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Cura x Cura

Dao Chi San导赤散

Guide Out the Red Powder (Rehmannia & Lophatherum Formula)

Clearing Heat 清热剂Clear Organ Heat 清脏腑热

Ingredients3 herbs

生Sheng Di Huang生地黄6g君 ChiefCools the blood and restores the yin the fire has consumed木Mu Tong木通6g君 ChiefOpens the water passages so Heart heat leaves through the urine
生Gan Cao Shao生甘草梢6g佐使 Assistant–EnvoyEases urinary pain, harmonizes, and guards the middle against the cold herbs

Indications

Clears heat from the HeartEnriches yin and generates fluidsPromotes urination to lead heat out below

Heart-channel fire, with or without heat shifted to the Small Intestine: fire in the Heart shows itself at the tongue and mouth, and when it passes to the paired bowel the urine turns scanty, dark and painful.

Clinical Manifestations

  • Mouth and tongue ulcers with a red tongue tip
  • Irritability and restlessness with thirst for cold drinks
  • Scanty, dark, burning urination
  • Restless sleep or night crying in children
  • Flushed face with a dry mouth
TongueRed, especially at the tip
PulseRapid

Health Categories

Digestive HealthUrinary & Bladder HealthStress & Emotional Balance

Modern Applications

Aphthous ulcersStomatitisUrinary tract irritationCystitisInfantile restlessness

Common adjustments

  • Where Mu Tong is restricted or unavailable — substitute Tong Cao 通草 or Qu Mai 瞿麦 — the basis of the modified version sold commercially
  • Marked mouth and tongue ulceration — add Huang Lian 黄连
  • Blood in the urine — add Bai Mao Gen 白茅根, Xiao Ji
  • Night crying and restlessness in a child — add Deng Xin Cao 灯心草

Contraindications

Cold and draining: not for Spleen and Stomach deficiency-cold with poor appetite or loose stools, and not meant for long courses. Guan Mu Tong (Aristolochia) must never be used — it is nephrotoxic and carcinogenic; only Akebia or Clematis species are acceptable, and many practitioners avoid Mu Tong altogether in favour of Tong Cao or Qu Mai.

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

Pregnancy

Not used in pregnancy — both Mu Tong and the Qu Mai used in the modified version are classically contraindicated for pregnant patients.

Related Formulas

References

Source Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue 《小儿药证直诀》 · Northern Song

「视其睡，口中气温，或合面睡，及上窜咬牙，皆心热也，导赤散主之。」
— 《小儿药证直诀》(classical source, public domain)
  1. 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.