Herb Formulas Notebook

Huang Tu Tang

Yellow Earth Decoction


Author: Zhang Zhong-Jing, 張仲景

Year: c. 220

Source: Essentials from the Golden Cabinet (Jin Gui Yao Lue, 金匱要略)


Category: Formulas that Regulate Blood

Pattern: Spleen Yang deficiency failing to control Blood

Key Symptoms: Blood in the stool, vomiting or spitting up blood, nosebleeds or abnormal uterine bleeding of dark or pale blood accompanied by cold extremities

Tongue: Pale with white coating
Pulse: Submerged, thin and forceless


Ingredients

Zao Xin Tu 18g
Sheng Di Huang 9g
E Jiao 9g
Bai Zhu 9g
Zhi Fu Zi 9g
Gan Cao 9g
Bao Fu Zi 9g
Huang Qin 9g

Subsitutions:
In the UK several ingredients must be substituted.
Zao Xin Tu is often replaced with Chi Shi Zhi at 3-4x the dosage. In the UK both must be substituted with He Zi + Jin Guan Hua.
E jiao == Gou Qi Zi + Mo Han Lian or Nu Zhen Zi
Fu Zi == Rou Gui + Gan Jiang + Xian Mao
In addition Ai Ye would be a good substitute for stopping bleeding and warming the Middle Jiao and channels


Preparation: Decoction


Actions: Warms the Yang, strengthens the Spleen, nourishes the Blood, stops Bleeding

Contraindications: Bleeding due to excess Heat and in the presence of external pathogens.



Notes:
One liang is taken as 3g in modern sources but in Eastern Han times it was equivalent to 13.875g. This means that the dosages in classical formulae could have been more than 4x what is given today making them far higher than recommended safe dosages today but prompts consideration of what an effective dose may be (He, 2013).



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Reference Notes: (click to display)

These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted.