Tao Hua Tang — Peach Blossom Decoction

On this page

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

Overview

Tao Hua Tang — the “Peach Blossom Decoction” — is from Zhang Zhongjing’s Shang Han Lun. The name comes from the pinkish colour of the chief mineral herb Chi Shi Zhi (halloysite, a kaolin-like clay), which resembles peach-blossom petals. The formula addresses chronic, deficient, cold-pattern bloody diarrhoea — not the acute Damp-Heat bloody diarrhoea of Shao Yao Tang or Bai Tou Weng Tang, but a chronic depleting condition where the intestines have lost their ability to hold and the patient is exhausted.

I prescribe Tao Hua Tang as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.

TCM pattern

Tao Hua Tang is prescribed for chronic Yang-deficient bloody diarrhoea:

• Chronic diarrhoea with dull-coloured blood and pus
• Stools are watery or loose, not foul-smelling
• Abdominal pain relieved by warmth and pressure
• Cold extremities
• Fatigue, weakness
• Pale complexion
• No tenesmus (unlike Damp-Heat dysentery)
• Tongue — pale, white moist coat
• Pulse — deep, weak, slow

Key herbs

1. Chi Shi Zhi (halloysite clay mineral) — chief; astringes the intestines and stops bleeding
2. Gan Jiang (dried ginger) — warms the middle
3. Geng Mi (non-glutinous rice) — nourishes Stomach Qi

Formula actions

1. Warms and astringes the intestines
2. Stops chronic diarrhoea and intestinal bleeding
3. Nourishes the depleted Stomach Qi

Conditions treated

1. Chronic ulcerative colitis with Yang-deficient pattern — see ulcerative colitis
2. Chronic dysentery in the depleted phase
3. Chronic radiation enteritis
4. Microscopic colitis with cold pattern
5. Chronic intestinal bleeding from Yang deficiency
6. Hemorrhoidal bleeding with cold deficient pattern

Cautions

Bloody diarrhoea requires medical investigation to exclude infection, IBD, ischaemic colitis and bowel cancer.

Not appropriate for acute Damp-Heat dysentery, Heat patterns or recent-onset bloody diarrhoea where pathogen needs to be expelled.

Contains Chi Shi Zhi (clay mineral) — ensure pharmaceutical-grade source.

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the RCHM.

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