Tao Hong Si Wu Tang — Four Substance Decoction with Safflower and Peach Pit

On this page

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

Overview

Tao Hong Si Wu Tang — Four Substance Decoction with Safflower and Peach Pit — is the classical Chinese herbal formula that combines the foundational Blood-nourishing formula Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction) with two powerful Blood-invigorating herbs — Tao Ren (peach seed) and Hong Hua (safflower) — to simultaneously nourish Blood and resolve Blood stasis. This dual action makes it uniquely suited to gynaecological conditions where Blood deficiency and Blood stasis coexist — an extremely common clinical scenario in women with painful or irregular periods, endometriosis and fertility difficulties. It is one of the most fundamental formulas in TCM gynaecology.

TCM pattern

Prescribed for Blood deficiency with Blood stasis, characterised by: irregular menstrual cycle with dark, clotted blood, painful periods (dysmenorrhoea), a dull or sharp pain in the lower abdomen that is relieved by the passage of clots, a pale or purple-tinged tongue, and a thin, choppy (Se) pulse. This pattern is extremely common in women of reproductive age and underlies many gynaecological conditions.

Key herbs

1. Shu Di Huang (prepared Rehmannia root) — nourishes Kidney Yin and Blood; the primary Blood-tonifying herb
2. Bai Shao (Paeonia lactiflora root) — nourishes Blood, softens the Liver and alleviates pain
3. Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis root) — nourishes and invigorates Blood; the most important single herb in TCM gynaecology
4. Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong rhizome) — invigorates Blood and moves Qi; prevents Blood stagnation
5. Tao Ren (Prunus persica seed) — powerfully breaks up Blood stasis and softens hardness; added to address the stasis component
6. Hong Hua (Carthamus tinctorius flower) — invigorates Blood, disperses stasis and alleviates pain; added alongside Tao Ren

Conditions treated

1. Dysmenorrhoea (painful periods) with dark, clotted menstrual blood from Blood stasis with Blood deficiency
2. Endometriosis — one of the core formulas for the Blood stasis pattern of endometriosis; often combined with Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
3. Irregular menstrual cycle with both scanty flow (Blood deficiency) and clotting (Blood stasis)
4. Infertility where Blood stasis and Blood deficiency obstruct implantation and normal menstrual function
5. Post-partum Blood stasis with Blood deficiency — retained lochia and post-partum pain
6. Anaemia with concurrent Blood stasis in the pelvic region

Contraindicated in pregnancy. Use with caution in patients with significant Qi deficiency.

Cautions

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