Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang — 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, Hong Hua — move Blood
2. Chuan Xiong, Mo Yao — move Blood and stop pain
3. Wu Ling Zhi — breaks Blood stasis
4. Xiang Fu — regulates Liver Qi
5. Niu Xi — moves Blood and directs it downward
6. Qiang Huo, Qin Jiao — dispel Wind-Damp from the channels
7. Di Long (earthworm) — opens channels and breaks Wind-Phlegm
8. Dang Gui — nourishes and moves Blood
9. Gan Cao — 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 with prominent Blood stasis — see rheumatoid arthritis
3. Fibromyalgia with Blood stasis pattern — see fibromyalgia
4. Chronic post-stroke 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.

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