Wen Dan Tang, Warm the Gallbladder Decoction, adds Zhu Ru and Zhi Shi to the Er Chen Tang base. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that clear Heat and transform Phlegm.

Herb

Amount

6 g

6 g

6 g

9 g

4.5 g

3 g

3 g

Actions and indications

Clears Heat and transforms Phlegm

Phlegm-Heat harassing the Gallbladder and Heart, with rebellious Stomach Qi
Phlegm-Fire disturbing the Heart; Gallbladder deficiency with Heat; Damp-Heat of the Gallbladder at the Qi level
Copious white frothy phlegm, or yellow phlegm
Seizures with much phlegm
Alternating chills and fever
Frequent, scanty, dark urine; slight thirst
Tongue pink or red at the tip, with a greasy yellow coat; pulse slippery and rapid, or wiry and rapid

Harmonizes the Stomach and directs rebellious Qi downward

Nausea and vomiting with a bitter taste and sour regurgitation
Stuffy, focally distended chest and epigastrium; distended abdomen
Gnawing, hard-to-describe hunger
Poor appetite after a serious illness

Regulates Qi and calms the Shen

Poor sleep with frequent waking and vivid or strange dreams
Palpitations and anxiety in someone timid, indecisive and easily startled
Restlessness, irritability and low mood
Dizziness or vertigo with a muddled, heavy head
Flushing upward

Modern uses

Chronic gastritis
Peptic ulcer
Gastralgia
Gastroptosis
Acid reflux
Indigestion
Anorexia
Abdominal fullness and distention
Nausea and vomiting
Morning sickness
Irritable bowel syndrome
Dysentery
Chronic hepatitis
Cholecystitis
Chronic pancreatitis
Neurosis
Neurasthenia
Anxiety
Anxiety neurosis
Depression
Melancholia
Hysteria
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia
Early stages of schizophrenia
Psychosis
Reactive psychosis
Involutional psychosis
Insanity
Senile dementia
Timidity
Insomnia
Severe insomnia
Hyperthyroidism with insomnia
Autonomic dystonia
Palpitations from vegetative nervous dysfunction
Epilepsy
Stroke
Post-stroke paralysis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Migraine
Meniere's disease
Vestibular neuritis with dizziness
Labyrinthitis
Dizziness
Vertigo
Tinnitus
Deafness
Otitis media
Otitis externa
Otorrhea
Ear pain
Glaucoma
Hypertension
Coronary heart disease
Angina
Myocarditis
Pericarditis
Cardiac arrhythmia
Premature atrial contractions
Palpitations
Chronic bronchitis
Acute or chronic tracheitis
Pulmonary emphysema
COPD
Asthma
Pneumonia
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic foot
Nephropathy
Polyuria
Oliguria
Menopause syndrome
Male menopause
Impotence
Vaginal discharge
Alopecia
Fever
AIDS/HIV
Side effects of chemotherapy
Organophosphorus poisoning

Symptoms

Abdominal distention

Acid regurgitation

Anxiety

Bitter taste in the mouth

Chest fullness

Chest oppression

Chills

Convulsions

Copious sputum

Dark urine

Depression

Dizziness

Dream-disturbed sleep

Easily startled

Epigastric distention

Fever

Flushed face

Frequent urination

Gnawing hunger

Heavy head

Indecisiveness

Insomnia

Irritability

Nausea

Palpitations

Poor appetite

Restlessness

Scanty urination

Thin white sputum

Thirst

Timidity

Vomiting

Yellow sputum

Modifications

Severe vertigo: + bai shao, + dai zhe shi, + huang qin

Insomnia: + suan zao ren, + mu li, + hu po

Tinnitus and hearing loss from Damp-Heat lodged in the Gallbladder: + chai hu, + gou teng, + ju hua, + shi chang pu, + tong cao

Severe insomnia from deficiency of the Heart and Gallbladder: + ren shen, + shi gao, + mai men dong, + long yan rou, + suan zao ren

Summerheat with Dampness: + qing hao, + huang qin

Bitter taste with irritability: + huang lian

To settle the Heart and calm the Shen: + suan zao ren, + yuan zhi

To nourish Yin and subdue Yang: + long gu, + mu li

Dry mouth and tongue: + mai men dong, + tian hua fen, + wu wei zi, − zhi ban xia

Painful urination with dark yellow urine: + yin chen hao, + tong cao

Vomiting: + zi su ye, + huang lian

Nausea and vomiting with a stifling chest: + huo xiang, + shi chang pu

Show all 112 modifications

Irritability from Heat below: + zhi zi
Insomnia from excessive worry (combined with Xiao Yao San)
Insomnia with depression (combined with Yue Ju Wan)
Insomnia from fear and fright: + suan zao ren
Palpitations: + yuan zhi, + shi chang pu, + ju hong, − chen pi
Epilepsy: + yu jin, + shi chang pu
Epilepsy with convulsions: + dan nan xing, + gou teng, + quan xie
Hard of hearing, from Damp-Heat invading the Gallbladder channel: + chai hu, + huang qin, + shi chang pu, + tong cao
Dizziness and vertigo: + ju hua, + huang qin
Cardiac arrhythmia with palpitations (combined with Ding Zhi Wan): + fu shen, + hu po, + yu jin, + niu huang, − fu ling
Anxiety: + suan zao ren, + yuan zhi, + long gu, + mu li
Insomnia from Gallbladder deficiency with Heat: + suan zao ren, + yuan zhi, + long gu, + mu li
Coronary heart disease: + zhi ke, + gua lou, + dan shen, + yu jin, + bai dou kou, − zhi shi, − zhi gan cao, − da zao, − sheng jiang
Phlegm-Heat in coronary heart disease: + zhi ke, + gua lou, + dan shen, + yu jin, + bai dou kou, + huang lian, + dan nan xing, + tian zhu huang, − zhi shi, − zhi gan cao, − da zao, − sheng jiang
Coronary heart disease with cold limbs, dislike of cold and clear phlegm: + zhi ke, + gua lou, + dan shen, + yu jin, + bai dou kou, + xie bai, + gan jiang, + xi xin, − zhi shi, − zhi gan cao, − da zao, − sheng jiang, − zhu ru
Coronary heart disease with stabbing chest pain: + zhi ke, + gua lou, + dan shen, + yu jin, + bai dou kou, + chuan xiong, + san qi, + jiang xiang, + bai zhu, + dang shen, + huang qi, − zhi shi, − zhi gan cao, − da zao, − sheng jiang
Constipation in coronary heart disease: + zhi ke, + gua lou, + dan shen, + yu jin, + bai dou kou, + da huang, − zhi shi, − zhi gan cao, − da zao, − sheng jiang
Chest pain (combined with Su He Xiang Wan): + hou po, + yuan zhi, + shi chang pu, + bai zhu
Chest pain with deficient Yang in the chest (combined with Su He Xiang Wan): + hou po, + yuan zhi, + shi chang pu, + bai zhu, + gui zhi, + xie bai
Chest pain with Spleen Yang deficiency (combined with Su He Xiang Wan): + hou po, + yuan zhi, + shi chang pu, + bai zhu, + dang shen
Chest pain with edema (combined with Su He Xiang Wan): + hou po, + yuan zhi, + shi chang pu, + bai zhu, + ze xie, + wu yao, + da fu pi
Irritability, tinnitus and headache in Meniere's syndrome: + zhi zi, + huang qin
Poor sleep and heavy dreaming in Meniere's syndrome: + da zao, + yuan zhi
Acid reflux and belching in Meniere's syndrome: + chai hu, + yu jin
Poor digestion in Meniere's syndrome: + shen qu, + shan zha
Severe vertigo and dizziness in Meniere's syndrome: + tian ma, + dai zhe shi
An exterior condition in Meniere's syndrome: + huo xiang, + jing jie
Heavy Phlegm and Damp in Meniere's syndrome: + zhi tian nan xing, + shi chang pu
Stomach Cold in Meniere's syndrome: + gan jiang, − sheng jiang
Dizziness in Meniere's syndrome: + du huo, + tian ma
Vomiting and nausea in Meniere's syndrome: + dai zhe shi, + zhu ru, + du huo
Severe ringing in the ears in Meniere's syndrome: + du huo, + cong bai
Vertigo accompanied by vomiting and nausea: + xuan fu hua, + dai zhe shi
Severe vomiting and nausea in Meniere's syndrome: + cang zhu, + zhi zi, + gou teng, + long dan cao, − fu ling
Vertigo with headache: + chuan xiong, + man jing zi
Vertigo with insomnia: + suan zao ren, + he huan pi
Vertigo with tinnitus: + shi chang pu, + ju hua
Vertigo with high blood pressure: + gou teng, + shi jue ming, + huai niu xi
Vertigo and a bitter mouth: + long dan cao, + huang qin
Vertigo with sore, weak low back and knees: + du zhong
Epigastric pain, Damp outweighing Heat: + cang zhu, + pei lan
Manic depression: + mu li, + zhen zhu mu, + mai men dong
Epigastric pain, Heat outweighing Damp: + lian qiao, + pu gong ying, + zhe bei mu
Impotence: + tu fu ling, + wu gong, + she chuang zi
Epigastric pain where Damp-Heat has damaged Qi and Yin: + tai zi shen, + sha shen
Acid reflux accompanying epigastric pain: + wu zhu yu, + huang lian
Declining eyesight: + dan nan xing, + che qian zi, + chong wei zi, + huang lian
Blood stasis causing epigastric pain: + dan shen, + shan zha tan
Senile dementia: + huang lian, + shi chang pu, + yu jin, + qing meng shi, + yuan zhi
Stroke: + san qi, + huang qi, + di long
Stroke, with Shi Chang Pu as an alternative addition: + shi chang pu
Senile dementia with constipation: + huang lian, + shi chang pu, + yu jin, + qing meng shi, + yuan zhi, + da huang
Depressive psychosis: + shi chang pu, + yuan zhi
Senile dementia with headache: + huang lian, + shi chang pu, + yu jin, + qing meng shi, + yuan zhi, + shi jue ming, + ju hua, + gou teng
ALS: + zhi tian nan xing
ALS, Spleen Qi deficient: + zhi tian nan xing, + bai zhu, + dang shen
Nausea and vomiting: + suan zao ren, + yuan zhi, + mu li, + long gu
ALS, Kidney Qi deficient: + zhi tian nan xing, + gui zhi
Pronounced Heat: + huang lian
ALS, Liver Qi stagnant: + zhi tian nan xing, + chai hu, + bai shao
Insomnia with palpitations: + suan zao ren, + huang lian
Mental or nervous symptoms: + ming fan, + yu jin, + shi chang pu
ALS with yellow phlegm: + zhi tian nan xing, + huang lian, + huang qin, + zhe bei mu
Neurasthenia: + chi fu ling, + huang lian, + long gu, − fu ling
Stubborn cases: + yuan zhi
Stroke in an obese patient: + dan nan xing, + ren shen, + shi chang pu
Palpitations, anxiety neurosis or schizophrenia with severe Heat: + suan zao ren, + yuan zhi, + huang lian
Hysteria, neurasthenia or psychosis: + chai hu, + huang qin
Palpitations, anxiety neurosis or schizophrenia: + suan zao ren, + yuan zhi
Severe palpitations, panic attacks, or being easily startled: + suan zao ren, + yuan zhi, + zhen zhu mu, + long chi, + mu li
Palpitations, anxiety neurosis or schizophrenia with heavy Phlegm: + suan zao ren, + yuan zhi, + tian zhu huang, + zhu li, + dan nan xing
Palpitations, anxiety neurosis or schizophrenia with constipation: + suan zao ren, + yuan zhi, + da huang, + gua lou ren
Palpitations, anxiety neurosis or schizophrenia with food stagnation and poor digestion: + suan zao ren, + yuan zhi, + jian shen qu, + chao mai ya, + chao lai fu zi
Tinnitus: + huang qin, + chai hu, + huang lian, + shi chang pu, + tong cao, − zhi gan cao, − da zao
Schizophrenia with Qi stagnation turning to Heat, insomnia and fearfulness: + huang lian
Tinnitus with pus discharging from the ear: + huang qin, + chai hu, + huang lian, + shi chang pu, + tong cao, + da qing ye, + ban lan gen, − zhi gan cao, − da zao
