Ba Zheng San — Eight Correct Powder

On this page

1. Overview
2. TCM pattern
3. Key herbs
4. Formula actions
5. Conditions treated
6. Cautions

What is Ba Zheng San?

Ba Zheng San — Eight Correct Powder — is a classical Song dynasty formula from the Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (1107) for acute Damp-Heat in the lower Burner. It is one of the most widely used formulas in Chinese herbal medicine for acute urinary tract infection, acute prostatitis and other Damp-Heat presentations of the bladder and lower abdomen.

I prescribe Ba Zheng San as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.

Ba Zheng San TCM pattern

Prescribed for Damp-Heat lodged in the lower Burner: frequent, urgent, painful and burning urination, scanty dark or cloudy urine, lower abdominal distension, possible blood in urine, dry mouth, yellow greasy tongue coat and a slippery rapid pulse.

Key herbs

1. Che Qian Zi — promotes urination and clears Damp-Heat
2. Qu Mai, Bian Xu — promote urination and clear Damp-Heat
3. Hua Shi (Talcum) — clears Damp-Heat through urination
4. Zhi Zi — drains heat from all three Burners
5. Mu Tong (Akebia) — clears heat and promotes urination
6. Da Huang — drains heat and unblocks the bowels
7. Gan Cao — harmonises and protects the middle

Formula actions

1. Clears Damp-Heat in the lower Burner
2. Promotes urination and unblocks painful urinary obstruction
3. Relieves burning, frequency and urgency

Conditions treated

1. Acute uncomplicated urinary tract infection in healthy adults
2. Acute prostatitis with burning and difficult urination
3. Acute urethritis
4. Damp-Heat haematuria from cystitis
5. Damp-Heat presentations of kidney stones with cystitis features

Cautions

Contraindicated in pregnancy, weak constitutions and chronic deficient urinary patterns. Use the formula for the short acute phase only; transition to a tonifying or moistening formula for chronic recurring UTIs. Complicated UTI (pyelonephritis, recurrent UTI, UTI in pregnancy or in the elderly) requires medical review. Aristolochic-acid-containing Mu Tong species are banned; only Akebia trifoliata (Chuan Mu Tong) or substitutes are used in modern Sun Ten preparations.

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM). Online herbal consultations are available.

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