Bu Dai Wan
Chinese: 布袋丸
Pinyin: Bù Dài Wán
Other names: Cloth Sack Pill
Ingredients: 8 herbs
Category: Formulas that expel parasites
- Expels roundworms
- Reduces nutritional impairment in children
- Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach
Source: Supplement to the Pocket-Sized Discussion of Formulas for Children (Late Ming )
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.
Bu Dai Wan is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Elm Seed Cakes (Wu Yi) and Quisqualis Fruits (Shi Jun Zi) as principal ingredients.
Invented in Late Ming, it belongs to the category of formulas that expel parasites. Its main actions are: 1) expels roundworms and 2) reduces nutritional impairment in children .
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 Bu Dai Wan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Malnutrition with parasites. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as ascariasis, parasitic infestation or childhood malnutrition for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eight ingredients in Bu Dai Wan, we review the patterns and conditions that Bu Dai Wan helps treat.
The eight ingredients in Bu Dai Wan
Wu Yi is a king ingredient in Bu Dai Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Elm Seed Cakes (Wu Yi)
Part used: The seeds mixed with the other substances
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that expel parasites
Wu Yi is acrid, bitter, and warm. It is very effective in expelling roundworms and treating childhood nutritional impairment. The combination of Aloe vera, Elm seed cake and Quisqualis fruit has a strong anti-parasitic effect and eliminate the parasites via the stool.
Shi Jun Zi is a king ingredient in Bu Dai Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Quisqualis Fruits (Shi Jun Zi)
Part used: The fluits
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that expel parasites
Shi Jun Zi is sweet and warm. It is very effective in expelling roundworms and treating childhood nutritional impairment. The combination of Aloe vera, Elm seed cake and Quisqualis fruit has a strong anti-parasitic effect and eliminate the parasites via the stool.
Lu Hui is a deputy ingredient in Bu Dai Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Aloe Vera (Lu Hui)
Part used: Concentrated dry product of leaf juice
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: Large intestineLiver
Category: Purgative herbs that drain downward
Lu Hui expels roundworms and is also a purgative that drains Heat. The combination of Aloe vera, Elm seed cake and Quisqualis fruit has a strong anti-parasitic effect and eliminate the parasites via the stool.
Ye Ming Sha is an assistant ingredient in Bu Dai Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Bat Feces (Ye Ming Sha)
Part used: The feces
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: Liver
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
Ye Ming Sha improves the acuity of vision while also dispersing accumulations and reducing childhood nutritional impairment.
Fu Ling is an assistant ingredient in Bu Dai Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Part used: Dried sclerotium
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
In general Fu Ling's main actions are as follows: "Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit."
In the context of Bu Dai Wan, it is used because it benefit the Spleen and fortify the Qi of the Middle Burner. .
Bai Zhu is an assistant ingredient in Bu Dai Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Atractylodes Rhizomes (Bai Zhu)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Bai Zhu's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Fortifies the Spleen Yang and dispels Damp through urination. Tonifies Qi and stops sweating. Calms restless fetus when due to Deficiency of Spleen Qi."
In the context of Bu Dai Wan, it is used because it benefit the Spleen and fortify the Qi of the Middle Burner. .
Ren Shen is an assistant ingredient in Bu Dai Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Ginseng (Ren Shen)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Ren Shen's main actions are as follows: "Very strongly tonifies the Qi. Tonifies the Lungs and Spleen. Assists the body in the secretion of Fluids and stops thirst. Strengthens the Heart and calms the Shen (mind/spirit)."
In the context of Bu Dai Wan, it is used because it benefit the Spleen and fortify the Qi of the Middle Burner. .
Gan Cao is an assistant ingredient in Bu Dai Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Gan Cao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs."
In the context of Bu Dai Wan, it is used because it benefit the Spleen and fortify the Qi of the Middle Burner. .
Bu Dai Wan is used to treat Malnutrition with parasites
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 Bu Dai Wan is mostly used to treat the pattern "Malnutrition with parasites" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Malnutrition with parasites here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Ascariasis Parasitic infestation Childhood malnutrition Malnutrition
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Bu Dai Wan treats ascariasis" for instance. Rather, Bu Dai Wan is used to treat Malnutrition with parasites, which is sometimes the root cause behind ascariasis.
Now let's look at Malnutrition with parasites, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Bu Dai Wan.
Malnutrition with parasites
Pulse type(s): Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
Symptoms: Dull eyes Feverishness Emaciated limbs Sallow complexion Dry and coarse hair Abdominal distention Malnutrition in children
Bu Dai Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Malnutrition with parasites. This pattern leads to symptoms such as sallow complexion, emaciated limbs, abdominal distention and feverishness. Patients with Malnutrition with parasites typically exhibit weak (Ruo) pulses as well as a pale tongue.
This pattern in Traditional Chinese Medicine is seen in childhood nutritional impairment due to chronic parasitic infestation. This condition leads to Stagnation in the Middle Burner (Spleen and Stomach area), causing Spleen and Stomach injury. As a result, food stagnates in the Middle Burner,... read more about Malnutrition with parasites