Shi Shen Tang (十神汤) — Ten Divine Ingredients Decoction

Shi Shen Tang (Ten Divine Ingredients Decoction) is the classical Chinese formula for the four-seasons cold in a constitutionally weak patient — wind-cold or wind-damp with underlying Qi and Blood deficiency, presenting with chills more than fever, body ache, and profound tiredness rather than sharp acute onset. Ten balanced herbs cover release-exterior, harmonise-Middle and gently support Qi and Blood.

On this page

Overview
TCM pattern
Ingredients
Actions and indications
Dosing
Cautions and contraindications
Related formulas
Treatment at my clinic

1. Overview

Shi Shen Tang (十神汤) — Ten Divine Ingredients Decoction — is a classical Chinese herbal formula in the Release Exterior category. Source: He Ji Ju Fang (Imperial Grace Formulary of the Tai Ping Era). I prescribe it as bespoke pharmaceutical-grade granules from Sun Ten in Taiwan at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire and via online herbal consultations.

2. TCM pattern

External Wind-Cold or Wind-Damp in a Qi and Blood-deficient constitution: chills predominant over fever, headache, body ache, nasal congestion, cough, fatigue, poor appetite, pale complexion, pale tongue with white coat.

3. Ingredients

Ma Huang — Ephedra sinica (3–6g) — releases exterior, disperses cold (regulated herb in the UK — qualified prescriber only)
Ge Gen — Pueraria lobata (9g) — releases exterior, generates fluids, eases neck stiffness
Chuan Xiong — Ligusticum chuanxiong (6g) — expels Wind, relieves headache
Zi Su Ye — Perilla frutescens (leaf) (6g) — releases exterior, harmonises Middle
Bai Zhi — Angelica dahurica (6g) — expels Wind, opens nose
Chen Pi — Citrus reticulata (6g) — regulates Qi
Xiang Fu — Cyperus rotundus (6g) — regulates Qi and mood
Zhi Gan Cao — Glycyrrhiza uralensis (honey-fried) (6g) — harmonises
Sheng Jiang — Zingiber officinale (fresh) (3 slices) — warms Middle, releases exterior
Cong Bai — Allium fistulosum (spring onion white) (3 stalks) — opens Yang, releases exterior

4. Actions and indications

Principal actions

Releases the exterior
Regulates Qi and Blood
Harmonises the Middle

Indications

Wind-Cold in a weak or elderly constitution
Prolonged low-grade viral illness with body ache and fatigue
Winter colds in patients with tendency to catch every bug
Convalescent phase of acute infection with lingering ache and tiredness

5. Dosing

As decoction, twice daily during acute illness. Granule 4–6g/day. Short course: 3–7 days typical.

6. Cautions and contraindications

Contains Ma Huang — qualified prescriber only; UK-regulated herb.
Contraindicated in hypertension, glaucoma, hyperthyroidism.
Not for Wind-Heat patterns (sore throat, thirst, fever predominant).
Contraindicated in pregnancy without specialist supervision.

8. Treatment at my clinic

I prescribe Shi Shen Tang where the TCM pattern above matches the patient’s presentation, typically as part of a wider prescription tailored to the individual. Return to the Chinese herbal formulas directory or the Chinese herbal medicine main page.