Zhen Wu Tang真武汤
True Warrior Decoction
Ingredients5 herbs
Indications
Yang deficiency with water flooding: Kidney and Spleen yang can no longer steam and move the fluids, so water spills into the limbs, the abdomen and the head. It also answers the over-sweated Taiyang patient left palpitating, dizzy and trembling because yang went out with the sweat.
Clinical Manifestations
- Edema with cold limbs and difficult urination
- Heavy aching limbs with abdominal pain and loose stool
- Palpitations, dizziness and muscle twitching after excessive sweating
- Chronic diarrhea of Spleen and Kidney yang deficiency
- Cold-type urinary difficulty
Health Categories
Modern Applications
Common adjustments
- Cough accompanies the water pattern — add Wu Wei Zi 五味子, Gan Jiang 干姜 and Xi Xin 细辛, per the classical instruction
- Urination already free — remove Fu Ling 茯苓
- Diarrhea predominant — remove Bai Shao 白芍 and add Gan Jiang 干姜
- Vomiting predominant — omit the prepared aconite and increase Sheng Jiang 生姜
Contraindications
Wrong for edema or urinary difficulty of damp-heat, and wrong for yin-deficiency patterns with thirst and a red dry tongue — warming and draining would deepen the dryness. The formula contains aconite: only the properly processed root is used, it is decocted first and long, and it is not taken outside practitioner supervision.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.
Pregnancy
Contraindicated in pregnancy: aconite is not given to pregnant patients, prepared or otherwise.
Related Formulas
References
Source Shang Han Lun 《伤寒论》 · Eastern Han
「太阳病发汗，汗出不解，其人仍发热，心下悸，头眩，身瞤动，振振欲擗地者，真武汤主之。」
- 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.