Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
Chinese: 天王补心丹
Pinyin: Tiān Wáng Bǔ Xīn Dān
Other names: Emperor of Heaven's Special Pill to Tonify the Heart, Emperor of Heaven's Tonic Pill for the Mind, Ginseng and Zizyphus Combination, Scholar's or student's formula
Number of ingredients: 14 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that nourish the Heart and calm the Mind
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: Aphthous ulcersCardiac diseaseChronic urticaria and five other conditions
- Nutritive tonic: Nourishes Yin, Blood and Vital Essence of the Heart and Kidney
- Clears away pathogenic Heat, clears Deficient Heat
- Sedative
Contraindications: Contraindicated for Spleen and Stomach weakness with tendency to bloat, loose... Contraindicated for Spleen and Stomach weakness with tendency to bloat, loose stools, edema and fluid retention. This is because the ingredients in this formula are Cold and rich. see more
Source date: 16th century
Source book: Fine Formulas for Women with Annotations and Commentary
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.
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan is a 14-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 16th century, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish the Heart and calm the Mind. Its main actions are: 1) nutritive tonic: Nourishes Yin, Blood and Vital Essence of the Heart and Kidney and 2) clears away pathogenic Heat, clears Deficient 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 Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Heart Yin Deficiency, Heart and Kidney Yin Deficiency or Kidneys And Heart Not Harmonized. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as absence of menstruation, postpartum depression or menopausal syndrome for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the fourteen ingredients in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan, we review the patterns and conditions that Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan helps treat.
The fourteen ingredients in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
Di Huang is a king ingredient in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. 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 clears Heat. It enriches the Kidney Yin (water), which is then able to control the disturbance of the Mind (Shen) due to Fire. It is also effective in nourishing the Blood.
Tian Men Dong is a deputy ingredient in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Chinese Asparagus Tubers (Tian Men Dong)
Tian Men Dong works together with the two other deputies (Mai Men Dong and Xuan Shen) to enrich the Yin and clear Heat from Deficiency. In various classical texts, all of these herbs are noted for their efficacy in calming the Mind.
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Dwarf Lilyturf Roots (Mai Dong)
Part used: Dried root tuber
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartLungStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
In general Mai Dong's main actions are as follows: "Replenishes Yin Essence and promotes secretions. Lubricates and nourishes the Stomach. Soothes the Lung. Nourishes the Heart."
Xuan Shen is a deputy ingredient in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Ningpo Figwort Roots (Xuan Shen)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: Large intestineLiverStomach
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
In general Xuan Shen's main actions are as follows: "Expels true or Internal Heat and cools the Blood. Tonifies the Yin. Reduces inflammations and drains Fire toxicity. Reduces hard nodules, especially associated with the lymph."
Dan Shen is a deputy ingredient in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Red Sage Roots (Dan Shen)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Bitter
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
Dan Shen works together with Dong Quai (Dang Gui), another assistant in this formula, to tonify the Blood in order to nourish the Heart without causing Blood stagnation.
Dang Gui is an assistant ingredient in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Dong Quai (Dang Gui)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLiverSpleen
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."
Bai Zi Ren is an assistant ingredient in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Biota Seeds (Bai Zi Ren)
Part used: Dried ripe seeds
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLarge intestine
Bai Zi Ren works together with Chinese senega root (Yuan Zhi), another assistant in this formula, to calm the Mind.
Yuan Zhi is an assistant ingredient in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Chinese Senega Roots (Yuan Zhi)
In general Yuan Zhi's main actions are as follows: "Calms the spirit. Expels Phlegm from the Heart orifices. Expels Phlegm from the Lungs. Diminishes abscesses."
Ren Shen is an assistant ingredient in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
9. Ginseng (Ren Shen)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Ren Shen's main actions are as follows: "Very strongly tonifies the Qi. Tonifies the Lungs and Spleen. Assists the body in the secretion of Fluids and stops thirst. Strengthens the Heart and calms the Shen (mind/spirit)."
In the context of Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan, it is used because it works together with Poria-cocos mushrooms (Fu Ling) to assist the Heart Qi.
Fu Ling is an assistant ingredient in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
10. Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Part used: Dried sclerotium
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
In general Fu Ling's main actions are as follows: "Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit."
Suan Zao Ren is an assistant ingredient in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
11. Jujube Seeds (Suan Zao Ren)
Suan Zao Ren works together with Schisandra berries (Wu Wei Zi), another assistant in this formula, to prevent the leakage of Heart Qi and Yin Fluids.
Wu Wei Zi is an assistant ingredient in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
12. Schisandra Berries (Wu Wei Zi)
Part used: Dried ripe fruits
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLung
Category: Herbs that stabilize and bind
In general Wu Wei Zi's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Kidneys and preserves the Essence. Astringes the Lung Qi and stops coughing. Retains Bodily Fluids and encourages their production. Tonifies the Heart and calms the spirit (Shen)."
