Hu Qian Wan虎潜丸

Hidden Tiger Pill

Tonifying 补益剂Tonify Yin 补阴

Ingredients9 herbs

HerbDosageWhat it does in this formula

黄Huang Bai黄柏酒炒Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex240gDrains the fire that flares in the lower burner when yin is short 龟Gui Ban龟板酒炙Testudinis Plastrum120gRichly enriches yin and strengthens the bones; an animal-derived material — see sourcing note 知Zhi Mu知母酒炒Anemarrhenae Rhizoma60gCools and moistens alongside Huang Bai 熟Shu Di Huang熟地黄Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata60gFills the essence and marrow that the sinews depend on 陈Chen Pi陈皮Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium60gMoves qi so an exceptionally rich formula can be digested 白Bai Shao白芍Paeoniae Radix Alba60gNourishes Liver blood and softens the sinews 锁Suo Yang锁阳Cynomorii Herba45gWarms the yang enough to move the yin tonics and strengthen the legs

虎Hu Gu (prohibited — historical only)虎骨用狗骨代，炙30gListed in the classical record to strengthen sinews and bones. Tiger is CITES Appendix I; tiger bone is banned from trade and medicine and must never be used. Omitted in modern practice

干Gan Jiang干姜Zingiberis Rhizoma15gA small warm counterweight to the bitter cold herbs

Indications

Enriches yin and directs deficiency fire downwardStrengthens the sinews and bonesTreats flaccidity and weakness of the legs

Liver and Kidney deficiency with internal heat producing atrophy disorder. Yin is too depleted to moisten the sinews, and the fire that rises in its absence consumes them further.

Clinical Manifestations

Weak wasted legs that will not carry weight
Aching weak lower back and knees
Muscle wasting in a chronic yin-deficient illness
Weakness of the lower limbs after a long febrile illness

TongueRed with little coating

PulseThin and weak, or thin and rapid

Health Categories

Bone & Joint HealthEnergy & Fatigue

Modern Applications

Muscle atrophy Peripheral neuropathy Post-polio weakness Osteoporosis Chronic low back pain

Common adjustments

Marked heat from deficiency — increase Zhi Mu 知母 and Huang Bai 黄柏
Cold constitution without heat signs — reduce the bitter cold herbs and increase Suo Yang 锁阳
Poor digestion of the formula — increase Chen Pi 陈皮 and take with food

Contraindications

Not for atrophy caused by damp-heat pouring downward, and not while the Spleen is too weak to handle rich herbs. Weakness of the legs has many biomedical causes that need diagnosis before treatment. Tiger bone (Hu Gu) appears in the historical formula: the tiger is a CITES Appendix I species and its bone is banned from trade and from medicine in China and internationally. It must not be sourced or used; modern practice omits it.

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

Pregnancy

Not recommended in pregnancy. The formula contains bitter cold herbs and Gui Ban, and is not a formula used during pregnancy; the treating practitioner should choose an alternative.

Related Formulas

Da Bu Yin Wan大补阴丸

References

Source Dan Xi Xin Fa 《丹溪心法》 · Yuan

Classical source as recorded in 《丹溪心法》 (public domain).
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.