ba zhen tang

Eight Treasure Decoction

About ba zhen tang

Ba Zhen Tang, Eight Treasure Decoction, puts the Si Jun Zi Tang and Si Wu Tang bases together, four Qi herbs and four Blood herbs. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that tonify Qi and Blood.

Ingredients

Herb	Amount
ren shen	6 g
bai zhu	9 g
fu ling	12 g
zhi gan cao	3 g
shu di huang	15 g
bai shao	12 g
dang gui	12 g
chuan xiong	6 g

Actions and indications

Tonifies Qi and Blood

Deficiency of both Qi and Blood, typically after heavy blood loss or a long, draining illness
Liver and Spleen deficiency
Signs of Blood deficiency: pale or sallow complexion, dizziness or light-headedness, vertigo, blurred vision, headache, and palpitations with anxiety that may be constant
Signs of Qi deficiency: tiredness and lassitude, shortness of breath, reluctance to speak, poor appetite or anorexia, and limbs that are weak and tire easily
Thirst, rough dry skin, itching, low body weight or weight loss
Severe chills and fever
Menstruation that is irregular, scanty or pale, and continuous spotting from uterine bleeding
In women, pain along the midline, lower abdominal pain or distension, and low back pain
Abscesses that neither come to a head nor heal
Tongue pale with a thin white coat; pulse thin and frail, or large and deficient without strength

Modern uses

Anemia
Aplastic anemia
Thrombocytopenic purpura
Leukopenia
Hypoglycemia
Hypotension
Circulatory problems
Coronary artery disease
Degenerative changes of circulatory and digestive organs
Malnutrition
Weight loss
Fatigue
Chronic fatigue
Chronic diseases of all kinds
Weakness during convalescence
Recovery from chronic illness
Recovery after surgery
Recovery after childbirth
Supportive care alongside chemotherapy, including for breast cancer
Chronic hepatitis
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Atrophic gastritis
Dysphagia
Anorexia
Constipation
Postpartum constipation
Esophageal cancer
Stomach cancer
Lung cancer
Cervical cancer
Uterine myoma
AIDS/HIV-related abdominal masses
AIDS/HIV/ARC
Metrorrhagia
Metrorrhagia during pregnancy
Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy
Irregular menstruation
Scanty menstruation
Amenorrhea
Dysmenorrhea
Infertility
Red vaginal discharge
Breast discharge
Lumbago in women
Lower abdominal pain
Abdominal pain during pregnancy
Irritability during pregnancy
Eclampsia
Breech presentation
Habitual miscarriage
Prevention of miscarriage
Puerperal fever
Insufficient lactation
Non-healing ulcers
Chronic abscesses
Nervous ulcers
Eczema
Dermatitis
Dry skin
Alopecia
Prematurely gray hair
Peripheral neuritis
Paresthesia
Numbness
Parkinson's disease
Multiple sclerosis
Behcet's disease
Hyperthyroidism
Sheehan's disease
Neurasthenia
Anxiety
Forgetfulness
Headache
Dizziness
Vertigo
Meniere's disease
Tinnitus
Deafness
Blurred vision
Orbital optic neuritis
Corneal ulcer
Excessive tearing on exposure to Wind
Palpitations
Dyspnea
Fever
Night sweats
Spontaneous perspiration
Gingivitis
Periodontitis
Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)
Stiff neck
Hip pain
Heel pain
Foot pain
Gout
Interstitial cystitis
Strangury

Symptoms

Abdominal distention
Abscess
Anxiety
Blurred vision
Chills
Dizziness
Dry skin
Emaciation
Fatigue
Fever
Headache
Irregular menstruation
Itching
Low back pain
Lower abdominal pain
Metrorrhagia
Pain
Pale menstrual blood
Pallor
Palpitations
Poor appetite
Reluctance to speak
Rough skin
Sallow complexion
Scanty menstruation
Shortness of breath
Spotting
Thirst
Weak limbs
Weight loss

