Tou Nong San
Star透脓散 (Discharge Pus Powder)
Source: Wai Ke Zheng Zong (1617)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Tou Nong San (Discharge Pus Powder), from the Wai Ke Zheng Zong, is used to push toxin outward; discharge pus.
Presentation: abscess becoming chronic: localized pain, swelling, heat and pus without perforation due to Qi deficiency.
Syndrome: Yong Yang - Yang syndrome.
Composition strategy:
- Assists body resistance to push out toxin and hastens perforation.
- Often used for chronic and recurrent abscess.
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 390.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Huang Qi
as printed: Huang Qi (Astragali radix)
|
12g | 41.38% | Jun (Chief) | tonify Spleen-Qi, strengthen muscles and Defensive-Qi to push out toxin |
|
Dang Gui
as printed: Dang Gui (Angelicae sinensis radix)
|
6g | 20.69% | Chen (Deputy) | activate blood, remove toxin in the blood |
|
Chuan Xiong
as printed: Chuan Xiong (Chuanxiong rhizoma)
|
3g | 10.34% | Chen (Deputy) | activate blood circulation |
|
Chuan Shan Jia
toxic mark ** in source; as printed: Chuan Shan Jia (Manitis squama)
|
3g | 10.34% | Zuo (Assistant) | break obstruction in collaterals, hasten perforation |
|
Zao Jiao Ci
as printed: Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsiae spina)
|
5g | 17.24% | Zuo (Assistant) | break obstruction in collaterals, hasten perforation |
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.
Both penetrating and dispersing, the pair promotes the discharge of pus and ruptures abscesses that have formed pus but not yet burst.
Contraindicated once an abscess has ruptured and in pregnancy. Pangolin scale is from a protected species and was removed from the 2020 Chinese Pharmacopoeia; include for historical reference.
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 warm (+0.79)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cool 10%, warm 90%.
Taste
- pungent 38%
- sweet 52%
- salty 10%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Spleen 62%
- Liver 59%
- Lung 41%
- Stomach 28%
- Heart 21%
- Pericardium 10%
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.
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
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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