Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang
Star补阳还五汤 (Tonify the Yang to Restore Five (tenths) Decoction)
Source: Yi Lin Gai Cuo (1830)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang (Tonify the Yang to Restore Five (tenths) Decoction), from the Yi Lin Gai Cuo, is used to tonify Qi; invigorate blood; open the meridians.
Presentation: sequelae of wind-stroke; hemiplegia; paralysis and atrophy of lower limbs from Qi deficiency with blood stasis; cold, swollen, numb, tingling, painful limbs; tongue: pale or dark with white coating; pulse: weak and slow.
Syndrome: Syndrome of blood stagnation.
Composition strategy:
- treats stasis by strongly tonifying Qi to move blood
- name: half of the ten portions of circulation blocked in hemiplegia are restored
Cautions:
- book advises reducing Huang Qi to a common dosage range in clinical practice
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 283.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Huang Qi
very large dose; as printed: Huang Qi (Astragali radix)
|
120g | 83.33% | Jun (Chief) | strongly tonify Qi to drive blood; warm and strengthen muscles |
|
Dang Gui
as printed: Dang Gui (Angelicae sinensis radix)
|
6g | 4.17% | Chen (Deputy) | stimulate blood circulation |
|
Chuan Xiong
as printed: Chuan Xiong (Chuanxiong rhizoma)
|
3g | 2.08% | Chen (Deputy) | stimulate blood circulation |
|
Chi Shao
as printed: Chi Shao Yao (Paeoniae radix rubra)
|
6g | 4.17% | Chen (Deputy) | stimulate blood circulation |
|
Tao Ren
as printed: Tao Ren (Persicae semen)
|
3g | 2.08% | Chen (Deputy) | break congealed blood in the collaterals |
|
Hong Hua
as printed: Hong Hua (Carthami flos)
|
3g | 2.08% | Chen (Deputy) | stimulate blood circulation |
|
Di Long
as printed: Di Long (Pheretima)
|
3g | 2.08% | Chen (Deputy) | open the collaterals |
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 warm (+0.83)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 2%, cool 4%, neutral 2%, warm 92%.
Small but decisive: Di Long 3g (cold, 2% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 6%
- sweet 87%
- sour 2%
- bitter 3%
- salty 2%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 90%
- Spleen 90%
- Liver 17%
- Heart 8%
- Large intestine 2%
- Pericardium 2%
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
Decoction, using the branch-roots (dang gui wei) of Angelica for stronger blood invigoration.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 568.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang + Chi Shao, Chuan Xiong, Di Long, Hong Hua and Tao Ren
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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