Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang
Star独活寄生汤 (Angelica Pubescens and Taxilli Decoction)
Source: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang (650)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang (Angelica Pubescens and Taxilli Decoction), from the Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, is used to expel wind, dampness and cold; stop pain; tonify Qi and blood; strengthen Liver and Kidney.
Presentation: chronic Bi syndrome from wind-damp with chronic blood and Qi deficiency.
Syndrome: Syndromes caused by external wind, damp, cold or heat.
Composition strategy:
- many herbs but clear structure and strong action
- tonifies weakness, so suitable for chronic Bi and fairly long use
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 342.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Du Huo
as printed: Du Huo (Angelicae pubescentis radix)
|
9g | 9.68% | Jun (Chief) | expels wind, damp and cold; tonifies Liver and Kidney |
|
Qin Jiao
as printed: Qin Jiao (Gentianae macrophyllae radix)
|
6g | 6.45% | Chen (Deputy) | helps expel dampness |
|
Fang Feng
as printed: Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae radix)
|
6g | 6.45% | Chen (Deputy) | helps expel wind |
|
Xi Xin
toxic mark * in source; as printed: Xi Xin (Asari herba)
|
6g | 6.45% | Chen (Deputy) | helps expel cold |
|
Sang Ji Sheng
as printed: Sang Ji Sheng (Taxilli herba)
|
6g | 6.45% | Zuo (Assistant) | strengthens Kidney, relaxes tendons |
|
Du Zhong
as printed: Du Zhong (Eucomniae cortex)
|
6g | 6.45% | Zuo (Assistant) | strengthens Kidney, relaxes tendons |
|
Niu Xi
Huai (Henan) Niu Xi; as printed: Huai Niu Xi (Achyranthis bidentatae radix)
|
6g | 6.45% | Zuo (Assistant) | strengthens Kidney, relaxes tendons |
|
Dang Gui
as printed: Dang Gui (Angelicae sinensis radix)
|
6g | 6.45% | Zuo (Assistant) | tonifies and moves blood |
|
Bai Shao
as printed: Bai Shao Yao (Paeoniae radix lactiflora)
|
6g | 6.45% | Zuo (Assistant) | tonifies blood |
|
Chuan Xiong
as printed: Chuan Xiong (Chuanxiong rhizoma)
|
6g | 6.45% | Zuo (Assistant) | promotes blood circulation |
|
Shu Di Huang
as printed: Shu Di Huang (Rehmanniae radix praeparata)
|
6g | 6.45% | Zuo (Assistant) | tonifies blood |
|
Ren Shen
as printed: Ren Shen (Ginseng radix)
|
6g | 6.45% | Zuo (Assistant) | tonifies Qi |
|
Fu Ling
as printed: Fu Ling (Poria)
|
6g | 6.45% | Zuo (Assistant) | tonifies Qi |
|
Rou Gui
as printed: Rou Gui (Cinnamomi cassiae cortex)
|
6g | 6.45% | Zuo (Assistant) | warms the Kidney |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae radix)
|
6g | 6.45% | Shi (Envoy) | harmonizes the formula |
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.
The pair dispels wind-damp while tonifying the liver and kidneys and strengthening sinew and bone, treating chronic painful obstruction on a background of deficiency.
Chronic lower back and knee pain with weakness in liver-kidney deficiency.
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 (+0.61)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cool 7%, neutral 32%, warm 55%, hot 7%.
Small but decisive: Rou Gui 6g (hot, 7% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 31%
- sweet 41%
- sour 5%
- bitter 20%
- bland 3%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Liver 74%
- Kidney 61%
- Spleen 45%
- Heart 39%
- Lung 26%
- Stomach 13%
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
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Si Wu Tang + Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang + Du Huo, Fang Feng, Qin Jiao, Xi Xin, Du Zhong, Fu Ling, Niu Xi, Ren Shen, Rou Gui and Sang Ji Sheng
- This formula = Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang + Si Wu Tang + Du Huo, Fang Feng, Qin Jiao, Xi Xin, Du Zhong, Fu Ling, Niu Xi, Ren Shen, Rou Gui and Sang Ji Sheng
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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