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Huang Tu Tang黄土汤

Yellow Earth Decoction

Regulating Blood 理血剂Stop Bleeding 止血

Ingredients7 herbs

甘Gan Cao甘草9g使 EnvoySupplements the middle and reconciles the warm and cold halves of the formula
干Gan Di Huang干地黄9g佐 AssistantNourishes yin and blood so the warming herbs do not dry the interior
白Bai Zhu白术9g臣 DeputyStrengthens the Spleen and dries damp so the middle can hold
附Fu Zi (Zhi)附子炮9g臣 DeputyRestores the Spleen yang so qi can govern blood again
阿E Jiao阿胶9g佐 AssistantNourishes blood and stanches, replacing what has been lost黄Huang Qin黄芩9g佐 AssistantA cold herb set against, restraining any heat the warming might generate
灶Zao Xin Huang Tu (Fu Long Gan)灶心黄土30g君 ChiefWarms and astringes the middle burner, holding blood in the vessels

Indications

Warms the yang and strengthens the SpleenNourishes blood and stops bleedingHolds blood in the vessels

Spleen yang deficiency failing to govern blood. The middle burner is too cold and weak to keep blood within its vessels, so blood leaks out slowly and the blood itself is thin and dark rather than bright.

Clinical Manifestations

  • Blood in the stool with dark, dilute blood
  • Chronic uterine bleeding from Spleen yang deficiency
  • Vomiting of blood or nosebleed in a cold, exhausted patient
  • Chronic bleeding with cold limbs and a pale complexion
TonguePale with a thin white coating
PulseDeep, thin and frail

Health Categories

Women's HealthDigestive HealthHeart & Circulation

Modern Applications

Gastrointestinal bleedingMelenaMenorrhagiaPeptic ulcer bleedingAnemia from chronic blood loss

Common adjustments

Contraindications

Not for bleeding from heat — bright red blood in a flushed, thirsty patient with a red tongue and rapid pulse — where the warming herbs will make it worse. must be the properly processed form and is decocted first; unprocessed aconite is toxic. Gastrointestinal or uterine bleeding needs a diagnosis, and significant blood loss is a medical emergency regardless of pattern.

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

Pregnancy

Not for use in pregnancy without a practitioner's direction. is a processed aconite preparation, classically restricted in pregnancy and toxic if under-processed, and that alone rules out casual use. Bleeding during pregnancy is an obstetric emergency and must be assessed medically before any herbal treatment is considered. The formula has no significant interaction with anticoagulant drugs, but a patient bleeding on such a drug needs review by the prescriber, not a stanching decoction.

References

Source Jin Gui Yao Lue 《金匮要略》 · Eastern Han

「下血，先便后血，此远血也，黄土汤主之。」
— 《金匮要略》(classical source, public domain)
  1. Classical source (public domain) — 《金匮要略·惊悸吐衄下血胸满瘀血病脉证治》, Eastern Han, Zhang Zhong-jing.
    2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked; 赤石脂 as the accepted substitute for 灶心黄土.
    3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— 理血剂 · 止血, pattern and 配伍 analysis cross-checked.
    4. Pharmacopoeial monograph on processed 附子 — aconite alkaloid content and the requirement for prolonged pre-decoction.

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.