Ba Zheng San八正散

Eight-Herb Powder for Rectification (Dianthus Formula)

Expelling Dampness 祛湿剂Clear Heat and Expel Damp 清热祛湿

Ingredients8 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

车Che Qian Zi车前子Plantaginis Semen500g臣 DeputyPromotes urination and clears heat without injuring qi 瞿Qu Mai瞿麦Dianthi Herba500g臣 DeputyFrees painful urination and drives damp-heat out with the urine 萹Bian Xu萹蓄Polygoni Avicularis Herba500g臣 DeputyClears damp-heat from the Bladder and eases burning urination 滑Hua Shi滑石Talcum500g君 ChiefSlippery and cold — opens the waterways while clearing heat

山山栀子仁500g佐 Assistant

甘Gan Cao甘草炙Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma500g佐使 Assistant–EnvoyEases urinary urgency and pain, moderates the cold draining herbs 木Mu Tong木通Akebiae Caulis500g君 ChiefLeads Heart and Small Intestine heat down and out with the urine 大Da Huang大黄面裹煨，去面，切，焙Rhei Radix et Rhizoma500g佐 AssistantPurges accumulated heat through the stool; omitted in the minus-rhubarb version

Indications

Clears heat and drains dampFrees painful, scanty, urgent urinationLeads accumulated heat out through urine and stool

Damp-heat pouring into the lower burner: damp and heat bind in the Bladder so urination turns hot, urgent, scanty and painful. The entire design is to move that damp-heat out of the body downward rather than to cool it in place.

Clinical Manifestations

Burning, urgent, scanty urination
Dark or turbid urine; blood in the urine on a heat pattern
Lower abdominal distension with dribbling or blocked urination
Acute urinary tract infection presentations
Thirst, dry mouth and constipation accompanying the urinary signs

TongueRed with a yellow greasy coating

PulseSlippery and rapid

Health Categories

Urinary & Bladder HealthImmune Support

Modern Applications

Urinary tract infection Cystitis Dysuria Hematuria Urolithiasis

Common adjustments

Urinary gravel or stones — add Jin Qian Cao 金钱草 and Hai Jin Sha 海金沙
Blood in the urine — add Bai Mao Gen 白茅根 and Pu Huang 蒲黄
No constipation, or a frail patient — omit Da Huang 大黄 — this is the version marketed as Dianthus Formula (Minus Rhubarb)
Heat has already injured the fluids — add Sheng Di Huang 生地黄 and shorten the course

Contraindications

Cold and draining throughout: unsuitable for chronic urinary complaints arising from Spleen or Kidney deficiency, where it deepens the underlying weakness. Contraindicated in pregnancy. Use for the shortest course that resolves the acute pattern. Mu Tong must be the Akebia- or Clematis-sourced material — Guan Mu Tong, which contains aristolochic acid, is nephrotoxic and is no longer used.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Contraindicated in pregnancy — Da Huang purges and the strongly draining diuretics are unsuitable; the minus-rhubarb version is still inappropriate without a practitioner's assessment.

Related Formulas

Wu Lin San五淋散

References

Source Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang 《太平惠民和剂局方》 · Song dynasty

「小便赤涩，癃闭不通，及热淋、血淋，并宜服之。」
— 《太平惠民和剂局方》(classical source, public domain)

Classical source (public domain), cited in the source-quote section.
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— pattern analysis cross-checked.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.