Chinese: 附子汤
Pinyin: Fù Zǐ Tāng
Other names: Aconite Accessory Root Decoction
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that warm and transform water and Dampness
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: MigraineCirrhosisBell's palsy and sixteen other conditions
- Warms the Meridians
- Assists the Yang
- Dispels Cold
- Transforms Dampness
Contraindications: If not properly prepared, the main ingredient of this formula (Aconite) is... If not properly prepared, the main ingredient of this formula (Aconite) is toxic. For this reason, only the prepared form should be used and then cooked appropriately. see more
Source date: 220 AD
Source book: Discussion of Cold Damage
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.
Fu Zi Tang is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm and transform water and Dampness. Its main actions are: 1) warms the Meridians and 2) assists the Yang.
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 Fu Zi Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as migraine, cluster headache or trigeminal neuralgia for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the five ingredients in Fu Zi Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Fu Zi Tang helps treat.
The five ingredients in Fu Zi Tang
Zhi Fu Zi is a king ingredient in Fu Zi Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi)
Zhi Fu Zi penetrates into the Gate of Vitality to invigorate the Yang and disperses Cold from all twelve Meridians. As noted by Zhang Jie-Bin, a famous Chinese medicine doctor: "[Prepared aconite (Zhi Fu Zi)] is an essential herb for Yin-type patterns. In all cases of Cold damage that transmit or transform into [disorders of one of] the three Yin [warps] as well as in [direct] Cold strike into the Yin [warps], if the pulse is submerged, it must be used even if there is high fever."
Bai Zhu is a deputy ingredient in Fu Zi Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Atractylodes Rhizomes (Bai Zhu)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Bai Zhu works together with Poria (Fu Ling), the other deputy herb here, to strengthen the Spleen, promote urination, and provide a route for the Dampness to exit the body.
Fu Ling is a deputy ingredient in Fu Zi Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. 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."
Ren Shen is an assistant ingredient in Fu Zi Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Ginseng (Ren Shen)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Ren Shen strongly tonifies the original Qi but also generates Fluids, providing the organism with a basis for re-establishing normal physiological functioning.
Bai Shao is an assistant ingredient in Fu Zi Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. White Peony Roots (Bai Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Bai Shao complements the actions of the key herb, Prepared aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) because it is cooling and restrains the Yin. Nourishing the Yin provides a substratum to which the Yang generated by Prepared aconite can attach itself, keeping it in the Interior and preventing it from dissipating to the Exterior.
Fu Zi Tang is used to treat Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp
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 Fu Zi Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Migraine Cluster headache Trigeminal neuralgia Bell's palsy Piriformis syndrome Rheumatoid arthritis Cervical spine disease Periarthritis of the shoulder Ankylosing spondylitis Lumbar disc disease Essential tremor Chronic nephritis Nephrotic syndrome Cirrhosis Chronic bronchitis Cardiac disease Congestive heart failure Uterine prolapse Erectile dysfunction
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Fu Zi Tang treats migraine" for instance. Rather, Fu Zi Tang is used to treat Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp, which is sometimes the root cause behind migraine.
Now let's look at Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Fu Zi Tang.
'Cold' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Cold pattern in Chinese Medicine
Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Deep (Chen), Minute (Wei), Slow (Chi)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Symptoms: No thirst Cold extremities Generalized body pain Aching bones and joints Aversion to cold - especially at the back
Fu Zi Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp. This pattern leads to symptoms such as generalized body pain, aching bones and joints, cold extremities and no thirst. Patients with Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp typically exhibit choppy (Se), deep (Chen), minute (Wei) or slow (Chi) pulses as well as a tongue with thin white coating.
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