Chinese: 三仁汤
Pinyin: Sān Rén Tāng
Other names: Three Seeds Decoction
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Heat and expel dampness
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: TyphoidColitisHepatitis and four other conditions
- Clears Damp-Heat
- Disseminates the Qi
- Facilitates the Qi mechanisms
Contraindications: Only indicated for Damp-Warmth or Damp-Heat disorders where Dampness is... Only indicated for Damp-Warmth or Damp-Heat disorders where Dampness is prominent. see more
Source date: 1798 AD
Source book: Systematic Differentiation of Warm Pathogen Diseases
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.
San Ren Tang is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Apricot Seeds (Xing Ren), Cardamon Fruits (Bai Dou Kou) and Job's Tears (Yi Yi Ren) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1798 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat and expel dampness. Its main actions are: 1) clears Damp-Heat and 2) disseminates the Qi.
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 San Ren Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Dampness in the Gallbladder. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as typhoid, pyelonephritis or hepatitis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eight ingredients in San Ren Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that San Ren Tang helps treat.
The eight ingredients in San Ren Tang
Xing Ren is a king ingredient in San Ren Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Apricot Seeds (Xing Ren)
Part used: Dried ripe seeds
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: Large intestineLung
Category: Herbs that relieve coughing and wheezing
Xing Ren it dredges the Lung Qi, opens what is clogged, and facilitates the downward-directing of Qi and Fluids
Bai Dou Kou is a king ingredient in San Ren Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Cardamon Fruits (Bai Dou Kou)
Part used: Fruits
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomachLung
Category: Aromatic herbs that transform Dampness
Bai Dou Kou transforms turbid Dampness and revives the Spleen. It also treats the Upper Burner by spreading Qi in the chest.
Yi Yi Ren is a king ingredient in San Ren Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
3. Job's Tears (Yi Yi Ren)
Part used: Dried ripe kernel
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: LungSpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Yi Yi Ren leaches out Dampness through the urine. It also treats the Middle Burner by strengthening the Spleen.
Tong Cao is a deputy ingredient in San Ren Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Tetrapanax Piths (Tong Cao)
Part used: Dried stem pith
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: StomachLung
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Tong Cao resolves Dampness by promoting urination and it clears Heat. It also assists in opening and directing Lung Qi downward.
Dan Zhu Ye is a deputy ingredient in San Ren Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Lophatherum Herbs (Dan Zhu Ye)
Part used: Dried stem and leaf
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartSmall intestineStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
Dan Zhu Ye resolves Dampness by promoting urination and it clears Heat. It also vents pathogenic Heat through the Exterior.
Hua Shi is a deputy ingredient in San Ren Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
6. Talc (Hua Shi)
Part used: The mineral itself
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: BladderStomach
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Hua Shi resolves Dampness by promoting urination and it clears Heat. It is also able to resolve Summer-Heat.
Hou Pu is an assistant ingredient in San Ren Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Houpu Magnolia Bark (Hou Pu)
Part used: Dried stem bark, root bark or branch bark
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: LungSpleenStomach
Category: Aromatic herbs that transform Dampness
In general Hou Pu's main actions are as follows: "Moves Rebellious Qi downward, dries Dampness and relieves Food Stagnation. Transforms Phlegm and redirects Rebellious Qi of the Lung."
In the context of San Ren Tang, it is used because it treats epigastric and abdominal distention due to Dampness or Phlegm.
Ban Xia is an assistant ingredient in San Ren Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia)
Part used: Dried rhizome and tuber
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
In general Ban Xia's main actions are as follows: "Drains Dampness and reduces Phlegm. Reverses the flow of Rebellious Qi. Reduces hardenings and relieves distention."
In the context of San Ren Tang, it is used because it treats epigastric and abdominal distention due to Dampness or Phlegm.
San Ren Tang is used to treat Dampness in the Gallbladder
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 San Ren Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Dampness in the Gallbladder" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Dampness in the Gallbladder here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Typhoid Pyelonephritis Hepatitis Brucellosis Gastritis Colitis Bacillary dysentery
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "San Ren Tang treats typhoid" for instance. Rather, San Ren Tang is used to treat Dampness in the Gallbladder, which is sometimes the root cause behind typhoid.
Now let's look at Dampness in the Gallbladder, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with San Ren Tang.
The Gallbladder is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Gallbladder in Chinese Medicine
Dampness in the Gallbladder
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
Symptoms: Jaundice No thirst Turbid urine Dull headache Dull-yellow eyes Hypochondriac pain Nausea or vomiting Dull-yellow sclera Feeling of heaviness Dull-yellow complexion Hypochondrium fullness Inability to digest fats Sticky taste in the mouth
San Ren Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Dampness in the Gallbladder. This pattern leads to symptoms such as jaundice, dull-yellow complexion, dull-yellow eyes and hypochondriac pain. Patients with Dampness in the Gallbladder typically exhibit slippery (Hua) or wiry (Xian) pulses.
Dampness in the Gallbladder is typically paired with an underlying Spleen Qi Deficiency which makes the Spleen unable to transform Fluids.
As such the whole Middle Burner is typically affected, hence the symptoms of nausea and vomiting: the obstruction caused by Dampness prevent Stomach Qi from... read more about Dampness in the Gallbladder
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