Formula Formulas that warm and purge

San Wu Bei Ji Wan

三物备急丸

Also known as:

Three-Substance Pill Prepared for Emergencies

Formula Composition

Ba Dou
Ba Dou
Gan Jiang
Gan Jiang
Da Huang
Da Huang
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King
Main ingredient
Deputy
Assists main
Assistant
Supports

Formula Properties

Main Actions

  1. Clear Cold Stagnation

Historical Origin

Essentials from the Golden Cabinet (220 AD)

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TCM Actions & Uses Formula Ingredients Contraindications

TCM Actions & Uses

Traditional Chinese Medicine properties and applications of San Wu Bei Ji Wan

Main Actions

Clear Cold Stagnation

Key TCM Concepts

San Wu Bei Ji Wan is a 3-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Croton Fruits (Ba Dou) as a principal ingredient.

 

Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm and purge. Its main action is that it clear Cold Stagnation.

 

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.

 

From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as postoperative adhesions, acute cholecystitis or recalcitrant constipation for instance.

Ingredients in San Wu Bei Ji Wan

Detailed information about each herb in San Wu Bei Ji Wan and their roles

Kings
Deputies
Assistants
Ba Dou
Ba Dou

Croton fruits

Temperature Hot
Taste Pungent
Organ Affinity Stomach, Large Intestine
Parts Used Dried ripe fruit
Role in San Wu Bei Ji Wan
In general Ba Dou's main actions are as follows: "Strongly purges Stagnation and accumulation due to Cold. Drains water and Dissolves Phlegm. Clears warts and speeds healing of abscesses, carbuncles and furuncles. Can be used as an insecticide."

In the context of San Wu Bei Ji Wan, it is used because it is a strong, hot, and acrid purgative.
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Gan Jiang
Gan Jiang

Dried ginger

Temperature Hot
Taste Pungent
Organ Affinity Heart, Kidneys, Lungs, Stomach
Parts Used Dried rhizome
Role in San Wu Bei Ji Wan
In general Gan Jiang's main actions are as follows: "Warms the Spleen and expels Cold. Restores collapse of Yang and expels Interior Cold. Warms the Lungs and assists expectoration of Cold Phlegm. Stops chronic bleeding caused by Cold."

In the context of San Wu Bei Ji Wan, it is used because it assists the Croton fruit in dispelling Coldness. It also revives the Spleen Yang.
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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 San Wu Bei Ji Wan
Da Huang flushes the Intestines and Stomach. It also moderates the hot, toxic and acrid characters of the Croton fruit.
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Safety & Contraindications

Important safety information and precautions for San Wu Bei Ji Wan

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

Contraindications

Croton fruit is a toxic plant that should be handled with utmost caution. It is not recommended in elderly or pregnant people, or in cases of acute stomach pain caused by Heat or Summer heat.

Herb-Drug Interactions

Like many TCM formulas, San Wu Bei Ji 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.