Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang (身痛逐瘀汤) — Drive Out Blood Stasis from a Painful Body

On this page

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

Overview

Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang — the “Drive Out Blood Stasis from a Painful Body Decoction” — is one of Wang Qingren’s (1768–1831) signature Blood-stasis formulas from Yi Lin Gai Cuo. It addresses chronic body and joint pain from Blood stasis with Wind-Damp obstruction in the channels — the picture of long-standing, fixed, deep aches in the body or joints that haven’t responded to other approaches.

The formula combines Blood-moving herbs (Tao Ren, Hong Hua, Chuan Xiong, Mo Yao, Wu Ling Zhi), Qi-moving herbs (Xiang Fu, Niu Xi), Wind-Damp dispersers (Qiang Huo, Qin Jiao) and earthworm Di Long to open the channels.

I prescribe Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.

TCM pattern

Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang is prescribed for Blood stasis with Wind-Damp in the channels:

• Chronic body or joint pain
• Pain is fixed, deep, possibly stabbing
• Pain worse at night
• Pain worse with damp weather
• Long-standing history, often resistant to other treatments
• Possible numbness or tingling
• Tongue — purplish, possibly with stasis spots, white coat
• Pulse — wiry, choppy

Key herbs

1. Tao Ren (Sm. Persicae, 6-9g), Hong Hua (Flos Carthami, 6-9g) — move Blood
2. Chuan Xiong (Rx. Chuanxiong, 6-9g), Mo Yao (Myrrh, 3-6g) — move Blood and stop pain
3. Wu Ling Zhi (Faeces Trogopterori, 3-6g) — breaks Blood stasis
4. Xiang Fu (Rz. Cyperi, 1-3g) — regulates Liver Qi
5. Niu Xi (Rx. Cyathulae, 6-9g) — moves Blood and directs it downward
6. Qiang Huo (Rz. & Rx. Notopterygii, 3-9g), Qin Jiao (Rx. Gentianae, 3-9g) — dispel Wind-Damp from the channels
7. Di Long (earthworm, 3-6g) — opens channels and breaks Wind-Phlegm
8. Dang Gui (Rx. Angelicae Sinensis, 6-9g) — nourishes and moves Blood
9. Gan Cao (Rx. Glycyrrhizae, 3-6g) — harmonises

Formula actions

1. Moves Blood and breaks stasis
2. Disperses Wind-Damp
3. Opens the channels
4. Relieves chronic deep body pain

Conditions treated

1. Chronic body aches from old injury or whiplash
2. Chronic rheumatoid arthritis[14] with prominent Blood stasis — see rheumatoid arthritis
3. Fibromyalgia with Blood stasis pattern — see fibromyalgia
4. Chronic post-stroke^[18] pain
5. Chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
6. Chronic sciatica with Blood stasis — see sciatica
7. Chronic frozen shoulder with stasis pattern — see frozen shoulder

Cautions

Contains Tao Ren and Hong Hua — strictly contraindicated in pregnancy.

Contains Di Long (earthworm) and Wu Ling Zhi (squirrel droppings) — animal products. Vegetarian patients can request modification.

Use cautiously in patients on anticoagulants — multiple Blood-moving herbs.

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the RCHM.

Prefer to be treated from home? Chinese herbal medicine online consultations are available throughout the UK and worldwide.

Related formulas

For fixed, stabbing pain from Blood stasis in a specific area — a painful joint, the shoulder or a limb — the four-herb Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan is a simpler, plant-based alternative that invigorates the Blood and unblocks the collaterals. Where the stasis is centred in the chest, Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang is the more targeted choice.

References

[14] Han R, Ren HC, Zhou S, Gu S, Gu YY, Sze DM, Chen MH. Conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs combined with Chinese Herbal Medicines for rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Tradit Complement Med. 2022 Jan 26;12(5):437-446. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2022.01.005. PMID: 36081815.

[18] Shi YH, Wang Y, Fu H, Xu Z, Zeng H, Zheng GQ. Therapeutic effect of Chinese herbal medicines for post stroke recovery: A traditional and network meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Dec;96(49):e9214. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000009214. PMID: 29245245.