Yi Wei Tang
Star益胃汤 (Benefit the Stomach Decoction)
Source: Wen Bing Tiao Bian (1798)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Yi Wei Tang (Benefit the Stomach Decoction), from the Wen Bing Tiao Bian, is used to nourish Stomach-Yin.
Presentation: Stomach-Yin deficiency.
Syndrome: Syndrome of Stomach-Yin deficiency.
Composition strategy:
- Nourishing but not very cold; moistens dryness without cloying, usable in acute and chronic Stomach-Yin deficiency
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 163.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mai Men Dong
as printed: Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis radix)
|
15g | 32.26% | Jun (Chief) | nourish Stomach-Yin |
|
Bei Sha Shen
as printed: Bei Sha Shen (Glehniae radix)
|
9g | 19.35% | Chen (Deputy) | nourish Lung-Yin |
|
Sheng Di Huang
as printed: Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae radix)
|
15g | 32.26% | Chen (Deputy) | nourish Kidney-Yin |
|
Yu zhu
as printed: Yu Zhu (Polygonati odorati rhizoma)
|
4.5g | 9.68% | Chen (Deputy) | gently nourish Stomach-Yin and moisten dryness |
|
Bing Tang
also envoy; as printed: Bing Tang (rock sugar)
|
3g | 6.45% | Zuo (Assistant) | harmonize the Middle-Jiao and tonify Spleen-Qi |
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 cold (-1.58)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 65%, cool 29%, neutral 7%.
Taste
- sweet 58%
- bitter 42%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 68%
- Heart 65%
- Stomach 61%
- Spleen 39%
- Kidney 32%
- Liver 32%
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
Boil in 5 cups of water down to 2, drink warm in two portions; re-decoct to 1 cup for a third dose.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 393.
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 Yi Wei Tang.
No notes yet.