Si Wu Tang
Chinese: 四物汤
Pinyin: Sì Wù Tāng
Other names: Four Substances Decoction, Dang Gui Four Combination
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that tonify Blood
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: Menstrual crampsLate menstruationProlonged periods and six other conditions
- Restores and nourishes Blood
- Stimulates Blood circulation
Contraindications: Contraindicated for treating acute, severe Blood loss or other issues of blood... Contraindicated for treating acute, severe Blood loss or other issues of blood Deficiency characterized by severe weakness and labored breathing. see more
Source date: 846 AD
Source book: Secret Formulas to Manage Trauma and Reconnect Fractures Received from an Immortal
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.
Si Wu Tang is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) and White Peony Roots (Bai Shao) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 846 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Blood. Its main actions are: 1) restores and nourishes Blood and 2) stimulates Blood circulation.
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 Si Wu Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Blood Deficiency, Blood Stagnation or Liver Blood Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as late menstruation, scanty menstruation or heavy menstruation for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the four ingredients in Si Wu Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Si Wu Tang helps treat.
The four ingredients in Si Wu Tang
Shu Di huang is a king ingredient in Si Wu Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang)
Part used: Prepared dried root tuber
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiver
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Shu Di huang has a very strong tonifying effect on the Liver and Kidneys and is said to nourish the Yin of the Blood.
Bai Shao is a king ingredient in Si Wu Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. White Peony Roots (Bai Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: SpleenLiver
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Bai Shao helps reduce the muscle spasms caused by Blood-Deficiency and it is particularly well-suited to treat abdominal pain. Together with Prepared rehmannia (Shu Di huang), it has a strong tonifying effect on the Blood.
Dang Gui is a deputy ingredient in Si Wu Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Dong Quai (Dang Gui)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenHeartLiver
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
In general Dang Gui's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation."
In the context of Si Wu Tang, it is used because it enters the Liver and Heart to tonify and invigorate the Blood.
Chuan Xiong is a deputy ingredient in Si Wu Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Szechuan Lovage Roots (Chuan Xiong)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: GallbladderLiverPericardium
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
Chuan Xiong facilitates the flow of Blood through the vessels, alleviates symptoms such as headache, dizziness, blurred vision and pain.
Conditions and patterns for which Si Wu Tang 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 Si Wu Tang is used by TCM practitioners to treat nine 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:
Late menstruation Scanty menstruation Heavy menstruation Prolonged periods Absence of menstruation Low breast milk supply Menstrual cramps Irregular menstruation Postpartum weakness
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Si Wu Tang treats late menstruation" for instance. Rather, Si Wu Tang is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind late menstruation.
Now let's look at the nine patterns commonly treated with Si Wu Tang.
Blood (Xue) is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Blood in Chinese Medicine
Blood Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Tongue color: Pale
Symptoms: Numbness Tingling Insomnia Dry skin Dizziness Pale face Pale lips Amenorrhea Depression Poor memory Late period Palpitations Scanty periods Blurred vision Pale complexion Tingling of limbs Pale menstrual blood Lower abdominal pain Feeling of bearing down
Si Wu Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Blood Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as amenorrhea, scanty periods, dizziness and numbness. Patients with Blood Deficiency typically exhibit choppy (Se) or fine (Xi) pulses as well as a pale tongue.
A Deficiency of Blood occurs when their entire body, a part of body or a particular Organ is insufficiently nourished by Blood. This can be caused by a loss of blood, insufficient Spleen Qi to produce Blood or congealed Blood which prevents new Blood from forming.
The Organs most likely to be... read more about Blood Deficiency
Blood (Xue) is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Blood in Chinese Medicine
Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Wiry (Xian), Firm (Lao)
Tongue color: Reddish-Purple
Symptoms: Lumps Dark face Purple lips Purple nails Restlessness Stabbing pain Painful period Scanty periods Abdominal pain Abdominal masses Hesitant periods Premenstrual pain Dark colored blood Frequent bleeding episodes Dark clots in menstrual blood Abdominal distention and fullness
Si Wu Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Blood Stagnation. This pattern leads to symptoms such as stabbing pain, abdominal masses, purple nails and painful period. Patients with Blood Stagnation typically exhibit choppy (Se), wiry (Xian) or firm (Lao) pulses as well as a reddish-purple tongue.
Blood Stagnation - also often referred to as "Blood Stasis" - is where the Blood flow is heavily restricted in all or parts of the body. It is one of the most important diagnostic conditions in Chinese Medicine because it is frequently the cause of intractable pain syndromes anywhere in the... read more about Blood Stagnation
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Blood Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Tongue color: Pale
Symptoms: Cramps Insomnia Dry hair Dry skin Dizziness Pale lips Amenorrhea Depression Scanty periods Blurred vision Muscle weakness Floaters in eyes Tingling of limbs Dull-pale complexion Numbness in the limbs Feeling of aimlessness Diminished night vision Withered and brittle nails
Si Wu Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Liver Blood Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as scanty periods, blurred vision, dizziness and numbness in the limbs. Patients with Liver Blood Deficiency typically exhibit choppy (Se) or fine (Xi) pulses as well as a pale tongue.
The Liver stores Blood, that is the reason any Blood Deficiency often involves the Liver. This pattern has an impact on areas the Liver relates to, such as the tendons, the eyes, the nails and women's menstruation.
It arises from the same causes as general Blood Deficiency, such as a diet poor in... read more about Liver Blood Deficiency
The Uterus is a so-called "Extraordinary" Organ. Learn more about the Uterus in Chinese Medicine
Cold in the Uterus
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Soggy (Ru)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Symptoms: Diarrhea Sore back No period Sore legs Pale face Tiredness Cold limbs Infertility Late period Scanty periods Painful period Abdominal pain Feeling of cold Frequent urination Dark colored blood Cold hands and feet Lower abdominal pain Irregular menstruation Pain relieved with heat Dark clots in menstrual blood
Si Wu Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Cold in the Uterus. This pattern leads to symptoms such as infertility, scanty periods, painful period and late period. Patients with Cold in the Uterus typically exhibit deep (Chen) or soggy (Ru) pulses as well as a pale tongue with thin white coating.
'Cold in the Uterus' is one the most common TCM pattern for women. It can be responsible for many gynecological diseases such as menstrual cramps, irregular periods, infertility, etc. Coldness can also lead to other TCM patterns such as Blood and Qi Stagnation.
There are two types of Cold... read more about Cold in the Uterus
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Heart Blood Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Tongue color: Pale
Tongue shape: Thin
Symptoms: Anxiety Fatigue Insomnia Dizziness Pale face Pale lips Poor memory Tearfulness Palpitations Restlessness Easily scared Loss of libido Feeling of guilt Dream disturbed sleep
Si Wu Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Heart Blood Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as palpitations, insomnia, poor memory and dream disturbed sleep. Patients with Heart Blood Deficiency typically exhibit choppy (Se) or fine (Xi) pulses as well as a pale tongue.
Heart Blood Deficiency hurts the Mind (神 Shen) which resides in the Heart. Therefore, it causes symptoms such as insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, anxiety, poor memory and tendency to be scared. Another typical symptom is palpitation due to Heart Qi Deficiency which is a result of Heart Blood... read more about Heart Blood Deficiency
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