Jiao Ai Tang
Star胶艾汤 (Ass-Hide Gelatin and Mugwort Decoction)
Source: Jin Gui Yao Lue — Zhang Zhong-Jing (Eastern Han, c. 220)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Jiao Ai Tang (Ass-Hide Gelatin and Mugwort Decoction), from the Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essentials from the Golden Cabinet) by Zhang Zhong-Jing.
Actions: Tonifies the blood and stops bleeding; Regulates menses and calms the fetus.
Presentation: Beng lou (flooding and spotting) due to deficiency and damage to the chong (thoroughfare) and ren (conception) channels in women: menstrual irregularity, menorrhagia, excessive and continuous menstrual bleeding and spotting, pale and thin blood without clots, and abdominal pain. Also unstable pregnancy with uterine pain and/or bleeding, and continuous bleeding after premature delivery or miscarriage.
Cautions:
- Contraindicated in hypermenorrhea or beng lou caused by heat
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 950.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
E Jiao
dose printed as 6-9g; as printed: E Jiao (Colla Corii Asini) 6g [6-9g]
|
g | — | Jun (Chief) | nourishes blood and stops bleeding; with Gan Cao stops bleeding |
|
Ai Ye
as printed: Ai Ye (Folium Artemisiae Argyi) 9g
|
9g | 21.43% | Jun (Chief) | warms the menses and stops bleeding |
|
Dang Gui
as printed: Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) 9g
|
9g | 21.43% | Chen (Deputy) | tonifies blood, regulates menstruation, moves blood (Si Wu Tang component) |
|
Sheng Di Huang
dose printed as 12-15g; as printed: Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae) 18g [12-15g]
|
g | — | Chen (Deputy) | tonifies blood, regulates menstruation (Si Wu Tang component) |
|
Chuan Xiong
as printed: Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong) 6g
|
6g | 14.29% | Chen (Deputy) | moves blood, regulates menstruation (Si Wu Tang component) |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Gan Cao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae) 6g
|
6g | 14.29% | Zuo (Assistant) | tonifies qi and harmonizes |
|
Bai Shao
as printed: Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) 12g
|
12g | 28.57% | tonifies blood; with Gan Cao relieves pain |
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.
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 nature not shown: the chief herb (E Jiao) has no dose in grams.
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cool 29%, neutral 14%, warm 57%.
Pairs warm and cool. 57% of the weighed grams are warm or hot and 29% cool or cold — the net is their average, not the whole story.
Taste
- pungent 36%
- sweet 25%
- sour 14%
- bitter 25%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Spleen 86%
- Liver 86%
- Lung 36%
- Heart 36%
- Kidney 21%
- Stomach 14%
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: E Jiao, Sheng Di Huang.
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 text: cook all but E Jiao in 5 cups [1,000 mL] water plus 3 cups [600 mL] grain-based liquor down to 3 cups [600 mL]; strain, melt E Jiao in it; take 1 cup [200 mL] warm three times daily until symptoms resolve. Today decoct bracketed doses in water with or without liquor, dissolving E Jiao just before serving. Liquor strengthens the herbs and prevents stasis.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang + Ai Ye, E Jiao, Chuan Xiong, Dang Gui and Sheng Di Huang
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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