Modifications

Amenorrhea with weak, unstable Stomach Qi: + huang qi, + wu wei zi, + qian shi, − chuan xiong
Postpartum menstrual or abdominal pain: + yi mu cao
Insomnia: + suan zao ren, + xing ren
Weak Stomach with poor appetite: + sha ren, + shen qu
Weak or painful lower back: + huai niu xi, + du zhong
Anorexia: + shan yao, + chen pi, + qian shi
Yang deficiency on top of Qi and Blood deficiency: + huang qi, + rou gui
Irregular menstruation: + yi mu cao
Preventing miscarriage, including recurrent miscarriage: + sha ren, + zi su ye
Metrorrhagia: + e jiao, + ai ye
Pregnancy with constipation, nausea or vomiting (combined with Xiao Chai Hu Tang)
Threatened miscarriage with Qi and Blood deficiency and Chong-Ren disorder: + huang qi, + xu duan, + huang qin, + sha ren, − fu ling

Show all 130 modifications

Sudden drop in white cells following radiation for nasopharyngeal cancer: + mo han lian
Amenorrhea persisting after several weeks on the base formula: + ze lan, + chong wei zi, + ji xue teng, + shan zha, + dan shen, + huai niu xi
Amenorrhea also showing Kidney Yang deficiency: + xian mao, + zi he che, + lu jiao shuang
To strengthen Jing: + yin yang huo, + ba ji tian, + gou qi zi
Eczema from Spleen Qi deficiency (combined with Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang)
Hair loss: + dang shen, + fu shen, + huang qi, + nu zhen zi, + he shou wu, + sang shen, + huang jing, + zhi bai fu zi, + hei dou, − ren shen, − fu ling, − sheng jiang, − da zao
Watery eyes in the wind: + fang feng, + bai zhi, + mu zei, + xi xin
Hair loss with palpitations and insomnia: + dang shen, + fu shen, + huang qi, + nu zhen zi, + he shou wu, + sang shen, + huang jing, + zhi bai fu zi, + wu wei zi, + bai he, + mai men dong, + bai zi ren, + lian zi, − ren shen, − fu ling, − sheng jiang, − da zao
Hair loss with poor appetite and a distended abdomen: + dang shen, + fu shen, + huang qi, + nu zhen zi, + he shou wu, + sang shen, + huang jing, + zhi bai fu zi, + chao gu ya, + ji nei jin, + hou po hua, + mei gui hua, + fo shou, − ren shen, − fu ling, − sheng jiang, − da zao
Hair loss with low mood and self-pity: + dang shen, + fu shen, + huang qi, + nu zhen zi, + he shou wu, + sang shen, + huang jing, + zhi bai fu zi, + he huan pi, + he huan hua, + yu jin, + xiang fu, − ren shen, − fu ling, − sheng jiang, − da zao
Sudden, severe hair loss with predominant Wind-Heat: + dang shen, + fu shen, + huang qi, + nu zhen zi, + he shou wu, + sang shen, + huang jing, + zhi bai fu zi, + tian ma, + chong wei zi, − ren shen, − fu ling, − sheng jiang, − da zao
Anemia: + zi he che, + e jiao, + mu xiang, + chen pi
Breech presentation: + huang qi, + xu duan, + zhi ke, − fu ling
Atrophic gastritis: Liver-Stomach Qi stagnation: + chai hu, + zhi ke
Atrophic gastritis: Spleen-Stomach Qi deficiency: + huang qi
Atrophic gastritis: Stomach Heat with Yin deficiency: + sha shen, + shi hu
Atrophic gastritis: Middle Jiao Damp-Heat: + bai hua she she cao, + tu fu ling
Itching: + huang qi, + chan tui, + she chuang zi, + di fu zi, + bai xian pi, − ren shen
Itching, tongue red: + huang qi, + chan tui, + she chuang zi, + di fu zi, + bai xian pi, + nu zhen zi, − ren shen
Itching in chronic illness: + huang qi, + chan tui, + she chuang zi, + di fu zi, + bai xian pi, + dan shen, − ren shen
Itching, thick tongue coat: + huang qi, + chan tui, + she chuang zi, + di fu zi, + bai xian pi, + nu zhen zi, + che qian zi, − ren shen
Corneal ulcer: Spleen deficiency: + qian shi, + yi yi ren