Jie Geng is an envoy ingredient in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
13. Platycodon Roots (Jie Geng)
Jie Geng conducts the actions of the other herbs upward toward the Upper Burner, the abode of the Mind (Shen).
Zhu Sha is an envoy ingredient in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
14. Cinnabar (Zhu Sha)
Part used: The mineral itself
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: Heart
Category: Herbs that anchor and calm the Spirit
In general Zhu Sha's main actions are as follows: "Calms the spirit and Heart. Stops convulsions. Clears Heat and toxins."
In the context of Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan, it is used because it anchors the Mind and calms wayward emotions.
Conditions and patterns for which Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan 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 Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan is used by TCM practitioners to treat five 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:
Absence of menstruation Postpartum depression Menopausal syndrome Perimenopausal syndrome Chronic urticaria Aphthous ulcers Cardiac disease Nervous exhaustion
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan treats absence of menstruation" for instance. Rather, Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind absence of menstruation.
Now let's look at the five patterns commonly treated with Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan.
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Heart Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Fine (Xi), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Anxiety Insomnia Tinnitus Dry mouth Dizziness Back pain Dry throat Depression Exhaustion Malar flush Poor memory Night sweats Palpitations Easily scared Restlnessness Five palm heat Loss of libido Feeling of heat Feeling of Heat Low milk supply Feeling of guilt Scanty breast milk Hot palms and soles Dream disturbed sleep General sensation of unease
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Heart Yin Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as night sweats, general sensation of unease, feeling of heat and five palm heat. Patients with Heart Yin Deficiency typically exhibit rapid (Shu), empty (Xu), fine (Xi) or floating (Fu) pulses as well as Red or normal tongue with no coating, redder tip with swollen red pointes on tip, deep midline crack.
This pattern often derives from Heart Blood Deficiency. Both patterns share similar symptoms such as palpitations, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, easily scared, poor memory, restlessness and anxiety.
Blood is a type of Yin element. If Heart Blood get insufficient over a long period of time... read more about Heart Yin Deficiency
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Heart and Kidney Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Overflowing (Hong), Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu)
Tongue color: Red, Red tip
Tongue shape: Cracked
Symptoms: Anxiety Insomnia Tinnitus Dizziness Poor memory Palpitations Night sweats Restlnessness Dream disturbed sleep Spontaneous and nocturnal emissions
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Heart and Kidney Yin Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as palpitations, insomnia, poor memory and night sweats. Patients with Heart and Kidney Yin Deficiency typically exhibit overflowing (Hong), rapid (Shu) or empty (Xu) pulses as well as a red, red tip tongue.
Also called "Kidneys and Heart not Harmonized", this pattern occurs when Kidney Yin is Deficient and cannot nourish the Heart Yin which thus becomes Deficient. It results in a flaring up of Empty-Heat in the Heart with accompanying symptoms such as mental restlessness, insomnia, dream disturbed... read more about Heart and Kidney Yin Deficiency
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Kidneys And Heart Not Harmonized
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Weak (Ruo), Floating (Fu)
Symptoms: Anxiety Insomnia Tinnitus Dizziness Dry stools Poor memory Palpitations Restlessness Night sweats Five palm heat Lower back pain Diminished hearing Dry throat at night Dream disturbed sleep Scanty and dark urine Feeling of heat in the evening Nocturnal emissions with dreams Thirst with desire to drink in small sips
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Kidneys And Heart Not Harmonized. This pattern leads to symptoms such as palpitations, restlessness, insomnia and dream disturbed sleep. Patients with Kidneys And Heart Not Harmonized typically exhibit deep (Chen), rapid (Shu), empty (Xu), weak (Ruo) or floating (Fu) pulses.
This disharmony happens when Kidney Yin is Deficient and cannot nourish the Heart Yin, which then also become Deficient.
There is a strong relationship between Kidneys and Heart because Essence (Jing) housed in the Kidneys is the foundation for the Mind housed in the Heart. If Essence is... read more about Kidneys And Heart Not Harmonized
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Fine (Xi), Floating (Fu)
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Anxiety Tinnitus Insomnia Dizziness Dry mouth Dry throat Dry stools Poor memory Hot flushes Malar flush Palpitations Night sweats Constipation Restlessness Blurred vision Weakness and aching in the knees Soreness and weakness in the lower back
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys. This pattern leads to symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus, insomnia and palpitations. Patients with Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys typically exhibit rapid (Shu), empty (Xu), fine (Xi) or floating (Fu) pulses as well as a red tongue.
Blood (Xue) is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Blood in Chinese Medicine
Yin and Blood Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Fine (Xi), Rapid (Shu)
Tongue coating: Partial absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Fatigue Dry stools Mouth sores Irritability Forgetfulness Palpitations with anxiety Insomnia with very restless sleep Spontaneous and nocturnal emissions Inability to think or concentrate for even short periods of time
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Yin and Blood Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as irritability, palpitations with anxiety, fatigue and insomnia with very restless sleep. Patients with Yin and Blood Deficiency typically exhibit fine (Xi) or rapid (Shu) pulses as well as a red tongue with partial absence of coating.
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