Da Huang Fu Zi Tang, Rhubarb and Prepared Aconite Decoction, is Zhi Fu Zi, Da Huang and Xi Xin. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that warm Yang and guide out accumulation, and records it as warming the interior, dispersing Cold and unblocking the bowels by warm purgation.

Herb

Amount

zhi fu zi

6 g

da huang

9 g

xi xin

6 g

Actions and indications

Warms the interior and disperses Cold

Cold accumulating and clumping in the interior, blocking the bowels and the flow of Yang Qi; also listed for combined Shao Yang and Yang Ming disorder
Chills, cold hands and feet and dislike of cold, sometimes with a low fever that reflects Qi struggling against the blockage rather than true Heat
Tongue with a greasy white coat; pulse deep, tight and wiry

Unblocks the bowels by warm purgation

Constipation with abdominal pain, often worse for pressure

Relieves pain

One-sided pain of the abdomen and flank, reaching up to the armpit
Stiffness and cramping beside and below the navel
Waist and leg pain

Modern uses

Chronic dysentery
Bacillary dysentery
Ulcerative colitis
Chronic colitis
Enteritis
Uncomplicated appendicitis
Uncomplicated or partial intestinal obstruction
Intestinal colic
Intestinal spasms
Gastric spasms
Abdominal pain
Constipation
Hernia
Cholelithiasis
Biliary colic
Chronic pancreatitis
Uremia
Chronic renal failure
Cold-pattern constipation with chronic kidney disease
Pyelonephritis
Renal calculi
Polyuria
Orchitis
Chronic pelvic inflammation
Hypertension
Phlebitis
Periarthritis of the shoulder
Lumbar disc disease
Sciatica
Intercostal neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia
Migraine
Keratitis
Conjunctivitis
Sties
Tonsillitis
Purulent gingivitis
Urticaria
Drug allergy dermatitis
Eczema
Fever

Modifications

Severe abdominal pain eased by warmth: + gui zhi, + bai shao

Marked distention with a thick, grimy tongue coat: + zhi shi, + shen qu

Abdominal fullness and distention with a greasy coat: + hou po, + mu xiang

General weakness or mild accumulation: + zhi da huang, − da huang

Cold hernia-type pain or colicky flank pain: + rou gui, + xiao hui xiang

Weak constitution: + dang shen, + dang gui

Qi deficiency: + dang shen, + huang qi

Yang deficiency of Spleen and Stomach: + ren shen, + gan cao

Elderly or weak patients: + zhi da huang, + gui zhi, − da huang

Severe pain: + rou gui

Marked stagnation with gas and a turbid, greasy coat: + mu xiang, + bing lang

Chronic colitis, Cold-Damp: + xiao hui xiang, + gan jiang, + wu yao

Show all 18 modifications

Chronic colitis, Damp-Heat: + huang lian, + bai tou weng
Chronic colitis, Yang deficiency of Spleen and Kidney: + rou cong rong, + ba ji tian, + bu gu zhi
Chronic colitis, Liver excess with Spleen deficiency: + chai hu, + xiang fu, + he huan pi, + chao bai zhu
Chronic renal failure: + yi mu cao, + duan mu li
Uremia: + yi mu cao, + mang xiao
Uremia with marked edema: + yi mu cao, + mang xiao, + che qian zi, + bai mao gen

Cautions

contraindication Excess Heat in the interior

contraindication Deficiency Cold

contraindication Not for Yang Ming Heat-excess constipation with high fever, thirst and a red tongue with dry yellow coat

caution Fu Zi is toxic: use only properly processed Fu Zi, never the raw root, cooked on its own and longer than the other herbs; sourcing, dosing and preparation belong with a trained practitioner, not self-treatment

caution A bowel movement after taking it is a good sign; vomiting, worsening chills or a thin pulse mean the condition is getting worse and needs urgent attention

pregnancy Contraindicated in pregnancy: Fu Zi, Da Huang and the strong purging action are all unsafe

Pinyin

da huang fu zi tang

English Name

Rhubarb and Prepared Aconite Decoction

da huang fu zi tang

About da huang fu zi tang

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Warms the interior and disperses Cold

Unblocks the bowels by warm purgation

Relieves pain

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification