Chinese: 黄土汤
Pinyin: Huáng Tǔ Tāng
Other names: Yellow Earth Decoction
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that stop bleeding
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: Peptic ulcersChronic hemorrhagic gastritis
- Warms the Yang
- Strengthens the Spleen
- Nourishes the Blood
- Stops bleeding
Contraindications: Contraindicated in cases of bleeding from Excess Heat. Also, this formula... Contraindicated in cases of bleeding from Excess Heat. Also, this formula should not be used where external pathogens are present. see more
Source date: 220 AD
Source book: Essentials from the Golden Cabinet
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.
Huang Tu Tang is a 7-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Stove Earth (Zao Xin Tu) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that stop bleeding. Its main actions are: 1) warms the Yang and 2) strengthens the Spleen.
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 Huang Tu Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Spleen Yang Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as chronic hemorrhagic gastritis or peptic ulcers for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the seven ingredients in Huang Tu Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Huang Tu Tang helps treat.
The seven ingredients in Huang Tu Tang
Zao Xin Tu is a king ingredient in Huang Tu Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Stove Earth (Zao Xin Tu)
Part used: The earth
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sour
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that stop bleeding
Zao Xin Tu is acrid, warm, and astringent. It warms the Middle Burner, gathers and binds, and stops the bleeding.
Bai Zhu is a deputy ingredient in Huang Tu 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 warms the Yang and strengthens the Spleen, thereby restoring the ability of the Spleen and Stomach Qi to govern the Blood. Therefore, this herb is able to stop bleeding due to Spleen Qi and Yang Deficiency. It also counterbalances the cloying, greasy, Yin and Blood tonifying nature of the assistant herbs of the formula.
Zhi Fu Zi is a deputy ingredient in Huang Tu Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi)
Zhi Fu Zi warms the Yang and strengthens the Spleen, thereby restoring the ability of the Spleen and Stomach Qi to govern the Blood. Therefore, this herb is able to stop bleeding due to Spleen Qi and Yang Deficiency. It also counterbalances the cloying, greasy, Yin and Blood tonifying nature of the assistant herbs of the formula.
Di Huang is an assistant ingredient in Huang Tu Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang)
Part used: Prepared dried root tuber
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Di Huang nourishes the Yin and Blood and stop bleeding. Long-term blood loss can lead to Liver Yin and Blood Deficiency, which risks the development of internal Heat. This herb is added because the warming and acrid herbs in this formula poses
a problem when there is bleeding, as they accentuate the depletion of the Blood and Yin that occurs just from the loss of blood itself. In addition, their warming nature can incite the reckless movement of Blood that can lead to further bleeding. Together with other assistant herb of the formula, it counterbalance the warming and drying nature of Atractylodes rhizome and Prepared aconite.
E Jiao is an assistant ingredient in Huang Tu Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Donkey-Hide Gelatin (E Jiao)
Part used: Solid glue prepared from the dried or fresh skin of donkeys
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiverLung
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
E Jiao nourishes the Yin and Blood and stop bleeding. Long-term blood loss can lead to Liver Yin and Blood Deficiency, which risks the development of internal Heat. This herb is added because the warming and acrid herbs in this formula poses
a problem when there is bleeding, as they accentuate the depletion of the Blood and Yin that occurs just from the loss of blood itself. In addition, their warming nature can incite the reckless movement of Blood that can lead to further bleeding. Together with other assistant herb of the formula, it counterbalance the warming and drying nature of Atractylodes rhizome and Prepared aconite.
Huang Qin is an assistant ingredient in Huang Tu Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. 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 cold and bitter. It clears Liver Heat and also cools the Blood to prevent this from occurring, especially in concert with Unprepared Rehmannia. Together with other assistant herb of the formula, it counterbalance the warming and drying nature of Atractylodes rhizome and Prepared aconite.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Huang Tu 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 Huang Tu Tang, it is used because it harmonizes the Middle Burner and the actions of the other herbs in the formula.
Huang Tu Tang is used to treat Spleen Yang Deficiency
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 Huang Tu Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Spleen Yang Deficiency" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Spleen Yang Deficiency here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Chronic hemorrhagic gastritis Peptic ulcers
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Huang Tu Tang treats chronic hemorrhagic gastritis" for instance. Rather, Huang Tu Tang is used to treat Spleen Yang Deficiency, which is sometimes the root cause behind chronic hemorrhagic gastritis.
Now let's look at Spleen Yang Deficiency, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Huang Tu Tang.
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Spleen Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
Symptoms: Gas Edema Chills Fatigue Bloating Lassitude Cold limbs Weak Limbs Loose stools Poor appetite Pale complexion Feeling of cold Vagina discharge Sallow complexion Desire to lie down curled up Undigested food in the stools Slight abdominal distension after eating Abdominal pain and distension relieved by pressure and warmth
Huang Tu Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Spleen Yang Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as slight abdominal distension after eating, lassitude, desire to lie down curled up and pale complexion. Patients with Spleen Yang Deficiency typically exhibit deep (Chen), slow (Chi) or weak (Ruo) pulses as well as Pale and wet tongue .
Generally speaking, Spleen Yang Deficiency often develops from Spleen Qi Deficiency, but it is more extensive and severe. The common manifestations are these related to digestive functions such as loose stools, poor appetite, slight abdominal distension and pain after eating, gas and bloating.... read more about Spleen Yang Deficiency
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