Bai Tong Jia Zhu Dan Zhi Tang
Star白通加猪胆汁汤 (Scallion [Yáng-]Freeing Decoction Plus Pig's Bile)
Source: Shang Han Lun — Zhang Zhong-Jing (Eastern Han, c. 220)
Last updated October 20, 2026
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Description
Bai Tong Jia Zhu Dan Zhi Tang (Scallion [Yáng-]Freeing Decoction Plus Pig's Bile) is the formula given in Line 315 of the Shang Han Lun for lesser yīn diarrhea that does not stop after Scallion Yáng-Freeing Decoction, with reverse-flow, an absent pulse, dry retching and vexation.
Also contains (not linked): human urine (人尿 rén niào), printed 人尿五合: 5 ge, a volume.
Source: Mitchell C, Feng Y, Wiseman N. Shang Han Lun: On Cold Damage, Translation & Commentaries. Paradigm Publications, 1999, pp. 481–482.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cong Bai
as printed: 葱白四茎 (4 stems); counted in stems
|
4pieces | 80% | — | |
|
Gan Jiang
as printed: 干姜一两 (1 liang); 15.625 g at 1 liang = 15.625 g (p. 64)
|
15.63g | 100% | — | |
|
Zhi Fu Zi
as printed: 附子一枚（生，去皮，破八片） (1 piece, raw, skin removed, broken into 8 pieces); aconite used raw (生), linked to the Zhi Fu Zi record with processing sheng
|
1pieces | 20% | — | |
|
Zhu Dan
as printed: 猪胆汁一合 (1 ge of pig's bile; a volume, no gram weight given)
|
g | — | — |
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 hot (+2.00)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: hot 100%.
Taste
- pungent 100%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 100%
- Stomach 100%
- Spleen 100%
- Heart 100%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
3 herbs without a dose in grams, so left out of every figure above: Cong Bai, Zhi Fu Zi, Zhu Dan.
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
(1) [For] the above five ingredients use three shēng of water. Boil [the first three ingredients] to get one shēng and remove the dregs. Add the gallbladder juice and human urine, and blend thoroughly. Divide [into two parts], and take warm twice a day. (2) If [there is] no gall, one can still use [the formula]. (Mitchell, Feng & Wiseman 1999, p. 482, Line 315)
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Formula family
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.
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