Dang Gui San
Star当归散 (Tangkuei Powder)
Source: Jin Gui Yao Lue — Zhang Zhong-Jing (Eastern Han, c. 220)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Dang Gui San (Tangkuei Powder), from the Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essentials from the Golden Cabinet) by Zhang Zhong-Jing.
Actions: Nourishes the blood; Stabilizes pregnancy.
Presentation: Blood deficiency during pregnancy: history of habitual miscarriage, unstable pregnancy, difficult labor, and postpartum weakness and anemia. Also sore back and abdominal pain, hysteria, tidal fever with dryness, and thirst.
Cautions:
- Although designed for pregnancy it is not risk-free; use in pregnancy only when benefits outweigh risks
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 623.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dang Gui
as printed: Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) 48g
|
48g | 22.22% | tonifies and activates blood | |
|
Bai Shao
as printed: Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) 48g
|
48g | 22.22% | nourishes blood, consolidates yin | |
|
Chuan Xiong
as printed: Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong) 48g
|
48g | 22.22% | regulates blood circulation | |
|
Huang Qin
as printed: Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae) 48g
|
48g | 22.22% | clears heat, cools blood to calm the fetus | |
|
Bai Zhu
as printed: Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) 24g
|
24g | 11.11% | strengthens Spleen, benefits blood |
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 neutral (-0.11)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 22%, cool 22%, warm 56%.
Pairs warm and cool. 56% of the weighed grams are warm or hot and 44% cool or cold — the net is their average, not the whole story.
Taste
- pungent 33%
- sweet 17%
- sour 11%
- bitter 39%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Spleen 78%
- Liver 67%
- Heart 44%
- Gallbladder 44%
- Stomach 33%
- Lung 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
Grind to fine powder; take 1 spoonful (6g) per dose with grain-based liquor twice daily.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- Tai Shan Pan Shi San = this formula + Si Wu Tang + Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang + Ren Shen, Xu Duan, Nuo Mi, Sha Ren and Gan Cao
- An Tai Zhu Gao = this formula + Si Wu Tang + Chen Pi, Dang Shen, Du Zhong, Shan Yao, Xiang Fu, Xu Duan, Zhe Bei Mu and Zi Su Geng
- Qu Feng Zhi Bao Dan = this formula + Fang Feng Tong Sheng San + Xi Gan San + Wen Qing Yin + Du Huo, Quan Xie, Ren Shen, Tian Ma and Xi Xin
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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