Tinnitus from Liver Fire or rising Liver Yang, choosing one or two of Gou Teng, Shi Jue Ming, Ci Shi and Ju Hua: + huang qin, + chai hu, + huang lian, + shi chang pu, + tong cao, + gou teng, + shi jue ming, + ci shi, + ju hua, − zhi gan cao, − da zao
Neurosis, sleeplessness, chronic gastritis or peptic ulcer with palpitations, panic attacks or being easily startled: + ye jiao teng, + suan zao ren, + zhi zi, + huang lian, + yuan zhi, + zhen zhu mu, + duan long gu, − zhi shi
Neurosis, sleeplessness, chronic gastritis or peptic ulcer: + ye jiao teng, + suan zao ren, + zhi zi, + huang lian, + yuan zhi, − zhi shi
Neurosis, sleeplessness, chronic gastritis or peptic ulcer, Phlegm-Heat severe: + ye jiao teng, + suan zao ren, + zhi zi, + huang lian, + yuan zhi, + tian zhu huang, + zhu li, + dan nan xing, + da huang, + gua lou ren, − zhi shi
Neurosis, sleeplessness, chronic gastritis or peptic ulcer, with food stagnation or clear digestive upset: + ye jiao teng, + suan zao ren, + zhi zi, + huang lian, + yuan zhi, + jiao shen qu, + jiao shan zha, + chao mai ya, + chao lai fu zi, − zhi shi
Acid reflux: + huang lian, + wu zhu yu
Poor appetite with severe Phlegm-Heat: + tian zhu huang, + zhu li, + dan nan xing
Poor appetite with constipation: + da huang, + gua lou ren
Dizziness and vertigo from Phlegm-Heat: + shi chang pu, + huang qin, + huang lian, + tian zhu huang, − da zao
Poor appetite with food stagnation, belching or acid reflux, choosing two or three of the added herbs: + jiao shen qu, + jiao shan zha, + chao mai ya, + chao lai fu zi
Palpitations with severe Heat: + ju hong, + jiu chao huang qin, + jiu chao huang lian, − chen pi
Stomach Heat in peptic ulcer: + sheng di huang, + huang lian, + mu dan pi
Severe palpitations with insomnia: + ju hong, + chao suan zao ren, + bai zi ren, + mu li, + long gu, − chen pi
Peptic ulcer with stronger Stomach Heat, possibly vomiting blood: + sheng di huang, + huang lian, + mu dan pi, + zhi zi
Peptic ulcer with stabbing Stomach pain: + sheng di huang, + huang lian, + mu dan pi, + dan shen, + chi shao
Peptic ulcer with severe sour regurgitation: + sheng di huang, + huang lian, + mu dan pi, + hai piao xiao, + wa leng zi
Severe thirst in peptic ulcer: + sheng di huang, + huang lian, + mu dan pi, + lu gen, + tian hua fen
Diabetes with stagnation affecting the brain: + yu jin, + shi chang pu
Diabetes with stagnation affecting the Heart: + gua lou, + ge gen
Diabetes with stagnation in the shoulders and back: + jiang huang, + gui zhi
Stagnation affecting the legs in diabetes: + huai niu xi
Diabetes with Qi deficiency: + huang qi, + tai zi shen
Diabetes with Qi stagnation: + chen pi, + zhi ke, + mu xiang
Liver Qi stagnation in diabetes: + chai hu, + xiang fu

Cautions

contraindication Insomnia or palpitations from deficiency of Blood or Yin, or dizziness from Yin deficiency; it suits an excess Phlegm-Heat picture and can deepen a deficiency

caution Avoid when the tongue coat is thin or missing, or the pulse is thin rather than slippery, since these point to deficiency

pregnancy Ban Xia is traditionally used with caution during pregnancy

caution Meant for its specific pattern; not for general or long-term use without supervision

Pinyin

wen dan tang

English Name

Warm the Gallbladder Decoction

wen dan tang

About wen dan tang

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Clears Heat and transforms Phlegm

Harmonizes the Stomach and directs rebellious Qi downward

Regulates Qi and calms the Shen

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification

Support