Corneal ulcer: Liver-Kidney deficiency: + he shou wu, + gou qi zi, + shan zhu yu
Corneal ulcer: Kidney Qi deficiency: + yi zhi ren, + ba ji tian, + yin yang huo, + xian mao
Peripheral neuritis of the arms: + du huo, + qiang huo
Peripheral neuritis with bloating and poor digestion: − shu di huang, − gan cao
Peripheral neuritis of the legs: + huai niu xi, + mu gua
Organophosphate neuritis: + gui zhi
Organophosphate neuritis with limb numbness and a dark purple tongue: + chi shao, + dan shen, + tao ren, + hong hua
Organophosphate neuritis with heavy legs: + huai niu xi, + sang zhi
Organophosphate neuritis with fever, burning pain, irritability and a red tongue: + huang bai, + zhi zi
Organophosphate neuritis with a heavy body and limbs: + cang zhu, + bei xie, + huang bai, + han fang ji, + mu gua
Organophosphate neuritis with night sweats and tidal fever: + gui ban, + mai men dong, + zhi mu
Stomach cancer: + huang qi, + zi he che, + huang jing, + e jiao
Stomach cancer with vomiting: + zhi ban xia, + zhu ru, + qiu kui, + ding xiang, + sheng jiang
Advanced stomach cancer: + wu gong, + tu bie chong, + di long, + shui zhi, + meng chong
Stomach cancer with thirst: + shi hu, + huang jing, + tian hua fen, + mai men dong, + nan sha shen, + wu mei, + wu wei zi
Stomach cancer with excess salivation: + zhi ban xia, + gan jiang, + fu shi
Stomach cancer with pain: + chai hu, + mu xiang, + xiang fu, + bai shao, + mu bie zi, + bai qu cai
Stomach cancer with bloating: + bing lang, + hou po, + zhi ke, + bing lang tan, + lai fu zi
Stomach cancer, dry stools: + huo ma ren, + yu li ren, + da huang, + mang xiao, + gua lou, + rou cong rong, + yáng tí
Stomach cancer, loose stools: + zhi yi yi ren, + bai zhu, + cang zhu, + er cha, + shan yao, + he zi
Stomach cancer with blood in stool: + xian he cao, + san qi, + huai hua mi, + zong lu pi (tan)
Stomach cancer with vomiting of blood (combined with Yunnan Bai Yao): + san qi, + xian he cao, + xue yu tan, + ou jie, + mo han lian
Stomach cancer with anemia: + dang gui, + ji xue teng, + e jiao, + dan shen, + jing tian san qi, + zi he che
Tremors: + shi jue ming, + gou teng, + chuan niu xi, + dan shen, + tian ma, + du zhong, + sang ji sheng, + yi mu cao, − gan cao, − chuan xiong
Tremors with Blood Stagnation: + shi jue ming, + gou teng, + chuan niu xi, + dan shen, + tian ma, + du zhong, + sang ji sheng, + yi mu cao, + tao ren, + chuan xiong, + hong hua, − gan cao
Tremors with severe sweating: + shi jue ming, + gou teng, + chuan niu xi, + dan shen, + tian ma, + du zhong, + sang ji sheng, + yi mu cao, + huang qi, + mu li, − gan cao, − chuan xiong
Tremors with insomnia: + shi jue ming, + gou teng, + chuan niu xi, + dan shen, + tian ma, + du zhong, + sang ji sheng, + yi mu cao, − gan cao, − chuan xiong
Tremors with poor appetite and a full, distended abdomen: + shi jue ming, + gou teng, + chuan niu xi, + dan shen, + tian ma, + du zhong, + sang ji sheng, + yi mu cao, + zhi ban xia, + chen pi, − gan cao, − chuan xiong
Tremors with insomnia, adding one or two of these: + wu wei zi, + bai zi ren, + he huan pi
Sallow complexion: + huang qi
Facial numbness: + huang qi, + ji xue teng, + di long
Aplastic anemia: + huang qi, + e jiao, − chuan xiong
Aplastic anemia with bleeding: + huang qi, + e jiao, + xian he cao, + ai ye, − chuan xiong
Aplastic anemia with fever: + huang qi, + e jiao, + jin yin hua, + chai hu, + huang qin, − chuan xiong
Aplastic anemia, severe Blood deficiency: + huang qi, + e jiao, + rou gui, + zi he che, − chuan xiong
Fibrocystic breast disease: + huang qi, + ji xue teng, + huang yao zi, + chen pi, + gua lou, − chuan xiong
Behcet's disease (combined with Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang)
Behcet's disease with bleeding (combined with Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang): + pu huang, + ou jie
Behcet's disease with poorer eyesight (combined with Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang): + gou qi zi, + nu zhen zi
Lung cancer: + tai zi shen, + sheng di huang, + huang qi, + shi chang pu, + er cha, + yan hu suo, − ren shen, − chuan xiong, − zhi gan cao
Hepatitis C: Qi and Blood deficiency with stasis: + san leng, + e zhu, + tao ren, + xiang fu, + shan zha, + lai fu zi, + shen qu
Hepatitis C: Qi and Blood deficiency with stasis plus Heat or Damp-Heat: + san leng, + e zhu, + tao ren, + xiang fu, + shan zha, + lai fu zi, + shen qu, + zhi zi, + huang lian
Hepatitis C: Qi and Blood deficiency with stasis and marked Phlegm: + san leng, + e zhu, + tao ren, + xiang fu, + shan zha, + lai fu zi, + shen qu, + zhi ban xia, + zhe bei mu
Hepatitis C: Qi and Blood deficiency with stasis, and Spleen-Kidney Yang deficiency: + san leng, + e zhu, + tao ren, + xiang fu, + shan zha, + lai fu zi, + shen qu
Dysphagia (combined with Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan): + chi shao, + zhì huáng qí, + yu jin, + bai hua she she cao, + xia ku cao, − fu ling, − zhi gan cao, − chuan xiong
Hypoglycemia: + dang shen, + long yan rou, + shan zhu yu, − ren shen
Hypoglycemia with cold limbs and copious clear urine: + dang shen, + long yan rou, + shan zhu yu, + lu rong, − ren shen
Hypoglycemia with marked palpitations or poor memory: + dang shen, + long yan rou, + shan zhu yu, + bai zi ren, + suan zao ren, − ren shen
Hypoglycemia, severe Qi deficiency: + dang shen, + long yan rou, + shan zhu yu, + huang qi, − ren shen
Hypoglycemia with spontaneous sweating: + dang shen, + long yan rou, + shan zhu yu, + wu wei zi, + wu mei, − ren shen
Hypoglycemia with restless insomnia: + fu shen, + dang shen, + long yan rou, + shan zhu yu, + ye jiao teng, − ren shen, − fu ling
Hypoglycemia with Food Stagnation: + dang shen, + long yan rou, + shan zhu yu, + shan zha, + shen qu, + mai ya, − ren shen
Abdominal masses, marked Qi deficiency (combined with Hua Ji Wan): + huang qi, + shan yao, + yi yi ren
Abdominal masses, Yin damaged (combined with Hua Ji Wan): + sheng di huang, + xuan shen, + mai men dong, + shi hu
Abdominal masses, Yin damaged (second variant): + gui zhi, − da zao
Meniere's disease from Qi and Blood deficiency, Heart Blood not markedly weak: + huang qi, + shi chang pu
Dyspnea and dysphagia: + dan shen, + xia ku cao, + wei ling xian
Gingivitis and periodontitis: + huai niu xi, + gu sui bu
Bleeding gums in gingivitis or periodontitis: + e jiao, + xue yu tan, + ou jie
Gingivitis or periodontitis with Yang and Spleen Qi deficiency: + mi zhi huang qi, + rou gui
Constipation: + dang gui, + huo ma ren, + feng mi, − fu ling
Abdominal pain in pregnancy after injury: Kidney deficiency, restless fetus: + du zhong, + ji xue teng, + xu duan, + gou jia, + bai shao
Abdominal pain in pregnancy after injury: Blood stagnation: + yu jin, + ru xiang, + mo yao, + su mu
Abdominal pain in pregnancy after injury: fetal movement: + ai ye, + xiang fu
Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy with slowed fetal growth: + ren shen, + huang qi
