Dao Chi San
Star导赤散 (Guide out the Red Powder)
Source: Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue (1119)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Dao Chi San (Guide out the Red Powder), from the Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue, is used to drain heat from the Heart and Small Intestine.
Presentation: irritability with heat in the chest; thirst with preference for cold drinks; red face; bitter taste in the mouth; constipation; scanty dark urine; tongue: red with a thin, dry, yellow coating; pulse: rapid.
Syndrome: Syndrome of heat in the Heart and Small Intestine.
Composition strategy:
- Clears Heart-fire directly and indirectly (via the Small Intestine)
- Gives the pathogen an exit by promoting urination (Mu Tong, Dan Zhu Ye)
- Combines heat-clearing with Yin-nourishing so urination is promoted without injuring Yin
Cautions:
- Mu Tong here is Akebia (Caulis Akebiae, 木通), as Xi & Gong 2017 specify. Do not substitute Guan Mu Tong (Aristolochia manshuriensis), which contains nephrotoxic aristolochic acids and is banned in many countries.
- Short-term use only (Yang 2010)
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 94.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mu Tong
as printed: Caulis Akebiae (mu tong) 10 g
|
10g | 33.33% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Sheng Di Huang
as printed: Radix Rehmanniae (sheng di huang) 10 g
|
10g | 33.33% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae (gan cao) 10 g
|
10g | 33.33% | — |
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.
Cooling the blood and nourishing yin is combined with draining heart fire downward through urination, clearing heart heat without damaging yin.
Mouth ulcers, irritability and painful dark urination from heart fire. Use Akebia mu tong, not Aristolochia guan mu tong.
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 cool (-1.33)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 67%, neutral 33%.
Taste
- sweet 50%
- bitter 50%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Heart 100%
- Lung 33%
- Stomach 33%
- Spleen 33%
- Small intestine 33%
- Kidney 33%
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
Originally equal parts of Rehmannia, Akebia and licorice tips powdered, 9g taken after meals as a draft with a little Lophatherum; now usually decocted with Rehmannia raised to 12-15g.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 195.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- Long Dan Xie Gan Tang = this formula + Long Dan Cao, Huang Qin, Zhi Zi, Chai Hu, Che Qian Zi, Dang Gui and Ze Xie
- Xiao Ji Yin Zi = this formula + Liu Yi San + Xiao Ji, Ou Jie, Pu Huang, Dan Zhu Ye, Dang Gui and Zhi Zi
- Zhi Shang Yi Fang = this formula + Chi Shao, Dang Gui, Fang Feng, Hong Hua, Huang Bai, Ru Xiang and Tao Ren
- Xiao Feng San = this formula + Chan Tui, Fang Feng, Jing Jie, Niu Bang Zi, Cang Zhu, Ku Shen, Shi Gao, Zhi Mu, Dang Gui and Hei Zhi Ma
- Hai Zang Di Huang San = this formula + Da Huang Huang Lian Xie Xin Tang + Chan Tui, Dang Gui, Fang Feng, Gu Jing Cao, Ji Li, Mu Zei, Qiang Huo, Sha Yuan Zi, Shu Di Huang, Shui Niu Jiao and Xuan Shen
- Shu Jin Li An San = this formula + Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang + Zhu Fu Tang + Ban Xia, Chen Pi, Du Huo, Fu Ling, Han Fang Ji, Hong Hua, Lian Qiao, Long Dan Cao, Mu Gua, Niu Xi, Tao Ren, Tian Nan Xing and Wei Ling Xian
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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