Chinese: 紫当膏
Pinyin: Zǐ Dāng Gāo
Other names: Lithospermum and Tangkuei Ointment
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Formula category: External formulas for External disorders
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: EczemaSunburnLip sores and four other conditions
- Clears Heat and cools the Blood
- Resolves toxicity
- Moistens Dryness
- Relieves pain and itching
Source date: 1831 AD
Source book: Complete Book of Patterns and Treatments in External Medicine
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.
Zi Dang Gao is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Lithospermum Roots (Zi Cao) and Dong Quai (Dang Gui) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1831 AD, it belongs to the category of external formulas for External disorders. Its main actions are: 1) clears Heat and cools the Blood and 2) resolves toxicity .
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 Zi Dang Gao 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 lip sores, eczema or psoriasis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the four ingredients in Zi Dang Gao, we review the patterns and conditions that Zi Dang Gao helps treat.
The four ingredients in Zi Dang Gao
Zi Cao is a king ingredient in Zi Dang Gao. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Lithospermum Roots (Zi Cao)
Zi Cao clears Heat, cools the Blood, and resolves Toxicity. When the Toxic-Heat are resolved and the damaged skin is moistened, the pain and itching will cease.
Dang Gui is a king ingredient in Zi Dang Gao. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Dong Quai (Dang Gui)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Dang Gui moistens the skin and invigorates the Blood. When the Toxic-Heat are resolved and the damaged skin is moistened, the pain and itching will cease.
Ma You is an envoy ingredient in Zi Dang Gao. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
3. Sesame Oil (Ma You)
Part used: Pressed oil
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: Large intestine
Category: Herbs for external application
In general Ma You's main actions are as follows: "Moistens the Large Intestines and unblock stools. Neutralizes toxins. "
In the context of Zi Dang Gao, it is used because it neutralizes toxins.
Feng La is an envoy ingredient in Zi Dang Gao. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
4. Beeswax (Feng La)
Part used: The wax
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: Spleen
Category: Herbs for external application
Feng La detoxifies, stops discharge and relives pain. It also promotes wound healing and the generation or new tissues.
Zi Dang Gao 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 Zi Dang Gao 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:
Lip sores Eczema Psoriasis Seborrheic dermatitis Sunburn Chilblains Minor burns
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Zi Dang Gao treats lip sores" for instance. Rather, Zi Dang Gao is used to treat Toxic-Heat, which is sometimes the root cause behind lip sores.
Now let's look at Toxic-Heat, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Zi Dang Gao.
'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
Zi Dang Gao 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
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