Da Ding Feng Zhu
Star大定风珠 (Major Arrest Wind Pill)
Source: Wen Bing Tiao Bian (1798)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Da Ding Feng Zhu (Major Arrest Wind Pill), from the Wen Bing Tiao Bian, is used to nourish Yin; extinguish internal wind.
Presentation: aftermath of warm-febrile disease with severely injured Yin; lassitude; trembling fingers and limbs; tendency to lose consciousness; tongue: deep-red without coating; pulse: weak.
Syndrome: Syndrome of internal wind generated by Yin deficiency.
Composition strategy:
- animal products used as chief and deputies because they tonify humans faster than plants
- since some animal products are banned, include meat and eggs in the diet
Cautions:
- Gui Ban and Bie Jia are banned/protected (**)
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 325.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
E Jiao
as printed: E Jiao (Asini corii colla)
|
9g | 7.32% | Jun (Chief) | tonifies Yin and moistens dryness to extinguish wind |
|
Ji Zi Huang
as printed: Ji Zi Huang (Chicken egg yolk)
|
2pieces | 100% | Jun (Chief) | tonifies Yin and moistens dryness to extinguish wind |
|
Bai Shao
as printed: Sheng Bai Shao Yao (Paeoniae radix lactiflora)
|
18g | 14.63% | Chen (Deputy) | nourishes Yin and clears heat |
|
Gui Ban
toxic mark ** in source; as printed: Sheng Gui Ban (Testudinis carapax)
|
12g | 9.76% | Chen (Deputy) | nourishes Yin and clears heat |
|
Sheng Di Huang
as printed: Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae radix)
|
18g | 14.63% | Chen (Deputy) | nourishes Yin and clears heat |
|
Mai Men Dong
as printed: Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis radix)
|
18g | 14.63% | Chen (Deputy) | nourishes Yin and clears heat |
|
Bie Jia
toxic mark ** in source; as printed: Bie Jia (Trionycis carapax)
|
12g | 9.76% | Chen (Deputy) | nourishes Yin and clears heat |
|
Huo Ma Ren
as printed: Huo Ma Ren (Cannabis semen)
|
6g | 4.88% | Zuo (Assistant) | moistens dryness, supports Yin nourishment |
|
Wu Wei Zi
as printed: Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae fructus)
|
6g | 4.88% | Zuo (Assistant) | generates and stabilizes Yin and Qi |
|
Mu Li
as printed: Sheng Mu Li (Ostrea concha)
|
12g | 9.76% | Zuo (Assistant) | clears heat, descends Liver-Yang, anchors wind |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Zhi Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae radix preparata)
|
12g | 9.76% | Zuo (Assistant) | generates and stabilizes Yin and Qi |
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.
Yin and blood are richly nourished to extinguish internal wind arising from exhausted yin.
Also paired in Huang Lian E Jiao Tang.
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 nature not shown: the chief herb (Ji Zi Huang) has no dose in grams.
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 39%, cool 34%, neutral 22%, warm 5%.
Small but decisive: Gui Ban 12g (cold, 10% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- sweet 44%
- sour 10%
- bitter 22%
- salty 24%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Liver 66%
- Heart 63%
- Kidney 56%
- Spleen 44%
- Lung 37%
- Stomach 29%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
1 herb without a dose in grams, so left out of every figure above: Ji Zi Huang.
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; blend the egg yolk into the strained decoction and take warm.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 651.
Relationships
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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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