Formula Formulas that invigorate Blood and dispel Blood Stagnation

Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan

大黄蟅虫丸

Also known as:

Rhubarb and Ground Beetle Pill

Formula Composition

Da Huang
Da Huang
Tu Bie Chong
Tu Bie Chong
Tao Ren
Tao Ren
Gan Qi
Gan Qi
Qi Cao
Qi Cao
Shui Zhi
Shui Zhi
Meng Chong
Meng Chong
Huang Qin
Huang Qin
Xing Ren
Xing Ren
Di Huang
Di Huang
Bai Shao
Bai Shao
Gan Cao
Gan Cao
View detailed herb information
Kings
Main ingredient
Deputies
Assists main
Assistants
Supports

Formula Properties

Main Actions

  1. Breaks up and dispels Blood Stagnation
  2. Generates new Blood

Patterns Treated

Blood Stagnation

Historical Origin

Essentials from the Golden Cabinet (220 AD)

Explore More About This Formula

TCM Actions & Uses Formula Ingredients Contraindications

TCM Actions & Uses

Traditional Chinese Medicine properties and applications of Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan

Main Actions

Breaks up and dispels Blood Stagnation
Generates new Blood

Key TCM Concepts

Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan is a 12-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Rhubarb (Da Huang) and Ground Beetles (Tu Bie Chong) as principal ingredients.

 

Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that invigorate Blood and dispel Blood Stagnation. Its main actions are: 1) breaks up and dispels Blood Stagnation and 2) generates new Blood .

 

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 Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Blood Stagnation. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as chronic hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease or fibrosis of the liver for instance.

TCM Patterns Addressed

  • Blood Stagnation

Common Applications

Chronic hepatitis Alcoholic liver disease Fibrosis of the liver Cirrhosis of the Liver Hepatic neoplasms Organomegaly Tubercular peritonitis Uterine leiomyoma Chronic myelogenous leukemia Esophageal varice Postsurgical adhesions Diabetes Psoriasis Thrombocytopenic purpura

Ingredients in Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan

Detailed information about each herb in Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan and their roles

Kings
Deputies
Assistants
Da Huang
Da Huang

Rhubarb

Temperature Cold
Taste Bitter
Organ Affinity Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine, Liver, Pericardium
Parts Used Dried root and rhizome
Role in Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Da Huang eliminates Blood Stagnation by attacking and purging,while simultaneously cooling the Blood and clearing Heat. It has the ability to break up abdominal masses and accumulations, pushing out the Stagnant Blood to allow generation of new blood.
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Tu Bie Chong
Tu Bie Chong

Ground Beetles

Temperature Cold
Taste Salty
Organ Affinity Liver
Parts Used The dried female bug
Role in Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Tu Bie Chong attacks and purges the Blood Stagnation, breaking up Blood that has aggregated into fixed abdominal masses.
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Tao Ren
Tao Ren

Peach kernels

Temperature Neutral
Taste Bitter, Sweet
Organ Affinity Heart, Large Intestine, Liver
Parts Used Dried ripe seed
Role in Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Tao Ren assists the key ingredients by invigorating the Blood,unblocking the Channels, and breaking up Blood Stagnation, thereby reducing the fixed abdominal masses.
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Gan Qi
Gan Qi

Lacquer

Temperature Warm
Taste Bitter, Pungent
Organ Affinity Stomach, Lungs
Parts Used The resin residue
Role in Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Gan Qi assists the key ingredients by invigorating the Blood,unblocking the Channels, and breaking up Blood Stagnation, thereby reducing the fixed abdominal masses.
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Qi Cao
Qi Cao

Scarab grubs

Temperature Warm
Taste Salty
Organ Affinity Liver
Parts Used The dried grubs
Role in Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Qi Cao assists the key ingredients by invigorating the Blood,unblocking the Channels, and breaking up Blood Stagnation, thereby reducing the fixed abdominal masses.
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Shui Zhi
Shui Zhi

Leeches

Temperature Neutral
Taste Bitter, Salty
Organ Affinity Urinary Bladder, Liver
Parts Used The dried worm body
Role in Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Shui Zhi assists the key ingredients by invigorating the Blood,unblocking the Channels, and breaking up Blood Stagnation, thereby reducing the fixed abdominal masses.
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Meng Chong
Meng Chong

Tabanus horseflies

Temperature Cool
Taste Bitter
Organ Affinity Liver
Parts Used The dried bug
Role in Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Meng Chong assists the key ingredients by invigorating the Blood,unblocking the Channels, and breaking up Blood Stagnation, thereby reducing the fixed abdominal masses.
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Huang Qin
Huang Qin

Baikal skullcap roots

Temperature Cold
Taste Bitter
Organ Affinity Gallbladder, Heart, Large Intestine, Lungs, Small Intestine, Spleen
Parts Used Dried root
Role in Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Huang Qin matches with Rhubarb to clear Heat from the Liver due to Blood Stagnation. With the blood-invigorating and purgative herbs, its action of descending Qi encourages the elimination of Blood Stagnation. In addition, the combination of Baikal skullcap root and Apricot seed is helpful in clearing Heat from constraint.
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Xing Ren
Xing Ren

Apricot seeds

Temperature Warm
Taste Bitter, Sweet
Organ Affinity Large Intestine, Lungs
Parts Used Dried ripe seeds
Role in Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Xing Ren matches with Peach kernel to moisten Dryness. With the blood-invigorating and purgative herbs, its action of descending Qi encourages the elimination of Blood Stagnation. In addition, the combination of Baikal skullcap root and Apricot seed is helpful in clearing Heat from constraint.
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Di Huang
Di Huang

Unprepared Rehmannia

Temperature Cold
Taste Sweet
Organ Affinity Heart, Kidneys, Liver
Parts Used Prepared dried root tuber
Role in Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Sheng Di Huang nourish the Blood and Yin. The combination of Unprepared Rehmannia, White peony root and Liquorice tonifies Deficiency and generate Blood, thereby providing a tonifying dimension to this formula to counterbalance its attacking aspect.
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Bai Shao
Bai Shao

White peony roots

Temperature Neutral
Taste Bitter, Sour
Organ Affinity Liver, Spleen
Parts Used Dried root
Role in Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
In general Bai Shao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Blood and preserves the Yin. Nourishes the Liver and assists in the smooth flow of Qi. Regulates the meridians and eases the pain."

In the context of Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan, it is used because it nourish the Blood and Yin.
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Gan Cao
Gan Cao

Liquorice

Temperature Neutral
Taste Sweet
Organ Affinity Heart, Lungs, Spleen, Stomach
Parts Used Dried root and rhizome
Role in Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Gan Cao harmonizes the Middle Burner, tonifies Qi Deficiency, and regulates and harmonizes the actions of the other herbs. It also helps prevent injury to the normal Qi from the harsh properties of those herbs that are used in breaking up Blood Stagnation.
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Safety & Contraindications

Important safety information and precautions for Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before using any TCM herbal formula.

Contraindications

Contraindicated during pregnancy.

Herb-Drug Interactions

Like many TCM formulas, Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan may interact with certain medications. If you are taking any prescription medications, we recommend consulting with a healthcare provider knowledgeable in herb-drug interactions.