Chinese: 滚痰丸
Pinyin: Gǔn Tán Wán
Other names: Flushing Away Roiling Phlegm Pill
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Heat and transform Phlegm
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: EpilepsySchizophreniaAnxiety neurosis and seven other conditions
Main actions: Drains Fire and Phlegm
Contraindications: Contraindicated during pregnancy and postpartum. Because of the rather strong,... Contraindicated during pregnancy and postpartum. Because of the rather strong, harsh properties of this formula, it should not be used in weak individuals or in the absence of excessive heat and chronic, stubborn Phlegm. see more
Source date: 1396 AD
Source book: Subtle Import of the jade Key
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.
Gun Tan Wan is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Chlorite Schist (Meng Shi) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 1396 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat and transform Phlegm. Its main action is that it drains Fire and Phlegm .
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 Gun Tan Wan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Phlegm Misting the Heart or Phlegm-Heat. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as anxiety neurosis, manic depression or schizophrenia for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the four ingredients in Gun Tan Wan, we review the patterns and conditions that Gun Tan Wan helps treat.
The four ingredients in Gun Tan Wan
Meng Shi is a king ingredient in Gun Tan Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Chlorite Schist (Meng Shi)
Meng Shi is sweet, salty and neutral. It strongly drives Phlegm retained in the Stomach and Intestines downward and out of the body. It also descends the Qi to calm wheezing, arrests palpitations, pacifies the Liver, and suppresses anxiety and convulsions. It is used in its calcined form to ensure that its properties
are rapidly dispersed.
Da Huang is a deputy ingredient in Gun Tan Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Rhubarb (Da Huang)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomachLarge intestineLiverPericardium
Category: Purgative herbs that drain downward
Da Huang is bitter and cold. It cleanses Fire from the Upper Burner by descending it through the Large Intestine in the Lower Burner. Therefore, it unblocks the obstruction of the Yang Organs. Unless the obstruction is removed, there is no clear path for removal of Phlegm-Fire from the body. It is also good for Dampness and Heat congealing into Phlegm in the Middle and Lower Burners. It expels pathogens to halt their violence, and has a special ability to uproot chaos and restore normality. The key and deputy herbs thus strongly drive out the Phlegm via the Intestines. The large dosage of this herb is used to thoroughly transform the root of this disorder. It is also washed in wine in order to direct their action to the Upper Burner from which it can then exert
their downward-directing action via the Middle and Lower Burners.
Huang Qin is an assistant ingredient in Gun Tan Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
3. Baikal Skullcap Roots (Huang Qin)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLungSmall intestineSpleen
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
Huang Qin is bitter and cooling. It clears Fire from the Upper Burner to prevent it from scorching the Body Fluids and thereby
generating more Phlegm. The large dosage of this herb is used to thoroughly transform the root of this disorder. It is also washed in wine in order to direct their action to the Upper Burner from which it can then exert
their downward-directing action via the Middle and Lower Burners.
Chen Xiang is an assistant ingredient in Gun Tan Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Agarwood (Chen Xiang)
Part used: Wood shavings
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomachKidneyLung
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
Chen Xiang is bitter, acrid and warming. It regulates the Qi and open constraint, rapidly directing the Rebellious Qi downward in order to eliminate the Phlegm. It is included in this formula follows the principle that, in treating Phlegm disorders, it is useful to first regulate the Qi, since it is the Qi that motivates the movement of Body Fluids in the body. In addition, its warming nature slightly buffers the cooling action of the three other ingredients in order to protect the normal Qi.
Conditions and patterns for which Gun Tan Wan 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 Gun Tan Wan is used by TCM practitioners to treat two 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:
Anxiety neurosis Manic depression Schizophrenia Pediatric seizure disorder Epilepsy Viral encephalitis Stubborn headaches Bronchial asthma Acute bronchitis Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Gun Tan Wan treats anxiety neurosis" for instance. Rather, Gun Tan Wan is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind anxiety neurosis.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Gun Tan Wan.
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm Misting the Heart
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Thick coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
Symptoms: Coma Aphasia Vomiting Dull eyes Paralysis Slurred speech Unconsciousness Mental confusion Staring at walls Sudden blackouts Incoherent speech Mental depression Muttering to oneself Rattling sound in the throat Lethargic and withdrawn state Abnormal and foolish behavior
Gun Tan Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Phlegm Misting the Heart. This pattern leads to symptoms such as mental confusion, unconsciousness, lethargic and withdrawn state and incoherent speech. Patients with Phlegm Misting the Heart typically exhibit slippery (Hua) pulses as well as Thick sticky slippery white coating, swollen tongue, midline crack until the tip of the tongue.
This pattern is also called 'Cold Phlegm or Mucus Obstructing the Heart Orifices'. It is similar to the pattern of 'Phlegm Fire harassing the Heart' (also called 'Hot Phlegm or Mucus Obstructing the Heart orifices'), but it is a Cold Pattern here.
Children can have this pattern and it is often... read more about Phlegm Misting the Heart
Body Fluids (Jin Ye) is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Body Fluids in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm-Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
Tongue shape: Swollen
Symptoms: Nausea Red face Dry mouth Depression Restlnessness Chest fullness Mucus in stools Focal distention Feeling of oppression of the chest Coughing of copious thick yellow sputum A feeling of oppression in the epigastrium Coughing and wheezing with copious thick and yellow sputum
Gun Tan Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Phlegm-Heat. This pattern leads to symptoms such as a feeling of oppression in the epigastrium, mucus in stools, depression and red face. Patients with Phlegm-Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or slippery (Hua) pulses as well as Red swollen tongue with yellow sticky coating.
Phlegm-Heat is a pattern that typically occurs when Dampness or Body Fluids combine with pathogenic Heat. In this case the Heat either invades from the Exterior or is generated by emotional disorders, long-term illness, poor diet or other internal disharmonies.
The Heart is associated with Fire,... read more about Phlegm-Heat
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