Chinese: 十味百毒散
Pinyin: Shí Wèi Bǎi Dú Sǎn
Other names: Ten-Ingredient Powder to Overcome Toxicity
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear external abscesses and sores
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: AcneBoilsCysts and nine other conditions
- Dispels Wind and transforms Dampness
- Clears Toxic Heat
Contraindications: Contraindicated for toxic sores that have already suppurated.
Source date: 1760-1835 AD
Source book: Experiential formula by Hanaoka Seshu
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.
Shi Wei Bai Du San is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Saposhnikovia Roots (Fang Feng) and Japanese Catnip (Jing Jie) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1760-1835 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear external abscesses and sores. Its main actions are: 1) dispels Wind and transforms Dampness and 2) clears Toxic 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 Shi Wei Bai Du San is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Toxic-Heat. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as acne, boils or carbuncles for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the ten ingredients in Shi Wei Bai Du San, we review the patterns and conditions that Shi Wei Bai Du San helps treat.
The ten ingredients in Shi Wei Bai Du San
Fang Feng is a king ingredient in Shi Wei Bai Du San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Saposhnikovia Roots (Fang Feng)
Fang Feng dispel Damp-Wind. It also resolves the Exterior and dissipate the accumulation of Toxic-Heat in the Exterior of the body.
Jing Jie is a king ingredient in Shi Wei Bai Du San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Japanese Catnip (Jing Jie)
Part used: Aerial portion and flowers, or the spikes only (in which case it is called Jing Jie Sui)
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Pungent
In general Jing Jie's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold or Heat depending on the other herbs used. Releases the Exterior for measles. Stops bleeding. Abates swellings."
In the context of Shi Wei Bai Du San, it is used because it resolves the Exterior and dissipate the accumulation of Toxic-Heat in the Exterior of the body.
Chai Hu is a deputy ingredient in Shi Wei Bai Du San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Bupleurum Roots (Chai Hu)
Chai Hu It resolves Toxicity, releases pathogens from the Exterior, and clears Blood Heat from both the Interior and Exterior.
Du Huo is a deputy ingredient in Shi Wei Bai Du San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Pubescent Angelica Roots (Du Huo)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: BladderKidney
Category: Herbs that dispel Wind and Dampness
Du Huo dispel Damp-Wind. It also resolves the Exterior and dissipate the accumulation of Toxic-Heat in the Exterior of the body.
Ying Pi is a deputy ingredient in Shi Wei Bai Du San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Japanese Cherry Barks (Ying Pi)
Ying Pi resolve Toxicity, expels pus and relieves fevers. This herb is difficult to find and is often replaced by Cherokee rose fruits
Chuan Xiong is a deputy ingredient in Shi Wei Bai Du San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
6. Szechuan Lovage Roots (Chuan Xiong)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: GallbladderLiverPericardium
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
In general Chuan Xiong's main actions are as follows: "Regulates and moves the Blood. Relieves Wind-Cold and pain. Circulates the Qi in the Upper Burner, relieving headaches."
In the context of Shi Wei Bai Du San, it is used because it invigorates Blood and thrusts out pus.
Jie Geng is an assistant ingredient in Shi Wei Bai Du San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Platycodon Roots (Jie Geng)
In general Jie Geng's main actions are as follows: "Opens the Lungs and smoothes the flow of Lung Qi. Expels Phlegm and pus from the Lungs and throat, can be used for either Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat according to the other herbs in the formula. Directs the actions of other herbs to the Upper Warmer."
In the context of Shi Wei Bai Du San, it is used because it resolves Toxicity and also, with the help of Szechuan lovage root, thrusting out the pus. .
Fu Ling is an assistant ingredient in Shi Wei Bai Du San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Part used: Dried sclerotium
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Fu Ling removes Dampness and at the same time enhances the body's ability to expel Toxic-Heat through urination.
Gan Jiang is an assistant ingredient in Shi Wei Bai Du San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
9. Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang)
In general Gan Jiang's main actions are as follows: "Warms the Spleen and expels Cold. Restores collapse of Yang and expels Interior Cold. Warms the Lungs and assists expectoration of Cold Phlegm. Stops chronic bleeding caused by Cold."
In the context of Shi Wei Bai Du San, it is used because it harmonizes the Stomach.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Shi Wei Bai Du San. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
10. 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 Shi Wei Bai Du San, it is used because it harmonizes the formula and also resolves Toxicity.
Shi Wei Bai Du San is used to treat Toxic-Heat
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 Shi Wei Bai Du San is mostly used to treat the pattern "Toxic-Heat" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Toxic-Heat here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Acne Boils Carbuncles Abscesses Cysts Eczema Seborrheic dermatitis Hives Mastitis Lymphadenditis Otitis media Sties
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Shi Wei Bai Du San treats acne" for instance. Rather, Shi Wei Bai Du San is used to treat Toxic-Heat, which is sometimes the root cause behind acne.
Now let's look at Toxic-Heat, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Shi Wei Bai Du San.
'Heat' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Heat pattern in Chinese Medicine
Toxic-Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Pus Fever Boils Sores Eczema Thirst Pustule Coughing Erythema Swellings Carbuncles Dark Urine Sore throat Mouth ulcers Constipation Abdominal pain Swollen tonsils Feeling of heat Lower back pain Perineum swollen Prostate swollen Testicle swollen Red skin eruptions Shortness of breath Yellow vaginal discharge Smelly Vaginal discharge Sticky vaginal discharge Bloody vaginal discharge Five colour vaginal discharge
Shi Wei Bai Du San is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Toxic-Heat. This pattern leads to symptoms such as fever, swellings, pus and boils. Patients with Toxic-Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) pulses as well as Red tongue with yellow coating.
There are two types of Toxic-Heat. One type is called Toxic-Heat Stagnation, which mainly happens in Channels or other surfaces like skins, throat, lymph or mouth. The symptoms include pain, redness and swollen in throat as well as skin pustule and rush. Acne during teenage time is mainly due to... read more about Toxic-Heat
Formulas similar to Shi Wei Bai Du San
Jing Fang Bai Du San is 62% similar to Shi Wei Bai Du San
Ren Shen Bai Du San is 50% similar to Shi Wei Bai Du San
Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang is 42% similar to Shi Wei Bai Du San
Qiang Huo Sheng Shi Tang is 40% similar to Shi Wei Bai Du San
Jia Wei Xiang Su San is 40% similar to Shi Wei Bai Du San
Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San is 40% similar to Shi Wei Bai Du San