Wen Pi Tang
Star温脾汤 (Warm the Spleen Decoction)
Source: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang (650)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Wen Pi Tang (Warm the Spleen Decoction), from the Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, is used to warm and strengthen Spleen-Yang; purge cold accumulation.
Presentation: cold and damp accumulation injuring the blood; constipation; dysenteric disorders with blood and mucus; abdominal pain; cold extremities; pulse: deep and wiry.
Syndrome: Accumulation syndrome due to excess cold in the Middle-Jiao.
Composition strategy:
- Versus Da Huang Fu Zi Tang: Da Huang increased, Fu Zi decreased; Gan Jiang, Ren Shen and Gan Cao replace Xi Xin.
- Purging rests on warming and tonifying - suited to chronic/recurrent Middle-Jiao cold accumulation with Spleen-Yang deficiency.
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 66.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Da Huang
as printed: Da Huang (Rhei rhizoma)
|
12g | 30.77% | Jun (Chief) | removes the accumulation |
|
Zhi Fu Zi
toxic mark * in source; as printed: Fu Zi (Aconiti radix lateralis preparata)
|
9g | 23.08% | Jun (Chief) | warms the interior |
|
Gan Jiang
as printed: Gan Jiang (Zingiberis rhizoma)
|
6g | 15.38% | Chen (Deputy) | enhances Fu Zi to warm Middle-Jiao, Spleen and Stomach |
|
Ren Shen
as printed: Ren Shen (Ginseng radix)
|
9g | 23.08% | Chen (Deputy) | tonifies Qi and strengthens the Spleen |
|
Gan Cao
assistant and envoy; as printed: Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae radix)
|
3g | 7.69% | Zuo (Assistant) | tonifies Middle-Jiao, protects Stomach from harsh herbs; also harmonizes |
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 (+0.38)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 31%, neutral 8%, warm 23%, hot 39%.
Pairs warm and cool. 62% of the weighed grams are warm or hot and 31% cool or cold — the net is their average, not the whole story.
Taste
- pungent 27%
- sweet 31%
- bitter 42%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Spleen 100%
- Heart 69%
- Stomach 54%
- Lung 46%
- Kidney 46%
- Large intestine 31%
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; da huang added near the end.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 73.
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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