Dang Gui Yin Zi
Chinese: 当归饮子
Pinyin: Dāng Guī Yǐn Zi
Other names: Dong Quai Drink, Tangkuei Drink, Dang Gui Yin
Ingredients: 10 herbs
Category: Formulas that dredge and disperse External Wind
Mother formula: Xiao Feng San
- Nourishes the Blood
- Moistens Dryness
- Clears Heat
- Dispels Wind
- Relieves itching
Source: Formulas to Aid the Living (1253 AD)
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 Yin Zi is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Japanese Catnip (Jing Jie) and Saposhnikovia Roots (Fang Feng) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1253 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that dredge and disperse External Wind. Its main actions are: 1) nourishes the Blood and 2) moistens Dryness.
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 Yin Zi is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Blood Deficiency with External Wind. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as urticaria, eczema or psoriasis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the ten ingredients in Dang Gui Yin Zi, we review the patterns and conditions that Dang Gui Yin Zi helps treat.
The ten ingredients in Dang Gui Yin Zi
Jing Jie is a king ingredient in Dang Gui Yin Zi. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Japanese Catnip (Jing Jie)
Part used: Aerial portion and flowers, or the spikes only (in which case it is called Jing Jie Sui)
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Pungent
Jing Jie unblocks the interstices and pores as well as disperses external Wind. It also vents rashes and relieves itching.
Fang Feng is a king ingredient in Dang Gui Yin Zi. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Saposhnikovia Roots (Fang Feng)
Fang Feng unblocks the interstices and pores and disperses external Wind. It also vents rashes and relieves itching.
Di Huang is an assistant ingredient in Dang Gui Yin Zi. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
3. Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang)
Part used: Prepared dried root tuber
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
In general Di Huang's main actions are as follows: "Expels Heat by Cooling Blood. Tonifies Yin by promoting Fluid production. Soothes the Heart by calming Blazing Fire. Cools and nourishes."
In the context of Dang Gui Yin Zi, it is used because it cools the Blood and clears Heat. It also nourishes Yin and generate Body Fluids.
Dang Gui is an assistant ingredient in Dang Gui Yin Zi. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Dong Quai (Dang Gui)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Dang Gui tonifies, invigorates and harmonizes the Blood. Therefore it is able to reduce swelling, expels pus, generates flesh and alleviates pain.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Dang Gui Yin Zi. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
5. 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 Dang Gui Yin Zi, it is used because it clears Heat, resolves toxicity, and harmonizes the actions of the other herbs.
6. White Peony Roots (Bai Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Bai Shao nourishes the Blood, softens the Liver, relieves pain and calms Liver Yang and Wind. With Dang Gui, it nourishes Yin and Blood.
7. Szechuan Lovage Roots (Chuan Xiong)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: GallbladderLiverPericardium
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
In general Chuan Xiong's main actions are as follows: "Regulates and moves the Blood. Relieves Wind-Cold and pain. Circulates the Qi in the Upper Burner, relieving headaches."
In the context of Dang Gui Yin Zi, it is used because it invigorates the Blood, promotes the movement of Qi, expels Wind and alleviates pain.
8. Puncture Vine Fruits (Ji Li)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Category: Herbs that pacify Internal Liver Wind and stop Tremors
Ji Li calms the Liver, anchors Yang, dredges Liver Qi, disperses Stagnation, dispels Wind and stops itching.
9. Fleeceflower Roots (He Shou Wu)
Part used: Dried prepared root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
He Shou Wu tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, nourishes the Blood and Essence and expels Wind from the skin by nourishing the Blood.
10. Milkvetch Roots (Huang Qi)
In general Huang Qi's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Wei Qi and stops perspiration. Tonifies the Spleen Qi and the Yang Qi of the Earth Element. Tonifies the Qi and Blood. Expels pus and assists in the healing of wounds. Helps to regulate water metabolism in the body and reduce edema."
In the context of Dang Gui Yin Zi, it is used because it tonifies Qi and Blood.
Dang Gui Yin Zi is used to treat Blood Deficiency with External Wind
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 Yin Zi is mostly used to treat the pattern "Blood Deficiency with External Wind" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Blood Deficiency with External Wind here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Urticaria Eczema Psoriasis Contact dermatitis Drug rash Diaper rash Neurodermatitis Ichthyosis Rashes Measles Radiotherapy for breast cancer Alopecia Carbuncles Furuncles Drug-induced dermatitis Pruritis associated with AIDS
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Dang Gui Yin Zi treats urticaria" for instance. Rather, Dang Gui Yin Zi is used to treat Blood Deficiency with External Wind, which is sometimes the root cause behind urticaria.
Now let's look at Blood Deficiency with External Wind, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Dang Gui Yin Zi.
Blood (Xue) is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Blood in Chinese Medicine
Blood Deficiency with External Wind
Pulse type(s): Fine (Xi), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Symptoms: Rash Eczema Measles Itching Alopecia Dry skin Urticaria Psoriasis Furuncles Ichthyosis Carbuncles Flaking skin Neurodermatitis Contact dermatitis Drug-induced dermatitis Itching worsen at nights Pruritis associated with AIDS
Dang Gui Yin Zi is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Blood Deficiency with External Wind. This pattern leads to symptoms such as eczema, rash, urticaria and neurodermatitis. Patients with Blood Deficiency with External Wind typically exhibit fine (Xi) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a pale tongue with thin white coating.
This pattern is characterized by chronic itchiness that worsens at night, potentially accompanied by a rash and flaking skin, resulting from long-term External Wind lodged in the body that has damaged the Blood, or occurring in individuals with a Blood-Deficient constitution who contract a Wind... read more about Blood Deficiency with External Wind