Chinese: 温脾汤
Pinyin: Wēn Pí Tāng
Other names: Warm the Speen Decoction
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that warm and purge
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: Ulcerative colitisIntestinal adhesionsChronic renal disease and two other conditions
- Warms and tonifies the Spleen Yang
- Clears Cold Evil
Contraindications: This formula is used to treat Interior Cold accumulations. It is not... This formula is used to treat Interior Cold accumulations. It is not recommended in situations of constipation caused by Internal Heat, as it might cause clumping and harm to Body Fluids. see more
Source date: 650 AD
Source book: Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces
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.
Wen Pi Tang is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) and Rhubarb (Da Huang) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 650 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm and purge. Its main actions are: 1) warms and tonifies the Spleen Yang and 2) clears Cold Evil.
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 Wen Pi Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Spleen Yang Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as ulcerative colitis, chronic bacillary dysentery or intestinal adhesions for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the five ingredients in Wen Pi Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Wen Pi Tang helps treat.
The five ingredients in Wen Pi Tang
Zhi Fu Zi is a king ingredient in Wen Pi Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi)
Zhi Fu Zi is acrid and strongly warming. It disperses the congealed Cold, by stimulating the Yang of the Spleen.
Da Huang is a king ingredient in Wen Pi Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Rhubarb (Da Huang)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomachLarge intestineLiverPericardium
Category: Purgative herbs that drain downward
In general Da Huang's main actions are as follows: "Drains Excess Heat and eliminates Dampness, especially when in the Bright Yang stage according to the Six Stages Theory. Cools the Blood and stops bleeding. Invigorates Blood, breaks up Stasis and relieves pain. Clears Heat and toxins from Excess. Applied topically for Hot sores and Blood Stasis."
In the context of Wen Pi Tang, it is used because it flushes the Intestines and Stomach in order to eliminate Stagnation.
Gan Jiang is a deputy ingredient in Wen Pi Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang)
Gan Jiang serves as the deputy by concentrating the formula's activity on the Spleen Yang. It is acrid and warming and it penetrates the Spleen and Stomach Channels. Together with Prepared aconite, they supports the Spleen
Yang so as to eliminate the Cold Evil.
Ren Shen is an assistant ingredient in Wen Pi Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Ginseng (Ren Shen)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Ren Shen strengthens the Qi. It follows the principle that, in order to assist and warm the Spleen Yang, Qi must be augmented.
Gan Cao is an assistant ingredient in Wen Pi Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. 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 strengthens the Qi. It follows the principle that, in order to assist and warm the Spleen Yang, Qi must be augmented. It also functions as an envoy to harmonize the contradictory functions of the different herbs in the formula, accommodating heating with cooling and tonifying with draining.
Wen Pi Tang is used to treat Spleen Yang Deficiency
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 Wen Pi Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Spleen Yang Deficiency" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Spleen Yang Deficiency here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Ulcerative colitis Chronic bacillary dysentery Intestinal adhesions Intestinal obstruction Chronic renal disease
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Wen Pi Tang treats ulcerative colitis" for instance. Rather, Wen Pi Tang is used to treat Spleen Yang Deficiency, which is sometimes the root cause behind ulcerative colitis.
Now let's look at Spleen Yang Deficiency, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Wen Pi Tang.
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Spleen Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
Symptoms: Gas Edema Chills Fatigue Bloating Lassitude Cold limbs Weak Limbs Loose stools Poor appetite Pale complexion Feeling of cold Vagina discharge Sallow complexion Desire to lie down curled up Undigested food in the stools Slight abdominal distension after eating Abdominal pain and distension relieved by pressure and warmth
Wen Pi Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Spleen Yang Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as slight abdominal distension after eating, lassitude, desire to lie down curled up and pale complexion. Patients with Spleen Yang Deficiency typically exhibit deep (Chen), slow (Chi) or weak (Ruo) pulses as well as Pale and wet tongue .
Generally speaking, Spleen Yang Deficiency often develops from Spleen Qi Deficiency, but it is more extensive and severe. The common manifestations are these related to digestive functions such as loose stools, poor appetite, slight abdominal distension and pain after eating, gas and bloating.... read more about Spleen Yang Deficiency
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