Bai Tou Weng Tang
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
白头翁汤 · Bái Tóu Wēng Tāng
A Shang Han Lun formula for hot dysentery with more Blood than pus, abdominal pain, tenesmus and a desire for cold drinks — damp-heat toxin in the Intestines.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Heat-Clearing Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Damp-Heat
- Primary Function
- Clear heat, resolve toxin, cool the Blood, stop dysentery
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Clear damp-heat toxin from the Intestines and cool the Blood
- Classical Source
- Shang Han Lun (Zhang Zhongjing, Eastern Han)
- Available as Granules
- Yes
Formula Overview
A Shang Han Lun formula for hot dysentery with more Blood than pus, abdominal pain, tenesmus and a desire for cold drinks — damp-heat toxin in the Intestines.
Therapeutic Principle
Traditionally selected for hot dysentery with blood-predominant stools and burning tenesmus — stronger toxin-clearing in the Intestines than general heat-diarrhoea formulas.
Composition: Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, Envoy
Every herb in the formula, grouped by the job it does in the classical hierarchy.
君SovereignTreats the main pattern
臣MinisterReinforces the sovereign
黃柏Huang Bai12g
Phellodendron Bark- clears heat and dries dampness
- resolves toxins and relieves dysentery
黃連Huang Lian6g
Coptis Rhizome- clears heat and dries dampness
- resolves toxins and relieves dysentery
佐/使Assistant & EnvoyTreats accompanying patterns, harmonises the whole
Classical Composition
- Pulsatillae Radix (Bai Tou Weng) 2 liang (15g)
- Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex (Huang Bai) 3 liang (12g)
- Coptidis Rhizoma (Huang Lian) 3 liang (6g)
- Fraxini Cortex (Qin Pi) 3 liang (12g)
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Clears heat
- resolves toxins
- cools the blood
- and arrests dysentery.
Indications
- This formula is indicated for heat toxin bloody dysentery.
- The symptoms are stools with pus and fresh blood, abdominal pain, abdominal urgency with rectal heaviness, burning sensation in the anus, thirst with a desire to drink, a red tongue with yellow coating, and a slippery, rapid pulse.
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- This is a pattern of accumulation and obstruction of damp-heat and epidemic toxins in the large intestine with invasion of heat into the blood level.
- Damp-heat and epidemic toxins steam the large intestine and burn the adjacent blood vessels, which lead to stools that contain pus and fresh blood.
- Damp-heat distresses the large intestine and produces a burning sensation in anus.
- The movement of qi becomes obstructed, which causes abdominal pain and abdominal urgency with rectal heaviness.
- Heat toxin consumes fluids and causes thirst.
- The cause of the pattern is damp-heat and epidemic toxins, and the location of disease is the large intestine and the blood level.
Clinical presentation
- A red tongue with a yellow coating and a slippery, rapid pulse are signs of an intense heat toxin.
Treatment strategy
- Therefore, the therapeutic method is to clear heat, dry dampness, cool the blood, and resolve toxins.
How does this formula compare?
| Compare | Bai Tou Weng Tang | Ge Gen Qin Lian Tang | Huang Lian Jie Du Tang |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Function | Clear heat, resolve toxin, cool the Blood, stop dysentery | Release exterior, clear interior heat, stop diarrhoea | Clear heat, resolve toxin, drain fire |
| Formula Category | Heat-Clearing Formulas | Heat-Clearing Formulas | Heat-Clearing Formulas |
| Typical TCM Pattern | Damp-Heat | Damp-Heat | Damp-Heat |
| Main Conditions | Diarrhea·Abdominal Pain·Fever·Dry Mouth & Throat | Diarrhea·Fever·Abdominal Pain·Dry Mouth & Throat | Fever·Anxiety Restlessness·Dry Mouth & Throat·Constipation |
| Main Herbs | Pulsatilla Root·Phellodendron Bark·Coptis Rhizome·Ash Bark | Kudzu Root·Scutellaria / Baikal Skullcap·Coptis Rhizome·Honey-fried Licorice | Coptis Rhizome·Scutellaria / Baikal Skullcap·Phellodendron Bark·Gardenia Fruit |
| Classical Source | Shang Han Lun (Zhang Zhongjing, Eastern Han) | Shang Han Lun (Zhang Zhongjing, Eastern Han) | Wai Tai Mi Yao (Wang Tao, Tang dynasty, citing earlier sources) |
Clinical Perspective
Bai Tou Weng Tang clears toxic heat for dysentery with more blood. Ge Gen Qin Lian Tang clears heat for feverish diarrhoea with residual exterior signs. Huang Lian Jie Du Tang drains Triple Burner fire-toxin more broadly.
Clinical Differentiation
- Bai Tou Weng Tang is a common formula used to treat heat toxin bloody dysentery.
- This clinical pattern is marked by stool with pus and fresh blood, abdominal pain, abdominal urgency with rectal heaviness, red tongue body with yellow coating, slippery, rapid pulse.
Safety notes: This formula is bitter and cold. It is not appropriate for deficiency-cold dysentery.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actions of Bai Tou Weng Tang?
Bai Tou Weng Tang has the actions of clearing Heat, resolving Toxicity, cooling the Blood, and stopping dysentery. It is the classic Shang Han Lun formula for severe Heat-toxin dysentery that scorches the Intestines and injures the Blood.
Which modern diseases is Bai Tou Weng Tang suited to?
Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within intense Heat-toxin in the Intestines, including acute bacillary dysentery, amebic dysentery, acute enteritis with bloody and purulent stools, and certain active phases of ulcerative colitis presenting with Heat-toxin signs.
Is Bai Tou Weng Tang suitable for improving dysentery with blood, pus, tenesmus, and burning anus?
For presentations of diarrhea containing pus and blood (often more blood than white pus), abdominal pain, urgent tenesmus (feeling of incomplete evacuation), burning sensation at the anus, thirst, a red tongue with yellow coating, and a slippery or wiry rapid pulse — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms Heat-toxin dysentery — TCM commonly applies Bai Tou Weng Tang as an adjunct. It cannot replace standard medical treatment of infectious dysentery.
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Medical Disclaimer
For general TCM education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified TCM practitioner or licensed healthcare provider before use, especially if pregnant, nursing, on medication, or managing a chronic condition.