San Bi Tang
Star三痹汤 (Three-Painful Obstruction Decoction)
Source: Fu Ren Liang Fang — Chen Zi-Ming (Song, 1237)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
San Bi Tang (Three-Painful Obstruction Decoction), from the Fu Ren Liang Fang (Fine Formulas for Women) by Chen Zi-Ming.
Actions: Tonifies qi and nourishes the blood; Dispels wind, cold, and dampness.
Presentation: Joint pain due to stagnation of wind, cold, and dampness with underlying qi and blood deficiencies: numbness and pain of the muscles and joints, decreased range of motion, pain that worsens with exposure to cold and damp weather.
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 1167.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Du Huo
as printed: Du Huo (Radix Angelicae Pubescentis) 15g [3g]
|
3g | 3.57% | with Xi Xin dispels wind, eliminates dampness, relieves pain, alleviates bi zheng | |
|
Xi Xin
as printed: Xi Xin (Radix et Rhizoma Asari) 30g [6g]
|
6g | 7.14% | with Du Huo dispels wind-dampness and relieves pain | |
|
Qin Jiao
as printed: Qin Jiao (Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae) 15g [3g]
|
3g | 3.57% | dispels wind and eliminates dampness | |
|
Fang Feng
as printed: Fang Feng (Radix Saposhnikoviae) 30g [6g]
|
6g | 7.14% | dispels wind and eliminates dampness | |
|
Rou Gui
inner bark (gui xin); as printed: Gui Xin (Cortex Rasus Cinnamomi) 30g [6g]
|
6g | 7.14% | warms the body and dispels cold | |
|
Du Zhong
chao (dry-fried) with ginger juice; as printed: Du Zhong (Cortex Eucommiae) 30g [6g]
|
6g | 7.14% | tonifies Kidney, strengthens bones and tendons | |
|
Xu Duan
as printed: Xu Duan (Radix Dipsaci) 30g [6g]
|
6g | 7.14% | tonifies Kidney, strengthens bones and tendons | |
|
Niu Xi
as printed: Niu Xi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae) 30g [6g]
|
6g | 7.14% | tonifies Kidney, strengthens bones and tendons | |
|
Dang Gui
as printed: Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) 30g [6g]
|
6g | 7.14% | nourishes yin, tonifies and activates blood | |
|
Chuan Xiong
as printed: Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong) 15g [3g]
|
3g | 3.57% | nourishes and activates blood | |
|
Bai Shao
as printed: Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) 30g [6g]
|
6g | 7.14% | nourishes yin and blood | |
|
Sheng Di Huang
as printed: Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae) 15g [3g]
|
3g | 3.57% | nourishes yin and blood | |
|
Huang Qi
as printed: Huang Qi (Radix Astragali) 30g [6g]
|
6g | 7.14% | tonifies qi, strengthens Spleen | |
|
Ren Shen
as printed: Ren Shen (Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng) 30g [6g]
|
6g | 7.14% | tonifies qi, strengthens Spleen | |
|
Fu Ling
as printed: Fu Ling (Poria) 30g [6g]
|
6g | 7.14% | tonifies qi, strengthens Spleen | |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Gan Cao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae) 30g [6g]
|
6g | 7.14% | tonifies qi, strengthens Spleen |
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 (+0.57)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 4%, cool 7%, neutral 25%, warm 57%, hot 7%.
Small but decisive: Rou Gui 6g (hot, 7% of the grams), Sheng Di Huang 3g (cold, 4% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 27%
- sweet 46%
- sour 6%
- bitter 17%
- bland 4%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Liver 64%
- Spleen 57%
- Kidney 57%
- Heart 46%
- Lung 36%
- Stomach 11%
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: grind to powder; cook 15g with 3 slices Sheng Jiang and 1 Da Zao in 2 bowls water down to 1 bowl; take warm on empty stomach. Today may be decocted with bracketed doses.
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Fang Feng Xiong Gui Tang + Bao Yuan Tang + Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang + Du Huo, Du Zhong, Fu Ling, Niu Xi, Qin Jiao, Xi Xin and Xu Duan
- This formula = Bao Yuan Tang + Fang Feng Xiong Gui Tang + Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang + Du Huo, Du Zhong, Fu Ling, Niu Xi, Qin Jiao, Xi Xin and Xu Duan
- This formula = Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang + Bao Yuan Tang + Fang Feng Xiong Gui Tang + Du Huo, Du Zhong, Fu Ling, Niu Xi, Qin Jiao, Xi Xin and Xu Duan
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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