Chinese: 补肝汤
Pinyin: Bǔ Gān Tāng
Other names: Tonify the Liver Decoction
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that tonify Blood
Mother formula: Si Wu Tang
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: AIDSAnemiaHeadache and twelve other conditions
- Tonifies and regulates the Blood
- Nourishes the Liver Yin
Source date: 1742 AD
Source book: Golden Mirror of the Medical Tradition
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 Gan Tang is a 7-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) and White Peony Roots (Bai Shao) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1742 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Blood. Its main actions are: 1) tonifies and regulates the Blood and 2) nourishes the Liver Yin.
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 Gan Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Liver Blood Deficiency, Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency or Interior Wind. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as photophobia, anemia or headache for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the seven ingredients in Bu Gan Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Bu Gan Tang helps treat.
The seven ingredients in Bu Gan Tang
Shu Di huang is a king ingredient in Bu Gan Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. 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 has a very strong tonifying effect on the Liver and Kidneys and is said to nourish the Yin of the Blood.
Bai Shao is a king ingredient in Bu Gan Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. White Peony Roots (Bai Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Bai Shao helps reduce the muscle spasms caused by Blood Deficiency and it is particularly well-suited to treat abdominal pain. Together with Prepared rehmannia (Shu Di huang), it has a strong tonifying effect on the Blood.
Dang Gui is a deputy ingredient in Bu Gan Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Dong Quai (Dang Gui)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
In general Dang Gui's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation."
In the context of Bu Gan Tang, it is used because it enters the Liver and Heart to tonify and invigorate the Blood.
Chuan Xiong is a deputy ingredient in Bu Gan Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Szechuan Lovage Roots (Chuan Xiong)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: GallbladderLiverPericardium
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
Chuan Xiong invigorates the flow of Blood through the vessels, alleviates symptoms such as headache, dizziness, blurred vision and pain.
Suan Zao Ren is an assistant ingredient in Bu Gan Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Jujube Seeds (Suan Zao Ren)
In general Suan Zao Ren's main actions are as follows: "Nourishes the Heart Yin and calms the spirit. Contains Fluid leakage."
In the context of Bu Gan Tang, it is used because it nourishes the Heart Yin and calms the Mind. .
Mu Gua is an assistant ingredient in Bu Gan Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Flowering Quince (Mu Gua)
Part used: Dried nearly-ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sour
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleen
Category: Herbs that dispel Wind and DampnessHerbs that warm the Interior and/or expel Cold
In general Mu Gua's main actions are as follows: "Relaxes the sinews by increasing the flow of both Blood and Qi. Assists the function of the Stomach and expels Dampness. Facilitate lactation."
In the context of Bu Gan Tang, it is used because it relaxes the sinews by increasing the flow of both Blood and Qi. .
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Bu Gan Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
7. 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 Gan Tang, it is used because it harmonizes the actions of all other ingredients of the formula.
Conditions and patterns for which Bu Gan Tang may be prescribed
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 Gan Tang is used by TCM practitioners to treat four different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Photophobia Anemia Headache Amenorrhea Late menstruation Paresthesia Parkinson's disease Tinnitus Neurasthenia Scanty menstruation Dandruff Insomnia Neurosis Hypotension AIDS
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Bu Gan Tang treats photophobia" for instance. Rather, Bu Gan Tang is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind photophobia.
Now let's look at the four patterns commonly treated with Bu Gan Tang.
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Blood Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Tongue color: Pale
Symptoms: Insomnia Dry hair Dry skin Pale lips Dizziness Amenorrhea Depression Joint pain Blurred vision Scanty periods Muscle weakness Floaters in eyes Tingling of limbs Dull-pale complexion Numbness in the limbs Dream disturbed sleep Feeling of aimlessness Diminished night vision Withered and brittle nails
Bu Gan Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Liver Blood Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as blurred vision, dull-pale complexion, scanty periods and numbness in the limbs. Patients with Liver Blood Deficiency typically exhibit choppy (Se) or fine (Xi) pulses as well as Pale tongue, especially on the sides with thin, dry and white coating.
This pattern has all the general manifestation of the Blood Deficiency, such as dizziness, pale lips, dull pale face. The Liver stores Blood, that is the reason any Blood Deficiency often involves the Liver.
This pattern has an impact on areas the Liver relates to, such as the eyes, the sinews,... read more about Liver Blood Deficiency
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian), Fine (Xi)
Tongue color: Pale
Symptoms: Insomnia Dizziness Headaches No period Facial tic Dry throat Fine tremor Poor memory Hypertension Blurred vision Scanty periods Tingling of limbs Numbness in the limbs
Bu Gan Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as fine tremor, facial tic, dizziness and blurred vision. Patients with Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency typically exhibit wiry (Xian) or fine (Xi) pulses as well as Pale and thin tongue.
If there is Liver Blood Deficiency, especially if the condition lasts a long time without being treated, the Blood vessels become 'empty' and the space is taken over by Internal Wind. Like an empty building will often get a lot of wind in its corridors, the concept here is the same.
This kind of... read more about Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency
The Interior in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Interior in Chinese Medicine
Interior Wind
Pulse type(s): Fine (Xi), Rapid (Shu), Wiry (Xian)
Symptoms: Coma Tics Fever Anger Tremor Insomnia Dry eyes Red eyes Red face Deafness Dizziness Paralysis Headaches Back pain Dry throat Convulsions Poor memory Irritability Constipation Eye deviation Blurred vision Scanty periods Tremor of limbs Mouth deviation Numbness in the limbs Dream disturbed sleep
Bu Gan Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Interior Wind. This pattern leads to symptoms such as convulsions, tremor of limbs, dizziness and paralysis. Patients with Interior Wind typically exhibit fine (Xi), rapid (Shu) or wiry (Xian) pulses.
Interior Wind is mostly referred to be the Liver Wind. There are 4 types of Interior Liver Wind due to the original causes:
1. Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
2. Liver Wind agitating Internally due to extreme Heat
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Wiry (Xian), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red points on the sides
Symptoms: Cramps Insomnia Dry eyes Dry hair Dry skin Dizziness Headaches Amenorrhea Depression Menopausal Malar flush Nervousness Night sweats Heavy periods Blurred vision Scanty periods Muscle weakness Afternoon fever Floaters in eyes Tingling of limbs 'Floaters' in eyes Hot palms and soles Dull-pale complexion Numbness in the limbs Dream disturbed sleep Feeling of aimlessness Diminished night vision Withered and brittle nails Thirst with desire to drink in small sips Dull-pale complexion without lustre but with red cheekbones
Bu Gan Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Liver Yin Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as dizziness, numbness in the limbs, tingling of limbs and insomnia. Patients with Liver Yin Deficiency typically exhibit rapid (Shu), empty (Xu), wiry (Xian) or floating (Fu) pulses as well as Normal or red color on the sides with no coating or rootless coating .
This is a type of Empty-Heat pattern arising out of Liver Blood Deficiency or Kidney Yin Deficiency. It shares similar symptoms as Liver Blood Deficiency, such as blurred and impaired vision, numbness or tingling of limbs, scanty menstruation or amenorrhoea, dull-pale complexion, muscle pain and... read more about Liver Yin Deficiency
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