Tao Hong Si Wu Tang 桃红四物汤
Four Substance Decoction with Peach kernel & Safflower

Tradition:

TCM

Source / Author:

Supreme Commanders of the Medical Rampants (1291)

Herb Name

Latin

Amount

Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia)

Rehmannia glutinosa

9–15 grams

Dang Gui (Chinese angelica)

Angelica sinensis

9–12 grams

Bai Shao (White Peony)

Paeonia lactiflora

9–12 grams

Chuan Xiong (Sichuan Lovage)

Ligusticum chuanxiong

6–9 grams

Tao Ren (Peach kernel)

Prunus persica

6 grams

Hong Hua (Safflower)

Carthamus tinctorius

4 grams

Preparation:

Prepare a standard decoction.
Traditionally powdered and 9 grams doses was taken with a draught of hot water.

Function:

Norishes Blood, clears Blood Stasis

Use:

1. Blood stasis marked by dull complexion, purplish tongue and nails, sharp or stabbing pain of a fixed nature, dark, purplish menstrual blood with clotting, choppy pulse
2. Early or Irregular Menstruation with dark blood
3. Excess menstruation that is thick, dark and clotted

4. Dysmenorrhea

5. Lower abdominal pain before the Period that is fixed and sharp
6. Infertility
7. Skin diseases
with dark or unhealthy colored skin, itchiness, Eczema, Psoriasis
8. Sequele of CVA
9. Diabetic neuropathy
10. Post herpetic Neuralgia

Dose:

The above is taken over the course of the day
If used as a powder, 3–6 grams 2–3 times a day can be given, best given with wine

Cautions:

1. Not used during Pregnancy
2. Not used in Bleeding
3. Caution in digestive weakness
4. If there are signs of Heat, medicines should be added to clear Heat.

Modifications:

1. Amenorrhea, add Motherwort (Yi Mu Cao), Cyperus rotundus (Xiang Fo)
2. Dysmenorrhea with Qi and Blood stagnation and Blood deficiency, add Cyperus Xiang Fu and Corydalis Yan Hu Suo.
3. Severe Qi and Blood deficiency with Qi stagnation, take with Xiang Sha Si Jun Zi Tang.
4. Vascular Headache, add Uncaria Gou Teng, Gastrodia Tian Ma, Saposhnikovia Fang Feng
5. Blood heat with Blood deficiency, use Rehmannia Sheng Di Huang instead of Shu Di Huang, and Paeonia Chi Shao Yao instead of Bai Shao.
6. More signs of Heat, add Paeonia Mu Dan Pi and Gardenic Zhi Zi.
7. With Phlegm and Damp, add Citrus Chen Pi and Pinella Ban Xia.
8. CVA, add Astragalus Huang Qi, Earthworm (Di Long), Achyranthes Niu Xi
9. Psoriasis, use Rehmannia Sheng Di Huang instead of Shu Di Huang and add Scutellaria Huang Qin, Saposhnikovia Fang Feng, White Dittany (Bai Xian Pi), Sophora Ku Shen.


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