Chinese herbal formulas
Chinese herbal medicine uses precisely composed formulas — combinations of medicinal herbs that work synergistically to address the underlying TCM pattern driving a patient’s condition. Unlike single-herb remedies, classical Chinese formulas have been refined over centuries of clinical use and are the cornerstone of how Chinese herbal medicine is practised today.
Each formula below has its own page explaining what it is, which TCM patterns it addresses, its key herbs and their actions, the conditions it is most commonly used for, and how I prescribe it in clinical practice. All formulas I prescribe are available as pharmaceutical-grade granule extracts from Sun Ten in Taiwan — tested to the highest international quality and safety standards. Online herbal consultations are available for patients who cannot attend the clinic in person.
For an explanation of the TCM terms used throughout these pages, see the TCM glossary of terms.
Individual profiles for 168 of the most clinically important herbs that appear in these formulas are available in the Chinese herb directory, covering each herb’s properties, actions, indications and modern research.
Formulas A–F
- Ba Zhen Tang — Eight Treasure Decoction
- Ba Zheng San — Eight Correct Powder
- Bai Hu Tang — White Tiger Decoction
- Bai Tou Weng Tang — Pulsatilla Decoction
- Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang — Pinellia, Atractylodes and Gastrodia Decoction
- Ban Xia Hou Po Tang — Pinellia and Magnolia Bark Decoction
- Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang — Pinellia Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium
- Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang — Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction
- Cang Er Zi San — Xanthium Powder
- Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang — Bupleurum and Kudzu Decoction to Release the Muscle Layer
- Chai Hu Gui Zhi Tang — Bupleurum and Cinnamon Twig Decoction
- Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang — Bupleurum with Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell
- Chai Hu Shu Gan San — Bupleurum Liver-Spreading Powder
- Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San — Tea-mixed Chuan Xiong Powder
- Da Bu Yin Wan — Great Tonify the Yin Pill
- Da Chai Hu Tang — Major Bupleurum Decoction
- Da Ding Feng Zhu — Major Calm Wind Pearl Decoction
- Dang Gui Shao Yao San — Tangkuei and Peony Powder
- Dang Gui Si Ni Tang — Tangkuei Decoction for Frigid Extremities
- Di Tan Tang — Scour Phlegm Decoction
- Ding Chuan Tang — Arrest Wheezing Decoction
- Du Huo Ji Sheng Wan — Angelica Pubescens and Taxillus Decoction
- Er Chen Tang — Two-Cured Decoction
- Er Miao San — Two Marvel Powder
- Er Xian Tang — Two Immortals Decoction
- Fang Feng Tong Sheng San — Ledebouriella Powder that Sagely Unblocks
- Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang — Stephania and Astragalus Decoction
Formulas G–J
- Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan — Sweet Dew Eliminate Toxin Pill
- Gan Mai Da Zao Tang — Licorice, Wheat and Jujube Decoction
- Ge Gen Tang — Kudzu Decoction
- Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang — Drive Out Blood Stasis Below the Diaphragm
- Gui Pi Tang — Restore the Spleen Decoction
- Gui Shao Di Huang Wan — Angelica, Peony and Rehmannia Decoction
- Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan — Cinnamon Twig and Poria Pill
- Huang Lian Jie Du Tang — Coptis Decoction to Relieve Toxicity
- Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang — Astragalus Decoction to Construct the Middle
- Huang Qin Tang — Scutellaria Decoction
- Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San — Patchouli Rectify the Qi Powder
- Jia Wei Xiao Yao San — Augmented Free and Easy Wanderer
- Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan — Kidney Qi Pill from the Golden Cabinet
- Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan — Golden Lock Pill to Secure Essence
- Juan Bi Tang — Remove Painful Obstruction Decoction
Formulas L–R
- Li Zhong Wan — Regulate the Middle Pill
- Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang — Poria, Cinnamon, Atractylodes and Liquorice Decoction
- Liu Jun Zi Tang — Six Gentlemen Decoction
- Liu Wei Di Huang Wan — Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill
- Long Dan Xie Gan Tang — Gentiana Drain the Liver Decoction
- Long Gu Mu Li Tang — Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction
- Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang — Ephedra, Aconite and Asarum Decoction
- Ma Huang Tang — Ephedra Decoction
- Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang — Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Gypsum and Liquorice Decoction
- Ma Zi Ren Wan — Hemp Seed Pill
- Mai Men Dong Tang — Ophiopogon Decoction
- Ping Wei San — Calm the Stomach Powder
- Qi Ju Di Huang Wan — Lycium, Chrysanthemum and Rehmannia Pill
- Qing Fei Tang — Clear the Lung Decoction
- Qing Wen Bai Du Yin — Clear Epidemics and Eliminate Toxin Decoction
- Qing Ying Tang — Clear the Nutritive Level Decoction
- Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang — Eliminate Dryness and Rescue the Lung Decoction
- Ren Shen Bai Du San — Ginseng Decoction to Overcome Pathogenic Influences
Formulas S
- San Ren Tang — Three Nut Decoction
- Sang Ju Yin — Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum Drink
- Sang Piao Xiao San — Mantis Egg Case Powder
- Sha Shen Mai Men Dong Tang — Glehnia and Ophiopogon Decoction
- Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang — Drive Out Blood Stasis in the Lower Abdomen Decoction
- Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang — Peony and Licorice Decoction
- Shen Ling Bai Zhu San — Ginseng, Poria and Atractylodes Powder
- Sheng Mai San — Generate the Pulse Powder
- Shi Quan Da Bu Tang — Ten-Treasure Great Tonifying Decoction
- Si Jun Zi Tang — Four Gentlemen Decoction
- Si Ni San — Frigid Extremities Powder
- Si Shen Wan — Four Miracle Pill
- Si Wu Tang — Four-Substance Decoction
- Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang — Perilla Seed Descend the Qi Decoction
- Suan Zao Ren Tang He Gui Pi Tang — Combined Insomnia Formula
- Suan Zao Ren Tang — Sour Jujube Seed Decoction
Formulas T–Z
- Tao He Cheng Qi Tang — Peach Pit Decoction to Order the Qi
- Tao Hong Si Wu Tang — Four-Substance Decoction with Safflower and Peach Pit
- Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin — Gastrodia and Uncaria Drink
- Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan — Emperor of Heaven’s Special Pill
- Tong Xie Yao Fang — Painful Diarrhoea Essential Formula
- Wen Dan Tang — Warm the Gallbladder Decoction
- Wen Jing Tang — Warm the Menses Decoction
- Wu Ling San — Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria
- Wu Mei Wan — Mume Pill / Black Plum Pill
- Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang — Six Gentlemen Decoction with Aucklandia and Amomum
- Xiao Chai Hu Tang — Minor Bupleurum Decoction
- Xiao Cheng Qi Tang — Minor Order the Qi Decoction
- Xiao Feng San — Eliminate Wind Powder
- Xiao Jian Zhong Tang — Minor Construct the Middle Decoction
- Xiao Qing Long Tang — Minor Bluegreen Dragon Decoction
- Xiao Yao San — Free and Easy Wanderer
- Xie Bai San — Drain the White Powder
- Xin Yi San — Magnolia Flower Powder
- Xuan Bi Tang — Disband Painful Obstruction Decoction
- Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang — Inula and Hematite Decoction
- Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang — Drive Out Blood Stasis in the Mansion of Blood
- Yang He Tang — Harmonise Yang Decoction
- Yi Gan San — Restrain the Liver Powder (Yokukansan)
- Yi Guan Jian — Linking Decoction
- Yin Chen Hao Tang — Artemisia Capillaris Decoction
- Yin Qiao San — Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder
- You Gui Wan — Restore the Right Kidney Pill
- Yu Nu Jian — Jade Lady Decoction
- Yu Ping Feng San — Jade Windscreen Powder
- Yue Ju Wan — Escape Restraint Pill
- Zeng Ye Tang — Increase the Fluids Decoction
- Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang — Sedate the Liver and Extinguish Wind Decoction
- Zhen Wu Tang — True Warrior Decoction
- Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan — Anemarrhena, Phellodendron and Rehmannia Pill
- Zhi Gan Cao Tang — Honey-fried Licorice Decoction
- Zhi Sou San — Stop Coughing Powder
- Zhu Ling Tang — Polyporus Decoction
- Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang — Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction
- Zuo Gui Wan — Restore the Left Kidney Pill
- Zuo Jin Wan — Left Metal Pill
How I prescribe Chinese herbal formulas
In clinical practice, formulas are rarely prescribed exactly as written in classical texts. Based on the individual patient’s TCM pattern diagnosis — identified through tongue examination, pulse-taking, detailed questioning and observation — I select the most appropriate base formula and modify it by adding or removing specific herbs to match the patient’s unique presentation. This process of personalisation is what distinguishes authentic TCM herbal prescribing from the sale of off-the-shelf herbal products.
All formulas are prescribed as pharmaceutical-grade granule extracts dissolved in warm water and taken as a daily drink. The granules I prescribe are manufactured by Sun Ten in Taiwan, one of the world’s leading producers of pharmaceutical-grade Chinese herbal extracts. For more information, visit the Chinese herbal medicine page or book an online herbal consultation.
