Lecture Notes: Basic Blood Tonifying Formula - Si Wu Tang

Overview

• Presenter: Nicholas
• Topic: Basic blood tonifying formula, Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction)
• Audience: Students of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) at an accredited school

Key Points

Blood Deficiency Symptoms

• Skin: Dry, itchy skin, pale and lusterless complexion
• Head: Dizziness, vertigo
• Liver Functions:
  • Eyes: Blurred vision
  • Sinews: Muscle tension or spasm
  • Nails: Pale, brittle nails
• Heart Functions: Insomnia, palpitations
• Menstruation-related: Delayed menses, scanty menses, amenorrhea

Diagnostic Information

• Tongue: Pale
• Pulse: Thin, deficient, possibly wiry or choppy

Si Wu Tang Formula

• Purpose: Tonifying blood, treating blood deficiency
• Ingredients:
  • Tonifying Blood: Shu Di Huang, Bai Shao
  • Invigorating Blood: Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong
  • Dual Action (Tonify & Invigorate): Dang Gui

Formulation Strategy

• Blood Properties: Very yin, thick, and substantial
• Prevent Stagnation: Add moving herbs to avoid blood stasis
• Formula Adaptability: Can adjust the formula to focus more on blood tonifying or blood invigorating by adjusting dosages or ingredient forms

Modifications

• Dosage Adjustments:
  • For Blood Tonifying: Increase tonifying herbs, decrease invigorating herbs
  • For Blood Invigorating: Decrease tonifying herbs, increase invigorating herbs
• Change Ingredient Forms:
  • Bai Shao to Chi Shao (white peony to red peony)
  • Dang Gui to Dang Gui Wei (tail of Dang Gui)
• Add Ingredients:
  • Tao Ren (peach pit), Hong Hua (safflower) for invigorating blood

Tao Hong Si Wu Tang and Derived Formulas

• Tao Hong Si Wu Tang: Base formula for many blood invigorating formulas
• Formulas Group: Known as "Wang Qing Ren" formulas or "Ju Yu Tang" formulas

Specific Formulas & Applications

Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang

• Purpose: Blood stagnation in the chest
• Ingredients: Combines Tao Hong Si Wu Tang with Si Ni San (for liver Qi stagnation), Jie Geng (guides to the chest)

Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang

• Purpose: Blood stasis in the lower abdomen (painful menses)
• Unique Ingredients: Herbs that warm the interior (e.g., Pao Jiang, Rou Gui), Wu Ling Zhi (stops pain)

Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang

• Purpose: Blood stasis below the diaphragm (abdominal masses)
• Key Context: Could be used for liver cirrhosis based on historical practice

Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang

• Purpose: Pain in the entire body (Bi syndrome)
• Additional Herbs: Di Long (earthworm, unblock channels), herbs for Bi syndrome

Tong Qiao Huo Xue Tang

• Purpose: Blood stagnation in the head and face
• Unique Ingredients: She Xiang (opens orifices), small amount of alcohol (guides to the head/face)

Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang

• Purpose: Sequelae of wind stroke (hemiplegia), paralysis
• Unique Ingredients: High dosage of Huang Qi (tonifies Qi), other invigorating and channel-unblocking herbs

Summary

• Si Wu Tang is versatile, used both alone and within other formulas
• Can be adapted for tonifying blood or invigorating blood
• Part of many key TCM formulas for treating various conditions
• Understanding individual herbs in the formula is essential (single herb video linked)

Closing

• Special thanks to supporters and viewers
• Encouragement to consult licensed practitioners for herbal use