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Cura x Cura

Wen Pi Tang温脾汤

Warm the Spleen Decoction

Purging Downward 泻下剂Warm Purgation 温下

Ingredients7 herbs

大Da Huang大黄15g君 ChiefPurges the cold accumulation out of the bowel当Dang Gui当归9g佐 AssistantNourishes blood and moistens the bowel, offsetting the dryness of purging干Gan Jiang干姜9g臣 DeputyWarms the middle burner and steadies the Spleen yang
附Fu Zi附子6g君 ChiefWarms Spleen and Kidney yang and disperses the congealed cold
人Ren Shen人参6g佐 AssistantAugments qi so the purge does not deplete the patient芒Mang Xiao芒硝6g臣 DeputySoftens the hardened stool so Da Huang can move it甘Gan Cao甘草6g佐使 Assistant–EnvoyHarmonises the attacking and supporting halves of the formula

Indications

Purges the cold accumulationWarms and tonifies Spleen yangSupports qi and blood during the purge

Cold accumulation on a background of yang deficiency. Spleen yang cannot move the stool and cold has congealed it; purging alone would strip what little yang is left, so warming tonics are built into the formula.

Clinical Manifestations

  • Constipation with cold, cramping periumbilical pain
  • Cold accumulation constipation in a patient with cold limbs and fatigue
  • Chronic dysentery-like stool with cold pain in the abdomen
  • Long-standing constipation where purgatives alone have exhausted the patient
TonguePale with a white coating
PulseDeep, wiry and slow

Health Categories

Digestive Health

Modern Applications

Chronic constipationChronic diarrhoeaAbdominal painHypothyroid constipationColitis

Common adjustments

Contraindications

Not for heat-type constipation or for dryness from fluid depletion. Fu Zi must be the prepared form and decocted first. This is a short course: once the cold accumulation has cleared, the treatment turns to warming and tonifying alone.

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

Pregnancy

Contraindicated in pregnancy. Da Huang and Mang Xiao purge downward and Fu Zi is a toxic hot herb avoided in pregnancy; the tonic herbs in the formula do not offset either concern.

References

Source Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang 《备急千金要方》 · Tang

  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）— chapter placement, 功用 and 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.