , with the other deputies herb, it relieves irritability and drains Fire to remove the cause of damage to the Yin.
Huang Qi is an assistant ingredient in Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Milkvetch Roots (Huang Qi)
Huang Qi augments the Qi and stabilize the Exterior. This prevents excessive sweating from causing further injury to the Yin and Yang. It also protects the Stomach Qi from the actions of the other herbs. When combined with Dong Quai and Prepared rehmannia, it is a powerful herb in nourishing the Qi and Blood. When the Qi and Blood flourish, the Interstices and pores tighten, and it is more difficult for sweat to improperly escape.
Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang is used to treat Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Tuberculosis Diabetes Hyperthyroidism Perimenopausal syndrome Nervous exhaustion
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang treats tuberculosis" for instance. Rather, Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang is used to treat Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency, which is sometimes the root cause behind tuberculosis.
Now let's look at Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang.
'Heat' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Heat pattern in Chinese Medicine
Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Thirst Anxiety Fatigue Insomnia Tinnitus Dry mouth Fidgeting Dizziness Chest heat Dry stools Malar flush Night sweats Mouth ulcers Restlnessness Dry throat at night Hot palms and soles Scanty dark urination Excessive sexual desire Thin body lacking strength Desire to drink in small sips Feeling of heat in the afternoon Insomnia with very restless sleep Coughing with blood-streaked sputum
Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as feeling of heat in the afternoon, dry mouth, desire to drink in small sips and dry throat at night. Patients with Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency typically exhibit rapid (Shu), empty (Xu) or floating (Fu) pulses as well as Red tongue with no coating .
Yin Deficiency involves the excessive consumption of Body Fluids, Essence and Blood. The main cause is overwork, which usually develops very gradually and slowly over several years. The only exception to a rapid Yin Deficiency is when Pathological Heat consumes Body Fluids and Yin very fast.
If... read more about Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency
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