Spasms and convulsions: + gou teng, + tian ma
Convulsions and spasms, Liver Qi stagnant: + gou teng, + tian ma, + bai shao, + xiang fu, + mei gui hua
Eclampsia: + gou teng, + ju hua, + nu zhen zi
Gout and heel pain: + huai niu xi
Cold aversion from Yang deficiency, with gout and heel pain: + huai niu xi, + gui zhi, + wu zhu yu
Leg swelling from Spleen deficiency and Damp, with gout and heel pain: + huai niu xi, + zhu ling, + ze xie
Dizziness with gout and heel pain: + huai niu xi, + tian ma, + gou qi zi
Palpitations with gout and heel pain: + huai niu xi, + suan zao ren, + bai zi ren
Poor appetite with gout and heel pain: + huai niu xi, + sha ren, + mu xiang, + pei lan
Cervical cancer: + tu fu ling, + huang qi, + yan hu suo, + mu xiang, + sang ji sheng, + xu duan, + wu zhu yu, + ban zhi lian, + yi yi ren, − fu ling, − gan cao, − chuan xiong
TMJ disorder: + dang shen, + ji xue teng, − ren shen
TMJ disorder with painful, difficult jaw movement: + dang shen, + ji xue teng, + jiang can, − ren shen
TMJ disorder with marked weakness opening the mouth or in the limbs: + dang shen, + ji xue teng, + huang qi, + huang jiang, − ren shen
TMJ disorder with abdominal fullness and poor appetite: + dang shen, + ji xue teng, + hou po, + mai ya, + cang zhu, + sha ren, − ren shen
Leukopenia: + yu zhu, + gou qi zi, + sha ren, + ji xue teng, − fu ling, − bai shao, − chuan xiong, − da zao, − sheng jiang
Leukopenia with insomnia: + yu zhu, + gou qi zi, + sha ren, + ji xue teng, + bai zi ren, + bai he, − fu ling, − bai shao, − chuan xiong, − da zao, − sheng jiang
Leukopenia with restlessness and mild fever: + yu zhu, + gou qi zi, + sha ren, + ji xue teng, + mai men dong, + shi dao gong lao ye, − fu ling, − bai shao, − chuan xiong, − da zao, − sheng jiang
HIV/AIDS with wasting and weakness: + huang qi, + e jiao
Hip pain: + gan cao
Hip pain with cold limbs or aversion to Cold: + gan cao, + gui zhi, + wu zhu yu
Hip pain with swollen hips or legs: + gan cao, + zhu ling, + ze xie
Foot pain: + huai niu xi
Foot pain with cold limbs or aversion to Cold: + huai niu xi, + gui zhi, + wu zhu yu
Foot pain with swelling: + huai niu xi, + zhu ling, + ze xie
Foot pain with fatigue: + huai niu xi, + huang qi
Foot pain with insomnia: + huai niu xi, + yuan zhi, + dan shen
Foot pain with bleeding: + huai niu xi, + e jiao
Prematurely gray hair: + he shou wu, + sang shen, + mu xiang
HIV/AIDS abdominal masses: Qi deficiency, Qi and Blood stasis: + san leng, + e zhu, + xiang fu, + wu ling zhi, + bing lang
To harmonize the Stomach: + sheng jiang, + da zao
Fullness or slow digestion from the rich tonics: + sha ren, + chen pi

Cautions

contraindication Heat patterns and Excess patterns
contraindication Exterior conditions, and Heat, Damp or Food stagnation where no deficiency underlies them
caution The rich Blood tonics, Shu Di Huang above all, can weigh on a weak Spleen and cause bloating, poor appetite or loose stools; take care where there is Damp or poor digestion, and adjust the formula (often with aromatic Qi-moving herbs) rather than pressing on
pregnancy Chuan Xiong and Dang Gui move Blood, so use in pregnancy only with professional guidance

Preparation

Water decoction taken warm, usually cooked with Sheng Jiang and Da Zao; Dang Shen often stands in for Ren Shen, and granules or honey pills suit long-term use

Names

Pinyin	ba zhen tang
English Name	Eight Treasure Decoction

Classification

Category: Tonify the Qi and Blood