Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
當歸拈痛湯 · Dāng Guī Niān Tòng Tāng
A classical formula for damp-heat bi with red swollen painful joints, especially of the lower body.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Dampness-Draining Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Damp-Heat
- Primary Function
- Clear heat, drain damp, dispel wind, stop pain
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Clear damp-heat and dispel wind for painful bi
- Classical Source
- Li Dongyuan school / classical
- Available as Granules
- Yes
Formula Overview
A classical formula for damp-heat bi with red swollen painful joints, especially of the lower body.
Therapeutic Principle
Traditionally selected for damp-heat bi with red swollen joints, rather than compact lower damp-heat only, chronic deficient bi, or blood-stasis bi.
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
佐AssistantTreats accompanying patterns
苦參Ku Shen6g
Sophora Root- clears damp-heat and stops itch
蒼朮Cang Zhu9g
Atractylodes Rhizome- dries dampness
- fortifies the spleen and dispels wind-damp
防風Fang Feng6g
Saposhnikovia Root- releases the exterior and scatters wind
當歸Dang Gui9g
Chinese Angelica Root- nourishes and and gently invigorates blood
白朮Bai Zhu9g
White Atractylodes Rhizome- dries dampness and fortifies the spleen
- transforms and transport the water-dampness
人參Ren Shen6g
Ginseng Root- boosts qi and nourishes blood
知母Zhi Mu6g
Anemarrhena Rhizome- clears heat and nourishes yin prevents yin impairment caused by bitter-dry medicinals
- dispels pathogens but does not hurt the body
使EnvoyGuides and harmonises
Classical Composition
- Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix (Qiang Huo) 0.5 liang (15g)
- Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng) 3 qian (9g)
- Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Sheng Ma) 1 qian (3g)
- Puerariae Lobatae Radix (Ge Gen) 2 qian (6g)
- Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Bai Zhu) 1 qian (3g)
- Atractylodis Rhizoma (Cang Zhu) 3 qian (9g)
- Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Dang Gui) 3 qian (9g)
- Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Ren Shen) 2 qian (6g)
- Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gan Cao) 5 qian (15g)
- Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (Ku Shen soaked with wine) 2 qian (6g)
- Scutellariae Radix (Huang Qin dry-fried) 1 qian (3g)
- Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhi Mu) 3 qian (9g)
- Artemisiae Scopariae Herba (Yin Chen fried with wine) 5 qian (15g)
- Polyporus (Zhu Ling) 3 qian (9g)
- Alismatis Rhizoma (Ze Xie) 3 qian (9g)
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Drains dampness and clears heat
- scatters wind and relieves pain.
Indications
- Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang is indicated for patterns that arise due to a conflict between dampness and heat with concurrent external wind contraction.
- The symptoms are aching pain of limbs and joints, heavy sensation of the shoulder and back, swelling and pain of the feet, sores on the feet and knees.
Tongue & pulseThe tongue coating is white and greasy mixed with yellow and the pulse is wiry and rapid.
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang is applied to the complex pattern of wind-damp-heat with dominant dampness due to either internal damp-heat accumulation with external wind contraction or wind-dampness that has transformed into heat.
- Pathogenic wind, dampness, and heat accumulation in the channels block qi and blood movement.
- This condition manifests aching pain of limbs and joints.
- The heavy sensation of shoulders and back is caused by the dominant dampness.
- Damp-heat pouring downward gives rise to swelling and pain in the feet as well as sores on the feet and knees.
Clinical presentation
- Mixed white and yellow, greasy coating and the wiry and rapid pulse are signs of damp-heat.
Treatment strategy
- The therapeutic methods are to eliminate dampness as priority and clear heat and scatter wind to relieve pain secondarily.
How does this formula compare?
Clinical Perspective
Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang, Si Miao San, Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang and Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang address damp-heat or bi pain. Si Miao San is a compact lower-body damp-heat formula; Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang tonifies for chronic deficient bi; Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang invigorates blood. Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang clears damp-heat and dispels wind for red swollen painful joints.
Clinical Differentiation
- Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang is the common formula for wind-damp-heat bi and jiao qi (腳氣) due to damp-heat with excessive dampness.
- This clinical pattern is marked by pain, heaviness, and swelling of limbs and joints, mixed white and yellow, greasy tongue coating, rapid pulse.
Safety notes: This formula is not appropriate for cold-damp bi without heat, or for liver-kidney deficiency bi as the sole pattern.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actions of Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang?
Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang has the actions of draining Dampness, clearing Heat, dispersing Wind, and stopping pain. Li Dongyuan designed it so the pain of Damp-Heat Bi can be “pinched away” without leaving the Blood and Qi unprotected.
Which modern diseases is Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang suited to?
Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within Damp-Heat Bi, including hot heavy aching joints or shoulders of Damp-Heat type, some gout or swollen painful feet of this pattern, and Damp-Heat sores or heaviness of the lower legs after medical causes have been assessed.
Is Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang suitable for improving vexing, heavy joint pain with Heat signs?
For presentations of aching or burning joint pain, heaviness of the shoulders and back or swollen painful feet, a greasy slightly yellow coating, and a wiry rapid or slippery pulse — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms Damp-Heat wrestling with Wind — TCM commonly applies Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang as an adjunct. A single red-hot joint with high fever needs urgent medical evaluation.
Related Products
Hoi Tin Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang (Angelica Pain-Stopping Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules
Related Articles
Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Damp-Heat Bi Syndrome, Joint Pain & Swelling
Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Body Pain, Blood Stasis & Bi Syndrome
Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Chronic Bi Syndrome, Lower Back & Knee Pain with Deficiency
Si Miao San: Classic TCM Formula for Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner, Leg Pain & Beriberi
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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.