tao hong si wu tang

Four-Substance Decoction with Safflower and Peach Pit

About tao hong si wu tang

Tao Hong Si Wu Tang, Four-Substance Decoction with Safflower and Peach Pit, adds Tao Ren and Hong Hua to the Si Wu Tang base. The record credits it with breaking up Blood stagnation and regulating menstruation.

Ingredients

Herb	Amount
chuan xiong	3 g
dang gui	6 g
bai shao	6 g
shu di huang	6 g
tao ren	6 g
hong hua	3 g

Actions and indications

Tonifies and invigorates Blood

Blood deficiency and Blood stagnation together, or stagnation arising from deficient Blood
Palpitations, dizziness or vertigo, blurred vision, ringing in the ears and poor sleep
Pale, dull complexion with pale lips and nails; dry skin
Tongue pale with a normal coat; pulse thin and weak, or thin and choppy

Breaks up Blood stagnation and regulates menstruation

Short cycles with early periods; heavy bleeding of sticky, dark purple blood, with or without clots
Irregular periods with scanty flow, or absent periods; distention and pain may accompany menstruation
Atrophy (Wei) disorder from Blood stagnation

Alleviates pain

Abdominal pain, including fixed pain in the lower abdomen

Modern uses

Irregular, painful, distended periods
Dysmenorrhea
Amenorrhea
Scanty, late, early or prolonged menstruation
Menorrhagia
Endometriosis
Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease
Infertility
Premature ovarian failure, including prevention
Threatened miscarriage
Postpartum weakness and anemia
Premenstrual breast distention
Fibrocystic breast disease
Anemia
Cerebral infarction
Sequelae of stroke
Senile dementia
Migraine
Headache
Dizziness
Vertigo
Tinnitus
Insomnia
Trigeminal neuralgia
Post-herpetic neuralgia
Diabetic neuropathy
Polyneuritis and acute infectious multiple neuritis
Guillain-Barre disease
Acute myelitis
Multiple sclerosis
Myasthenia gravis
Progressive muscular dystrophy
Sequelae of poliomyelitis
Atrophy (Wei) syndrome
Facial paralysis
Hysterical paralysis
Periodic paralysis
Optic nerve atrophy
Optic neuritis
Cataract
Glaucoma
Hypertension
Coronary artery disease
Hyperlipidemia
Diabetes
Obesity
Emphysema
COPD
Asthmatic bronchitis
Bronchial asthma
Chronic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis
Sore throat
Urticaria
Eczema
Dermatitis
Acne
Rosacea
Chloasma
Psoriasis
Erythema nodosum
Dermatosclerosis
Scleroderma
Skin Bi
Keloid
Herpes zoster
Flat warts
Measles
Itching
Dry skin
Herniated lumbar disc
Low back pain
Wrist and hand pain
Gout
Bone fractures
Cirrhosis of the liver
Anicteric viral hepatitis
Hemorrhoids
Stomach cancer
AIDS/HIV
Abdominal pain
Palpitations
Weakness

Symptoms

Abdominal pain
Amenorrhea
Bleeding
Blurred vision
Dizziness
Dry skin
Dysmenorrhea
Early menstruation
Fixed pain
Insomnia
Irregular menstruation
Lower abdominal pain
Menstrual clots
Pale lips
Pale nails
Pallor
Palpitations
Scanty menstruation
Tinnitus

Modifications

Endometriosis; measles: + sheng di huang, + chi shao, + dang gui (wei), − shu di huang, − bai shao
Psoriasis: + chi shao, + san leng, + e zhu, + dan shen, + ji xue teng, + tu bie chong, + bai hua she she cao, − bai shao, − sheng di huang
Stagnation and Heat more evident: + mu dan pi, + zhi zi
Belly bloating and pain with periods: + xiang fu, + yan hu suo
Belly bloating and pain with periods (alternative): + jin yin hua, + pu gong ying, + lian qiao, + zi cao, + xuan shen, + ban lan gen
Psoriasis, broken skin and spots: + fu ling, + che qian zi, + bai xian pi, + yi yi ren
Psoriasis with sores, given in remission: + xuan shen, + sha shen, + mai men dong, + mu dan pi, + bai xian pi, + ku shen, + fang feng, + chan tui, + wu shao she, + quan xie
Psoriasis with sores, given in remission (alternative): + yi mu cao, + fang feng, + bai xian pi, + chan tui, + ku shen
Vascular headache: + gou teng, + bai ji li
Vascular headache (alternative): + gao ben, + bai zhi, + xi xin
More Blood stasis: + san leng, + e zhu
Optic nerve atrophy: + dan shen, + chang wei zi, + xia ku cao, + gan cao

Show all 145 modifications

Stroke and its complications: + huang qi, + di long, + huai niu xi, + gou teng
Stroke and its complications (alternative): + gou qi zi, + dan shen, + ren shen, + bai zhu, + ju hua
Cerebral infarction: + ge gen, + shui zhi, + huang qi
Tendon or ligament injury: + ji xue teng, + huai niu xi
Optic neuritis: + dan shen, + fu ling, + zhi ke, + tong cao, + gan cao
Amenorrhea: + yi mu cao, + ze lan, + zhi gan cao
Diabetic neuropathy: + huang qi, + dang shen, + huang jing, + gou qi zi
Bone fractures: + gu sui bu, + tu bie chong, + zi ran tong, + mu xiang
Diabetic neuropathy, irritable, thirsty, drinking and eating a lot: + huang qi, + dang shen, + huang jing, + gou qi zi, + xuan shen, + huang lian
Fractures with Heat: + gu sui bu, + xu duan, + zi ran tong, + tu bie chong, + mu xiang, + huang bai
Diabetic neuropathy, hot palms and soles: + huang qi, + dang shen, + huang jing, + gou qi zi, + di gu pi
Fractures with Cold: + cao wu, + gu sui bu, + xu duan, + zi ran tong, + tu bie chong, + mu xiang
Allergic rhinitis: + cang er zi, + huang qi, + fang feng, + xin yi hua
Arm fractures: + gu sui bu, + xu duan, + zi ran tong, + tu bie chong, + mu xiang, + sang zhi
Allergic rhinitis: blocked nose, much sneezing, runny watery discharge: + cang er zi, + huang qi, + fang feng, + xin yi hua, + ma huang, + xi xin
Leg fractures: + huai niu xi, + gu sui bu, + xu duan, + zi ran tong, + tu bie chong, + mu xiang
Allergic rhinitis, copious yellow mucus: + cang er zi, + huang qi, + fang feng, + xin yi hua, + huang qin, + mu dan pi
Cataract: + dan shen, + gou qi zi, + ju hua, + bai ji li, + chan tui, + ye ming sha, + qing xiang zi, + jue ming zi, + ci shi, + shen qu, + sang shen, + chen pi
Allergic rhinitis, weak Spleen, little appetite: + cang er zi, + huang qi, + fang feng, + xin yi hua, + fu ling, + shan yao, + bai bian dou
Allergic rhinitis, weak Kidneys: + cang er zi, + huang qi, + fang feng, + xin yi hua, + nu zhen zi, + wu wei zi
Glaucoma: + su mu, + qiang huo, + bu gu zhi, + hua shi, + jie geng, + zhi ke, + da huang, + gan cao
Allergic rhinitis, itching nose: + cang er zi, + huang qi, + fang feng, + xin yi hua, + jing jie, + chan tui
Urticaria: + jing jie, + he shou wu, + zao jiao zi, + chan tui
Itching: + he shou wu, + di fu zi, + bai xian pi, + bai ji li
Stubborn urticaria: + jiang can, + chan tui
Eczema: + dan shen, + chi shao, + mu dan pi
Chloasma: + gui zhi, + jiang can
Chloasma, painful periods: + gui zhi, + jiang can, + yan hu suo, + wu yao, + chuan lian zi
Chloasma, absent periods or nodules: + gui zhi, + jiang can, + san leng, + e zhu, + dan shen, + yi mu cao, + kun bu
Chloasma, heavy discharge: + gui zhi, + jiang can, + cang zhu, + bai zhu, + fu ling, + chun pi (fu chao)
Chloasma, irregular periods: + gui zhi, + jiang can, + chai hu, + xiang fu, + tu si zi, + gou qi zi
Chloasma, before menstruation: + jiang can, + chai hu, + mu dan pi, + huang qi, − tao ren, − hong hua
Chloasma, after menstruation: + chai hu, + pao jiang, + rou gui
Painful periods (taken together with Shi Xiao San)
Painful periods, Qi stagnation (taken together with Shi Xiao San): + chai hu, + qing pi, + xiang fu
Painful periods, Blood stasis and internal Cold (taken together with Shi Xiao San): + xiao hui xiang, + rou gui, + wu zhu yu
Painful periods, Blood stasis and internal Cold (taken together with Shi Xiao San) (alternative): + xiang fu, + yi mu cao, + mu xiang
Infertility: + xiang fu, + shui zhi, + lu lu tong, + dan shen, + san qi
Infertility, weak Kidneys: + xiang fu, + shui zhi, + lu lu tong, + dan shen, + san qi, + sang shen, + xu duan
Infertility, Damp and Phlegm: + xiang fu, + shui zhi, + lu lu tong, + dan shen, + san qi, + cang zhu, + chen pi, + zhi ban xia, − shu di huang
Infertility, Damp-Heat: + xiang fu, + shui zhi, + lu lu tong, + dan shen, + san qi, + huang bai, + yi yi ren, + tu fu ling, + pu gong ying, − shu di huang
Dermatitis from cosmetics: + fang feng, + pu gong ying, + zi hua di ding
Heavy menstrual flow: + yi mu cao, + xue yu tan, − dang gui, − chuan xiong
Spotting: + san qi, + tao ren
Uterine bleeding, stagnant Qi leading to stagnant Blood: + chai hu, + yu jin, + chuan lian zi
Uterine bleeding so prolonged it depletes Qi and Blood: + dang shen, + huang qi, + bai zhu
Painful periods, severe pain (taken together with Shi Xiao San): + chuan niu xi, + yan hu suo
Skin Bi: + huang qi, + dang shen, + dan shen, + ji xue teng, + di long, − bai shao
Obesity, stagnant Qi and Blood (taken together with Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang)
Irregular periods (taken together with Wu Yao Tang)
Scleroderma: + chi shao, + huang qi, + dan shen, + ji xue teng, + jin yin hua, + chuan shan jia, + di long, + tu bie chong, + gan cao, − bai shao
Prostatitis, Blood stagnant from Cold: + chi shao, + he shou wu, + shan zhu yu, + du zhong, + yin yang huo, + ba ji tian, + dan shen, − bai shao
Infertility, during the period itself: + chi shao, + ji xue teng, + he huan pi, + dang shen, + bai zhu, − shu di huang
Chronic rhinitis: + cang er zi, + xin yi hua
Preventing early ovarian failure (taken together with You Gui Wan and Xiao Yao San)
Acne, weak Qi: + huang qi, + ji xue teng
Acne around periods or from stagnant Liver Qi: + chai hu, + xiang fu
Coronary heart disease (taken together with Dan Shen Yin)
Coronary heart disease, worse Blood stasis (taken together with Dan Shen Yin): + ru xiang, + mo yao
Coronary heart disease, more Qi stagnation (taken together with Dan Shen Yin): + chuan lian zi, + xiang fu
Coronary heart disease, weak Qi (taken together with Dan Shen Yin): + huang qi, + dang shen
Coronary heart disease, weak Blood (taken together with Dan Shen Yin): + shu di huang
Coronary heart disease, forgetful and sleepless from weak Blood (taken together with Dan Shen Yin): + ye jiao teng, + bai zi ren
Coronary heart disease, heavy chest tightness (taken together with Dan Shen Yin): + jie geng, + zhi ke
Coronary heart disease, heart attack threatened (taken together with Dan Shen Yin): + xie bai, + xue jie, + san qi
Chest pain, Heart Qi and Blood stuck (taken together with Dan Shen Yin): + chi shao, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Chest pain, Heart Qi and Blood stuck, palpitations (taken together with Dan Shen Yin): + chi shao, + fu shen, + ye jiao teng, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Chest pain, Heart Qi and Blood stuck, arm pain (taken together with Dan Shen Yin): + chi shao, + bai zhi, + qiang huo, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Chest pain, Heart Qi and Blood stuck, low mood (taken together with Dan Shen Yin): + chi shao, + chai hu, + yu jin, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Chest pain, Heart Qi and Blood stuck, sleeplessness (taken together with Dan Shen Yin): + chi shao, + suan zao ren, + yu li ren, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Severe lower belly pain: + chuan jiao, + xiao hui xiang, + pu huang, + wu ling zhi
Stasis with clots: + san leng, + e zhu
Hot stasis, constipated: + da huang, + mang xiao
Long-standing stasis in the Luo vessels: + quan xie, + tu bie chong
Stomach cancer (taken together with Shi Xiao San): + yan hu suo, + e zhu, + lu feng fang, + chong lou, + ban zhi lian, − shu di huang
Stomach cancer, vomiting: + zhi ban xia, + zhu ru, + qiu kui, + ding xiang, + sheng jiang
Stomach cancer, vomiting (alternative): + pu huang, + wu ling zhi, + tao ren, + hong hua, + dang gui, + chi shao, + dan shen, + yan hu suo, + chuan lian zi, + wu yao, + san qi, + e zhu, + xian he cao, + hai piao xiao, + ce bai ye, + lu feng fang, + xue jie, + she tui, + chan pi
Stomach cancer, thirst: + shi hu, + huang jing, + tian hua fen, + mai men dong, + nan sha shen, + wu mei, + wu wei zi
Stomach cancer, pain: + chai hu, + mu xiang, + xiang fu, + bai shao, + mu bie zi, + bai qu cai
Stomach cancer, dry stool: + huo ma ren, + yu li ren, + da huang, + mang xiao, + gua lou, + rou cong rong, + yáng tí
Stomach cancer, excess saliva: + zhi ban xia, + gan jiang, + fu shi
Stomach cancer, bloody stool: + xian he cao, + san qi, + huai hua mi, + zong lu pi (tan)
Stomach cancer, bloated belly: + bing lang, + hou po, + zhi ke, + bing lang tan, + lai fu zi
Stomach cancer, anemia: + dang gui, + ji xue teng, + e jiao, + dan shen, + jing tian san qi, + zi he che
Stomach cancer, loose stool: + zhi yi yi ren, + bai zhu, + cang zhu, + er cha, + shan yao, + he zi
Stomach cancer, vomiting blood (taken together with Yunnan Bai Yao): + san qi, + xian he cao, + xue yu tan, + ou jie, + mo han lian
Hematuria: + sheng di huang, + san qi, + hu po, + bai mao gen, − shu di huang
Heavy blood in the urine: + sheng di huang, + san qi, + hu po, + bai mao gen, + ce bai ye, + xiao ji, − shu di huang
Blood in urine, stasis from Heat: + sheng di huang, + san qi, + hu po, + bai mao gen, + qian cao gen, + chi shao, + mu dan pi, − shu di huang
Blood in urine, stasis from stuck Qi: + sheng di huang, + san qi, + hu po, + bai mao gen, + yan hu suo, + chuan lian zi, − shu di huang
Blood in urine, stasis from Cold: + sheng di huang, + san qi, + hu po, + bai mao gen, + pao jiang, + ai ye, − shu di huang
Blood in urine, stasis from weak Qi: + sheng di huang, + san qi, + hu po, + bai mao gen, + dang shen, + huang qi, − shu di huang
Blood in urine, stasis, genital or scrotal pain: + sheng di huang, + san qi, + hu po, + bai mao gen, + pu huang, + wu ling zhi, − shu di huang
Trigeminal neuralgia (taken together with Zhi Jing San): + chi shao, + di long, + mu dan pi, + jiang can, − shu di huang, − bai shao
Trigeminal neuralgia, very painful (taken together with Zhi Jing San): + chi shao, + di long, + mu dan pi, + jiang can, + bing pian, − shu di huang, − bai shao
Dementia of old age, irritable: + huang lian, + zhi zi
Dementia of old age, drooling, sticky coat: + zhi tian nan xing, + bai jie zi, + gua lou
Dementia of old age, breathless, dull Shen: + huang qi, + ren shen
Dementia of old age, cold limbs, dislikes cold: + zhi fu zi, + rou gui
Elbow pain: + chi shao, + sheng di huang, + jiang huang, + gui zhi, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Lumbar disc herniation, irregular periods: + xu duan, + xiang fu, + chai hu
Lumbar disc herniation, irregular periods, weak Kidneys: + xu duan, + xiang fu, + chai hu, + wu jia pi, + sang ji sheng, + gou ji
Lumbar disc herniation, irregular periods, weak Spleen: + xu duan, + xiang fu, + chai hu, + bai zhu, + fu ling
Lumbar disc herniation, persistent leg pain: + xu duan, + xiang fu, + chai hu, + tu bie chong, + wu shao she, + wu gong
Scanty menstruation: + chen pi, + xiang fu, + fo shou
Infertility, Liver Qi and Blood stuck: + chi shao, + e zhu, + yan hu suo, + wu yao, + xiang fu, + dan shen, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Infertility, Liver Qi and Blood stuck, belly pain relieved by warmth: + chi shao, + e zhu, + yan hu suo, + wu yao, + xiang fu, + dan shen, + xiao hui xiang, + ai ye, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Infertility, Liver Qi and Blood stuck, tubes blocked: + chi shao, + e zhu, + yan hu suo, + wu yao, + xiang fu, + dan shen, + zao jia ci, + wang bu liu xing, + wa leng zi, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Infertility, Liver Qi and Blood stuck, pelvic inflammation, lumps felt low in the belly, recurring pain: + chi shao, + e zhu, + yan hu suo, + wu yao, + xiang fu, + dan shen, + ji xue teng, + lian qiao, + san leng, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Injury-related lower back pain: + xu duan, + yan hu suo, − shu di huang
Injury-related lower back pain, irregular periods: + xu duan, + xiang fu, + chai hu
Endometriosis, mainly Blood stasis, severe lower belly pain: + hu jiao, + xiao hui xiang, + wu ling zhi, + pu huang
Endometriosis, mainly Blood stasis, clotted menses: + san leng, + e zhu
Endometriosis, mainly Blood stasis, stuck Heat, constipated: + da huang, + mang xiao
Long-standing endometriosis, stasis reaching the Luo vessels: + quan xie, + tu bie chong
Painful periods, mainly Blood stasis: + yan hu suo, + xiang fu, + wu yao, + mu xiang
Gout and palmar pain: + sheng di huang, + chi shao, + qiang huo, + jiang huang, + yan hu suo, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Swollen breasts before periods, Liver Qi and Blood stuck (taken together with Jia Wei Xiao Yao San): + qing pi, + yan hu suo, + yu jin
Viral hepatitis without jaundice, stuck Qi and Blood: + dan shen, + bie jia, + wang bu liu xing, + wa leng zi, + e zhu, + ji xue teng, + xiang fu, + fo shou, + zhi gan cao, − shu di huang
Hepatitis B: + sheng di huang, + hu zhang, − shu di huang
Coronary heart disease (taken together with Dan Shen Yin) (another option): + chi shao, + chen pi, + wu yao, + jiang xiang, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Coronary heart disease, mainly Qi stagnation (taken together with Dan Shen Yin): + chi shao, + chen pi, + wu yao, + jiang xiang, + chuan lian zi, + xiang fu, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Coronary heart disease, mainly Blood stasis (taken together with Dan Shen Yin): + chi shao, + chen pi, + wu yao, + jiang xiang, + pu huang, + wu ling zhi, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Heavy periods from stasis: + wu ling zhi, + pu huang, + qian cao gen, + xiao ji, + san qi, − chuan xiong
Heavy periods from stasis (alternative: taken together with Dan Shen Yin): + chi shao, + chen pi, + wu yao, + jiang xiang, + ru xiang, + mo yao, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Heavy periods from stasis, very bloated belly: + wu ling zhi, + pu huang, + qian cao gen, + xiao ji, + san qi, + chuan lian zi, + xiang fu, − chuan xiong
Heavy periods from stasis, bitter dry mouth or copious red bleeding: + wu ling zhi, + pu huang, + qian cao gen, + xiao ji, + san qi, + xian he cao, + di yu, − chuan xiong
Sore throat: + chi shao, + chai hu, + zhi ke, + jie geng, + xuan shen, − chuan xiong, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Sore throat, much Phlegm: + chi shao, + chai hu, + zhi ke, + jie geng, + xuan shen, + chuan bei mu, + gua lou, − chuan xiong, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Sore throat, chest pain at night: + chi shao, + chai hu, + zhi ke, + jie geng, + yan hu suo, + dan shen, − chuan xiong, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Sore throat, hard to swallow: + chi shao, + chai hu, + zhi ke, + jie geng, + xuan shen, + niu bang zi, + wei ling xian, − chuan xiong, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Sore throat after past throat surgery: + chi shao, + chai hu, + zhi ke, + jie geng, + xuan shen, + shui zhi, + xian he cao, − chuan xiong, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Sore throat in people with cancer: + chi shao, + chai hu, + zhi ke, + jie geng, + xuan shen, + ban zhi lian, + bai hua she she cao, − chuan xiong, − bai shao, − shu di huang

Cautions

pregnancy Not to be used in pregnancy
caution Weak digestion
caution Anemia with coldness
caution Menstrual disorders that rest on deficient Qi and Blood
caution Stop once the intended effect is reached, to avoid heavy bleeding

Names

Pinyin	tao hong si wu tang
English Name	Four-Substance Decoction with Safflower and Peach Pit