Dang Gui Si Ni Jia Wu Zhu Yu Sheng Jiang Tang
Star当归四逆加吴茱萸生姜汤 (Tangkuei Decoction for Frigid Extremities plus Evodia and Fresh Ginger)
Source: Shang Han Lun — Zhang Zhong-Jing (Eastern Han, c. 220)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Dang Gui Si Ni Jia Wu Zhu Yu Sheng Jiang Tang (Tangkuei Decoction for Frigid Extremities plus Evodia and Fresh Ginger), from the Shang Han Lun (Discussion of Cold-Induced Disorders) by Zhang Zhong-Jing — a variation of Dang Gui Si Ni Tang.
Actions: Warms the channels and disperses cold; Tonifies blood and yang qi.
Presentation: Chronic cold with blood and yang qi deficiency: loose stools, vomiting, abdominal pain, a fine pulse that is barely palpable.
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 498.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dang Gui
as printed: Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) 9g [12g]
|
12g | 20.34% | — | |
|
Gui Zhi
as printed: Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi) 9g
|
9g | 15.25% | — | |
|
Bai Shao
as printed: Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) 9g
|
9g | 15.25% | — | |
|
Xi Xin
dose printed as 1.5-3g; as printed: Xi Xin (Radix et Rhizoma Asari) 9g [1.5-3g]
|
g | — | — | |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Zhi Gan Cao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae Praeparata cum Melle) 6g
|
6g | 10.17% | — | |
|
Mu Tong
as printed: Mu Tong (Caulis Akebiae) 6g [3g]
|
3g | 5.08% | — | |
|
Da Zao
as printed: Da Zao (Fructus Jujubae) 25 pieces [8 pieces]
|
8pieces | 100% | — | |
|
Wu Zhu Yu
as printed: Wu Zhu Yu (Fructus Evodiae) 2 cups [5g]
|
5g | 8.47% | — | |
|
Sheng Jiang
as printed: Sheng Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens) 24g [15g]
|
15g | 25.42% | — |
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 slightly warm (+0.53)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 5%, cool 15%, neutral 10%, warm 61%, hot 9%.
Small but decisive: Mu Tong 3g (cold, 5% of the grams), Wu Zhu Yu 5g (hot, 9% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 48%
- sweet 28%
- sour 8%
- bitter 17%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Spleen 80%
- Lung 51%
- Heart 51%
- Stomach 44%
- Liver 44%
- Kidney 9%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
2 herbs without a dose in grams, so left out of every figure above: Xi Xin, Da Zao.
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
Cook in equal parts water and grain-based liquor (6 cups each) down to 5 cups; take warm in five divided doses. Modern practice uses the bracketed doses.
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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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