Shao Yao Tang芍药汤

Peony Decoction

Clearing Heat 清热剂Clear Organ Heat 清脏腑热

Ingredients9 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

芍Bai Shao芍药Paeoniae Radix Alba30g臣 DeputyUsed in a large dose to harmonize the blood and soften the cramping abdominal pain

当Dang Gui当归Angelicae Sinensis Radix15g臣 DeputyMoves and nourishes the blood — Liu Wan-su's "move the blood and the pus resolves"黄Huang Lian黄连Coptidis Rhizoma15g君 ChiefDrains fire and resolves the toxicity behind the pus and blood 槟Bing Lang槟榔Arecae Semen6g臣 DeputyBreaks up qi stagnation and drives the accumulation downward 木Mu Xiang木香Aucklandiae Radix6g臣 DeputyMoves Intestinal qi so the tenesmus releases 甘Zhi Gan Cao甘草炒Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata6g佐使 Assistant–EnvoyHarmonizes and, with Bai Shao, eases the abdominal cramping 大Da Huang大黄Rhei Radix et Rhizoma9gClears the damp-heat stagnation out through the stool — used to open, not to purge hard 黄Huang Qin黄芩Scutellariae Radix15g君 ChiefClears heat and dries the damp in the Intestines

官官桂5g佐 Assistant

Indications

Clears heat and dries dampRegulates qi and harmonizes the bloodRelieves tenesmus and stops dysenteric diarrhoea

Damp-heat dysentery: damp-heat scorches the Intestines, injures the blood network and blocks the qi. Bleeding follows the blood injury and tenesmus follows the qi obstruction, so the treatment addresses all three — heat, blood, and qi.

Clinical Manifestations

Dysentery with pus and blood in the stool, red and white mixed
Abdominal pain with urgency and unfinished-feeling stools
Burning at the anus with dark scanty urine
Bacillary dysentery or acute colitis presenting as damp-heat
Ulcerative colitis flare with damp-heat signs

TongueGreasy yellow coating

PulseWiry and rapid

Health Categories

Digestive Health

Modern Applications

Dysentery Bacillary dysentery Colitis Bloody diarrhoea Tenesmus

Common adjustments

No constipation — the stagnation is not solid — remove Da Huang 大黄
Heat toxin marked, mostly blood in the stool — add Bai Tou Weng 白头翁 or combine with Bai Tou Weng Tang 白头翁汤
Food stagnation with a thick greasy coating — add Shan Zha 山楂 and Shen Qu 神曲
Exterior fever still present — add Ge Gen 葛根 to release the exterior and lift the clear yang

Contraindications

For damp-heat dysentery only. Not for chronic dysentery of deficiency cold, with pale watery stools and a cold abdomen relieved by warmth. Da Huang and Bing Lang are draining and the formula is stopped once the stools normalize. Acute dysentery with fever and dehydration is a medical emergency, particularly in children and the elderly.

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

Pregnancy

Contraindicated in pregnancy without direct practitioner supervision — Da Huang purges, Bing Lang drives qi downward and Rou Gui is hot and downward-moving; all three are conventionally withheld during pregnancy. Dysentery in pregnancy needs medical care.

Related Formulas

Huang Qin Tang黄芩汤

References

Source Su Wen Bing Ji Qi Yi Bao Ming Ji 《素问病机气宜保命集》 · Jin

「行血则便脓自愈，调气则后重自除。」
— 《素问病机气宜保命集》(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.