Ba Zheng San
Star八正散 (Eight Herb Powder for Rectification)
Source: Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (Song, 1107)
Last updated August 30, 2026
Description
Ba Zheng San (Eight Herb Powder for Rectification) is the primary formula for lower burner damp-heat causing difficult or painful urination. It clears heat, drains dampness, and unblocks urinary difficulty through an ensemble of herbs with diuretic and heat-clearing properties. Clinically essential for urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and urethritis.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mu Tong
Use Chuan Mu Tong (Clematis armandii). Guan Mu Tong (Aristolochia) is nephrotoxic and must not be substituted.
|
9g | 13.04% | Jun (Chief) | Clears heat, promotes urination, unblocks painful urinary dribbling |
|
Hua Shi
Decoct in cloth bag.
|
9g | 13.04% | Jun (Chief) | Clears damp-heat and promotes urination, eases painful urination |
| Qu Mai | 9g | 13.04% | Chen (Deputy) | Clears damp-heat, unblocks painful urinary dribbling, invigorates blood |
| Bian Xu | 9g | 13.04% | Chen (Deputy) | Clears damp-heat from the Bladder, promotes urination |
|
Che Qian Zi
Decoct in cloth bag.
|
9g | 13.04% | Chen (Deputy) | Clears damp-heat, promotes urination without injuring fluids |
| Zhi Zi | 9g | 13.04% | Zuo (Assistant) | Clears heat from all three burners, guides damp-heat downward |
| Da Huang | 6g | 8.7% | Zuo (Assistant) | Drains heat downward through the stool |
| Gan Cao | 6g | 8.7% | Shi (Envoy) | Harmonizes the formula and moderates urethral pain |
| Deng Xin Cao | 3g | 4.35% | Shi (Envoy) | Guides heat downward and promotes urination |
Total weight: 72g
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 cold (-1.65)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 74%, cool 17%, neutral 9%.
Small but decisive: Da 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
- sweet 24%
- bitter 61%
- bland 15%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Heart 52%
- Lung 39%
- Stomach 30%
- Small intestine 30%
- Bladder 26%
- Liver 22%
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
Traditionally as powder taken with rush pith decoction. As decoction: simmer 20 minutes, take cool.
Dosage
Powder: 6–9g 3x/day with rush pith (Deng Xin Cao) decoction. Decoction: 1 dose/day. Short course — discontinue when symptoms resolve.
Conditions Addressed
Related Formulas
Relationships
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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.
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