Ai Fu Nuan Gong Wan
Star艾附暖宫丸 (Mugwort and Cyperus Pill for Warming the Womb)
Source: Ren Zhai Zhi Zhi — Yang Tu-Ying (1264)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Ai Fu Nuan Gong Wan (Mugwort and Cyperus Pill for Warming the Womb), from the Ren Zhai Zhi Zhi (Straight Directions of Benevolent Aid) by Yang Tu-Ying.
Actions: Warms the uterus and the channels; Nourishes the blood and activates blood circulation.
Presentation: Deficiency and cold of the uterus: leukorrhea, sallow and yellowish facial complexion, painful limbs, lethargy, low energy, decreased food intake, irregular menstruation, occasional lower abdominal pain, and infertility.
Cautions:
- Source text advises avoiding raw or cold foods while taking it
- Patients should control emotions and avoid anger or irritation
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 923.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ai Ye
large leaves without twigs; as printed: Ai Ye (Folium Artemisiae Argyi) 90g [6g]
|
6g | 9.38% | Jun (Chief) | warms the channels, dispels cold, relieves pain |
|
Xiang Fu
zhu (boiled) with vinegar, dao (pounded) into paste, and bei (stone baked) till dry in low heat; as printed: Xiang Fu (Rhizoma Cyperi) 180g [12g]
|
12g | 18.75% | Jun (Chief) | regulates qi and relieves menstrual pain |
|
Wu Zhu Yu
without twigs; as printed: Wu Zhu Yu (Fructus Evodiae) 90g [6g]
|
6g | 9.38% | warms the channels, dispels cold, activates blood | |
|
Rou Gui
as printed: Rou Gui (Cortex Cinnamomi) 15g [5g]
|
5g | 7.81% | warms the channels, dispels cold, activates blood | |
|
Huang Qi
as printed: Huang Qi (Radix Astragali) 90g [6g]
|
6g | 9.38% | tonifies qi and lifts yang | |
|
Dang Gui
xi (washed) with liquor; as printed: Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) 90g [6g]
|
6g | 9.38% | regulates menstruation by activating and nourishing blood | |
|
Chuan Xiong
as printed: Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong) 90g [6g]
|
6g | 9.38% | regulates menstruation by activating and nourishing blood | |
|
Bai Shao
chao (dry-fried) with liquor; as printed: Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) 90g [6g]
|
6g | 9.38% | regulates menstruation by activating and nourishing blood | |
|
Xu Duan
as printed: Xu Duan (Radix Dipsaci) 45g [5g]
|
5g | 7.81% | stops bleeding | |
|
Sheng Di Huang
xi (washed) with liquor and bei (stone baked) till dry; as printed: Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae) 30g [6g]
|
6g | 9.38% | nourishes yin and promotes body fluids |
Dui Yao — Core Herb Pairs
The classical two-herb combinations at the heart of this formula, as recorded on the herbs' own pages — each pair has an action neither herb has alone.
Energetics dose-weighted
The formula's overall nature, taste balance and channel reach, weighted by each herb's dose. Classical formulas often pair warm and cool herbs on purpose, so a net figure summarises the mix — it doesn't describe every herb in it.
Nature
Net slightly warm (+0.52)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 9%, cool 9%, neutral 19%, warm 45%, hot 17%.
Small but decisive: Wu Zhu Yu 6g (hot, 9% of the grams), Rou Gui 5g (hot, 8% of the grams), Sheng Di Huang 6g (cold, 9% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 36%
- sweet 32%
- sour 5%
- bitter 28%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Liver 91%
- Spleen 73%
- Kidney 44%
- Heart 27%
- Lung 19%
- Stomach 9%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
Dose-weighted from each herb's recorded nature, taste and channels (missing values are left out, never counted as neutral). It describes the composition — it is not a recommendation.
Preparation
Source text: fine powder formed into small pills with rice vinegar (size of Wu Tong Zi, about 5 mm); take 50-70 pills [6g] between meals with water plus a little vinegar. Today may be decocted with the bracketed doses.
Relationships
Full-screen graph →Click a node for details · double-click to expand it · Ctrl/⌘ + scroll or two fingers to zoom and pan.
Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang + Ai Ye, Xiang Fu, Bai Shao, Chuan Xiong, Rou Gui, Sheng Di Huang, Wu Zhu Yu and Xu Duan
Each entry reads as the larger formula written out: “+” adds its other catalogue cores, then the herbs none of them hold. A catalogue formula counts as a core only when at least 80% of its herbs are present, no more than 1 is absent, and the absent herb is not its chief.
Formula Network
Formulas that share herbs with this one — the closer to the centre, the stronger the match. Click a node to explore.
Similar Formulas by composition
Match score combines dosage-weighted composition (cosine, 70%) with shared-herb overlap (Jaccard, 30%).
Traditional formula information is for educational purposes only. Herbal formulas should be prescribed by a qualified practitioner — dosages and combinations are individualized and can interact with medications.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Ai Fu Nuan Gong Wan.
No notes yet.