Wu Zhu Yu Tang
Star吴茱萸汤 (Evodia Decoction)
Source: Shang Han Lun — Zhang Zhong-Jing (Eastern Han, c. 220)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Wu Zhu Yu Tang (Evodia Decoction), from the Shang Han Lun (Discussion of Cold-Induced Disorders) by Zhang Zhong-Jing.
Actions: Warms and tonifies the middle jiao; Corrects the reversed flow of qi and stops vomiting.
Presentation: 1. Vomiting due to deficiency and cold of the Stomach: vomiting sensations after eating, fullness and distention in the chest and diaphragm, epigastric pain, belching, acid regurgitation. 2. Jueyin headache with dry heaves (vomiting of saliva only). 3. Shaoyin vomiting and diarrhea with extremely cold hands and feet and severe fidgeting and irritability.
Cautions:
- Contraindicated for vomiting and acid regurgitation from heat, and for headaches from Liver yang rising
- May be taken at room temperature by patients who cannot keep the warm decoction down
- Occasionally causes chest discomfort, headache and dizziness, which are self-limiting and usually resolve within 30 minutes
Pharmacological effects reported:
- Antiemetic: suppressed induced vomiting in pigeons, more potently than Wu Zhu Yu or Sheng Jiang alone
- Gastrointestinal: general inhibitory effect; slowed gastric emptying in mice; inhibited gastric acid and raised gastric pH
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 467.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wu Zhu Yu
dose printed as 3-9g; as printed: Wu Zhu Yu (Fructus Evodiae, xi (washed) in liquid 7 times) 1 cup [3-9g]
|
g | — | Jun (Chief) | acrid, bitter, very warm; warms the Stomach, dispels cold, harmonizes the middle, corrects reversed qi |
|
Sheng Jiang
as printed: Sheng Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens, qie (sliced)) 18g [18g]
|
18g | 75% | Chen (Deputy) | warms the Stomach and relieves nausea and vomiting; with Da Zao harmonizes ying and wei |
|
Ren Shen
as printed: Ren Shen (Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng) 9g [6g]
|
6g | 25% | Zuo (Assistant) | tonifies yuan qi and strengthens the Stomach |
|
Da Zao
as printed: Da Zao (Fructus Jujubae, bo (opened)) 12 pieces [4 pieces]
|
4pieces | 100% | Shi (Envoy) | tonifies qi and harmonizes the middle; with Sheng Jiang harmonizes ying and wei |
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.
Warming the Liver and stomach and directing rebellious qi downward, combined with warming the stomach to stop vomiting, which together settle cold rising turbid yin.
Cold in the Liver and stomach with vomiting of clear fluid, vertex headache, or dry heaves with frothy saliva.
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 (Wu Zhu Yu) has no dose in grams.
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: warm 100%.
Taste
- pungent 75%
- sweet 13%
- bitter 13%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 100%
- Spleen 100%
- Stomach 75%
- Heart 25%
- Kidney 25%
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: Wu Zhu Yu, Da Zao.
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
Cook in 7 cups [1,400 mL] water to 2 cups [400 mL]; take 0.7 cup [140 mL] warm three times daily; today use bracketed doses. Some patients feel a transient worsening right after ingestion that should settle within half an hour.
Relationships
Full-screen graph →Click a node for details · double-click to expand it · Ctrl/⌘ + scroll or two fingers to zoom and pan.
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.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Wu Zhu Yu Tang.
No notes yet.