Wan Dai Tang — End the Discharge Decoction

On this page

1. Overview
2. TCM pattern
3. Key herbs
4. Formula actions
5. Conditions treated
6. Comparisons with related formulas
7. Cautions

Overview

Wan Dai Tang — the “End the Discharge Decoction” — is a Qing-dynasty formula by Fu Qingzhu (Fu Shan, 1607–1684), one of the great female-medicine specialists in Chinese medical history. It appears in his Fu Qing Zhu Nu Ke (Fu Qingzhu’s Women’s Diseases). The formula addresses the very common pattern of profuse white vaginal discharge from Spleen Qi deficiency with Damp accumulation and Liver Qi stagnation.

Fu Qingzhu’s insight was that most chronic leukorrhoea is not a primary local problem but a Spleen-Qi-deficiency Damp problem with Liver Qi tension overlaid. Just clearing Damp without strengthening the Spleen and soothing the Liver allows the discharge to return. His formula combines large doses of Bai Zhu and Shan Yao (Spleen tonics) with Cang Zhu (drying Damp), Bai Shao (softening Liver), Chai Hu (smoothing Liver Qi) and other supporting herbs in elegant proportions.

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

TCM pattern

Wan Dai Tang is prescribed for chronic vaginal discharge from Spleen Qi deficiency with Damp and Liver Qi stagnation:

• Profuse white or pale-yellow vaginal discharge
• Discharge that is thin, sticky, not particularly malodorous
• Persistent over weeks or months
• Fatigue, lassitude
• Bloating, loose stools
• Pale complexion
• Cold lower abdomen
• Mild irritability or PMS
• Tongue — pale, possibly with teethmarks, slippery white coat
• Pulse — soft, weak, possibly wiry at the Liver position

Key herbs

1. Bai Zhu (large dose) — tonifies Spleen Qi and dries Damp
2. Shan Yao (large dose) — tonifies Spleen and Kidney; astringes
3. Cang Zhu (Atractylodes lancea) — dries Damp
4. Ren Shen — tonifies Qi
5. Bai Shao — nourishes Blood and softens the Liver
6. Chen Pi — regulates Qi
7. Che Qian Zi (plantain seed) — drains Damp downward through urination
8. Jing Jie Tan (charred Schizonepeta) — stops leakage
9. Chai Hu — smoothes Liver Qi
10. Gan Cao — harmonises

Formula actions

1. Tonifies Spleen Qi
2. Drains Damp
3. Soothes Liver Qi
4. Stops leukorrhoea (discharge)
5. Strengthens the Ren and Dai mai

Conditions treated

1. Chronic vaginal discharge (leukorrhoea) from Spleen-Damp pattern
2. Chronic cervicitis with white discharge
3. Recurrent bacterial vaginosis with damp pattern (alongside conventional care)
4. Mild chronic fungal infection with watery white discharge
5. Postpartum persistent discharge
6. Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease recovery
7. Vaginal discharge in pregnancy from Spleen weakness (under specialist supervision)

Comparisons with related formulas

• Yi Huang Tang — Fu Qingzhu’s formula for damp-heat yellow discharge.
• Long Dan Xie Gan Tang — for damp-heat in the lower burner with foul yellow discharge.
• Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin — for chronic damp leakage in the lower burner.
• Wu Mei Wan — for cold-deficient leakage with diarrhoea.

Cautions

Not appropriate for damp-heat discharge with yellow, foul, sticky leukorrhoea, vulval itching or burning — use Yi Huang Tang or Long Dan Xie Gan Tang.

Vaginal discharge with bleeding, post-coital bleeding, foul odour or systemic symptoms needs gynaecological assessment to exclude infection, polyp, fibroid or cervical pathology.

Use cautiously in pregnancy — the formula contains Chai Hu and other moving herbs; modify with a qualified practitioner.

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the RCHM.

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