Huang Tu Tang
Star黄土汤 (Yellow Earth Decoction)
Source: Jin Kui Yao Lue (c. 220)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Huang Tu Tang (Yellow Earth Decoction), from the Jin Kui Yao Lue, is used to warm the Spleen-Yang; stop bleeding.
Presentation: bleeding from Spleen-Yang and Spleen-Qi deficiency; blood in stools; uterine bleeding; vomiting blood; purpura; cold limbs; wan complexion; tongue: pale with white coating; pulse: deep, thready and slow.
Syndrome: Syndrome of bleeding.
Composition strategy:
- very hot pungent Fu Zi moderated by sweet Gan Di Huang and E Jiao, whose cloying nature is offset by Fu Zi and Bai Zhu
- cold Huang Qin combined with warm herbs respects both the syndrome and the nature of blood; model for bleeding from internal cold
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 294.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Zao Xin Tu
large amount; as printed: Zao Xin Tu (Terra flava usta)
|
30g | 35.71% | Jun (Chief) | warm Middle-Jiao, stop bleeding |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae radix)
|
9g | 10.71% | Chen (Deputy) | tonify Spleen-Qi, harmonize Qi and blood |
|
Sheng Di Huang
as printed: Gan Di Huang (Rehmanniae glutinosae radix)
|
9g | 10.71% | Zuo (Assistant) | tonify blood, stop bleeding; moderate Fu Zi |
|
Bai Zhu
as printed: Bai Zhu (Atractylodis macrocephalae rhizoma)
|
9g | 10.71% | Zuo (Assistant) | warm Yang, strengthen Spleen |
|
Zhi Fu Zi
toxic mark * in source; as printed: Fu Zi (Aconiti radix lateralis preparata)
|
9g | 10.71% | Zuo (Assistant) | warm Yang, expel cold |
|
E Jiao
as printed: E Jiao (Asini corii colla)
|
9g | 10.71% | Zuo (Assistant) | tonify blood, stop bleeding |
|
Huang Qin
corrective assistant; as printed: Huang Qin (Scutellariae radix)
|
9g | 10.71% | Zuo (Assistant) | reduce heat; prevent bleeding from hot Fu Zi |
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 (+0.25)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 21%, neutral 21%, warm 46%, hot 11%.
Taste
- pungent 41%
- sweet 38%
- bitter 21%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Spleen 79%
- Stomach 68%
- Heart 43%
- Lung 32%
- Kidney 32%
- Liver 21%
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
Source: decoct in 8 cups water to 3, take warm in two doses. Now decoct zao xin tu 30-40 minutes first and melt e jiao into the strained decoction; zao xin tu often 30-60g or replaced by chi shi zhi at 3-4 times the dose.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 608.
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
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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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