Zhou Che Wan, Vessel and Vehicle Pill, is Gan Sui, Yuan Hua, Jing Da Ji, Qian Niu Zi, Da Huang, Qing Pi, Chen Pi, Bing Lang, Mu Xiang and Qing Fen. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that drive out excess water.

Herb

Amount

30 g

30 g

30 g

120 g

60 g

15 g

15 g

15 g

15 g

3 g

Actions and indications

Drastically expels water

Excess accumulation of water and Heat with Qi stagnation, only in a strong, robust patient
Marked oedema or ascites with a hard, tense, distended abdomen
Laboured breathing or difficulty lying flat as fluid presses upward
Thirst, often without much wish to drink; scanty dark urine, painful urination or no urine; constipation
Tongue red with a slippery coat; pulse deep, forceful and rapid

Moves Qi and purges Heat accumulation

Severe, generalised water-Heat build-up with pronounced Qi stagnation

Modern uses

Ascites
Ascites from liver cirrhosis
Cirrhosis of the liver
Liver cirrhosis from alcohol
Fluid retention in cardiac or renal disease
Chronic hepatitis
Oedema
Obesity
Schistosomiasis
Uremia

Cautions

pregnancy Contraindicated in pregnancy: its drastic purgatives are toxic, as is the mercury compound in the classical version

contraindication Contraindicated in weak, elderly, debilitated or deficient patients; reserved for strong excess constitutions

contraindication Unsuitable for oedema that is long-standing or due to deficiency

caution Highly toxic overall; its harsh purging herbs (Gan Sui, Yuan Hua, Jing Da Ji, Qian Niu Zi) mean it is given only with close professional supervision

caution The classical version holds Qing Fen (calomel), a toxic mercury compound whose safety depends on strict processing and very small amounts

caution Give once only; repeat, at a lower amount, only if the patient improves and stays strong, and stop once the acute excess resolves

caution Da Ji here is Jing Da Ji (Peking spurge root), not the non-toxic thistle also called Da Ji

caution Do not combine with Gan Cao, which clashes with several herbs in it

Pinyin

zhou che wan

English Name

Vessel and Vehicle Pill

zhou che wan

About zhou che wan

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Drastically expels water

Moves Qi and purges Heat accumulation

Modern uses

Symptoms

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification