Chinese: 芍药汤
Pinyin: Shao Yao Tang
Other names: Peony Decoction
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Heat from the Organs
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: Acute enteritisAmebic dysenteryUlcerative colitis
- Regulates and harmonizes the Qi and Blood
- Clears Heat
- Dries dampness
- Resolves Toxicity
Contraindications: Contraindicated during the early stages of patterns where there are also... Contraindicated during the early stages of patterns where there are also exterior symptoms, nor should it be used for chronic dysenteric disorders due to Cold from Deficiency. see more
Source date: 1186 AD
Source book: Collection of Writings on the Dynamics of Illness, Suitability of Qi, and the Safeguarding of Life as Discussed in Basic Question
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.
Shao Yao Tang is a 9-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Goldthread Rhizomes (Huang Lian) and Baikal Skullcap Roots (Huang Qin) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1186 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat from the Organs. Its main actions are: 1) regulates and harmonizes the Qi and Blood and 2) clears Heat.
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 Shao Yao Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as acute enteritis, ulcerative colitis or amebic dysentery for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the nine ingredients in Shao Yao Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Shao Yao Tang helps treat.
The nine ingredients in Shao Yao Tang
Huang Lian is a king ingredient in Shao Yao Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Goldthread Rhizomes (Huang Lian)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLiverSpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
Huang Lian is bitter and very cooling. It resolves Heat toxicity in the Intestines by clearing Heat and drying Dampness.
Huang Qin is a king ingredient in Shao Yao Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. 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 very cooling. It resolves Heat toxicity in the Intestines by clearing Heat and drying Dampness.
Bai Shao is a deputy ingredient in Shao Yao Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. White Peony Roots (Bai Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Bai Shao is used in a large dose to move the Blood, expel the pus, relax urgency, and stop the Pain. Together with Blood-moving herb Dong Quai, it regulates the nutritive Qi and Blood, following the principle that: When the Blood moves, pus in the stools is naturally healed. Together with Liquorice, it also moderates the spasms and relieves abdominal pain.
Dang Gui is a deputy ingredient in Shao Yao Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Dong Quai (Dang Gui)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Dang Gui tonifies, warms, and moves the Blood. Together with Blood-moving herb White peony root, it regulates the nutritive Qi and Blood, following the principle that: When the Blood moves, pus in the stools is naturally healed.
Da Huang is a deputy ingredient in Shao Yao Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. 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 cooling. It drains Toxic-Heat through the stool. When combined with other Qi-moving herbs in the formula, Rhubarb promotes Qi circulation in case of Stagnation. It also guides out stagnation.
Mu Xiang is an assistant ingredient in Shao Yao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Costus Roots (Mu Xiang)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: GallbladderLarge intestineLiverLungSpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
Mu Xiang promotes the movement of Qi and help eliminate Stagnation. Together with Areca nut, it complements the actions of White peony root and Dong quai, whose focus is to regulate the Blood.
Bing Lang is an assistant ingredient in Shao Yao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Areca Nuts (Bing Lang)
Part used: Dried ripe seed
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: Large intestineStomach
Category: Herbs that expel parasites
Bing Lang It promotes the movement of Qi and help eliminate Stagnation. Together with Costus root, it complements the actions of White peony root and Dong quai, whose focus is to regulate the Blood. It also guides out stagnation.
Rou Gui is an assistant ingredient in Shao Yao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui)
Rou Gui enters the Blood level and assists the Blood-harmonizing herbs in moving the
Blood. It acts as an opposing assistant, which means that it prevents the cold, bitter properties of the other herbs from either injuring the Yang or constraining the pathogenic influences in the Interior, and thereby transforming into smoldering Damp-Heat. The combination of Cinnamon bark with Rhubarb is particularly adroit. While these two herbs work synergistically to invigorate the Blood, the latter restrains the former from increasing the Fire in the body.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Shao Yao Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
9. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Gan Cao is harmonizes the functions of the Stomach and protects its Qi from the harsh actions of the other herbs. It also moderates the spasms and relieves abdominal pain.
Shao Yao Tang is used to treat Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine
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 Shao Yao Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Acute enteritis Ulcerative colitis Amebic dysentery
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Shao Yao Tang treats acute enteritis" for instance. Rather, Shao Yao Tang is used to treat Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine, which is sometimes the root cause behind acute enteritis.
Now let's look at Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Shao Yao Tang.
The Large Intestine is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Large Intestine in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
Symptoms: Fever Thirst Diarrhea Sweating Bloody stools Smelly stools Abdominal pain Mucus in stools Feeling of heat Abdominal fullness Feeling of heaviness Scanty and dark urine Burning sensation in the anus Stifling sensation in the chest and epigastrium
Shao Yao Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine. This pattern leads to symptoms such as abdominal pain, abdominal fullness, diarrhea and bloody stools. Patients with Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or slippery (Hua) pulses.
The Large Intestine's main function is to absorb fluids so as to form and excrete stools. This can be greatly disturbed due to the Dampness in the Organ. As a result, fluids can not be absorbed properly and diarrhoea happens. Dampness can also be reflected by the mucus in the stools. feeling of... read more about Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine
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