San Jia Jian Fu Mai Tang
Star三甲复脉汤 (Modified Restore the Pulse Powder)
Source: Wen Re Jing Wei (1798)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
San Jia Jian Fu Mai Tang (Modified Restore the Pulse Powder), from the Wen Re Jing Wei, is used to nourish Yin and generate the pulse; anchor the Yang and extinguish Liver-wind.
Presentation: warm-febrile disease with weak pathogenic heat but severe Kidney/Liver Yin injury; palpitations (including chest pain); impaired consciousness; cramp and trembling limbs; dry skin and lips; red cheeks; emaciation; lethargy; tongue: thin and dry; pulse: rapid and thready.
Syndrome: Syndrome of aftermath of warm-febrile diseases.
Composition strategy:
- Animal products nourish Yin and blood strongly in severe deficiency (closer to human flesh and blood than plants)
- Heavy mineral-like shells descend, anchoring Yang and calming the mind better than plants
- 'Sheng' (raw): several substances are used unprocessed to strengthen Yin-nourishing and heat-reducing effects
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 90.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mu Li
one of the 'three shells'; as printed: Sheng Mu Li (Ostrea concha)
|
15g | 10.2% | Jun (Chief) | nourish Yin, anchor Yang, extinguish wind |
|
Bie Jia
one of the 'three shells'; toxic mark ** in source; as printed: Sheng Bie Jia (Trionycis carapax)
|
24g | 16.33% | Jun (Chief) | nourish Yin, reduce deficient heat, extinguish wind |
|
Gui Ban
one of the 'three shells'; toxic mark ** in source; as printed: Sheng Gui Ban (Testudinis carapax)
|
30g | 20.41% | Jun (Chief) | nourish Yin and blood, anchor Yang |
|
Sheng Di Huang
as printed: Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae radix)
|
18g | 12.24% | Chen (Deputy) | nourish Yin and fluids |
|
Bai Shao
as printed: Sheng Bai Shao Yao (Paeoniae radix lactiflora)
|
18g | 12.24% | Chen (Deputy) | tonify blood |
|
Mai Men Dong
as printed: Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis radix)
|
15g | 10.2% | Chen (Deputy) | nourish Yin and fluids |
|
E Jiao
as printed: E Jiao (Asini corii colla)
|
9g | 6.12% | Chen (Deputy) | tonify blood |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Zhi Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae radix preparata)
|
18g | 12.24% | Zuo (Assistant) | large dose; tonify Qi, stabilize Yin, calm mind and palpitations |
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 (-1.24)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 43%, cool 39%, neutral 18%.
Taste
- sweet 40%
- sour 6%
- bitter 17%
- salty 37%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Liver 78%
- Heart 65%
- Kidney 65%
- Spleen 35%
- Lung 29%
- Stomach 22%
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.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 649.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang + Bie Jia, Gui Ban, Mu Li, E Jiao, Mai Men Dong 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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