Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
天王补心丹 · Tiān Wáng Bǔ Xīn Dān
A classical Heart-Yin and Blood tonic for insomnia, palpitations, anxiety and night restlessness from Yin deficiency with empty heat, often with a red tip of the tongue.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Calm the Shen Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Yin Deficiency
- Primary Function
- Nourish Yin and Blood, tonify the Heart, calm the spirit
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Enrich Heart and Kidney Yin, nourish Blood and settle the Shen
- Classical Source
- She Sheng Mi Pou (Ming dynasty) / classical Heart-Yin tonic tradition
- Available as Granules
- Yes
Formula Overview
A classical Heart-Yin and Blood tonic for insomnia, palpitations, anxiety and night restlessness from Yin deficiency with empty heat, often with a red tip of the tongue.
Therapeutic Principle
Traditionally selected for severe Yin-Blood deficiency insomnia with heat signs — deeper nourishing than Suan Zao Ren Tang, more Yin-focused than Gui Pi Tang.
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/使Assistant & EnvoyTreats accompanying patterns, harmonises the whole
丹參Dan Shen6g
Salvia Root- clears the heart and activates blood
茯苓Fu Ling6g
Poria / Hoelen- nourishes the heart to calm the mind
五味子Wu Wei Zi6g
Schisandra Fruit- astringes heart qi and calms the heart spirit
遠志Yuan Zhi6g
Polygala Root- calms the spirit and transforms phlegm in the heart orifice
桔梗Jie Geng6g
Platycodon Root- guides medicinals up to the heart channel
當歸Dang Gui6g
Chinese Angelica Root- supplements blood to moisten dryness
天冬Tian Dong9g
Asparagus Root- enriches yin and clears heat
麥冬Mai Dong9g
Ophiopogon Tuber- nourishes yin and generates fluids
柏子仁Bai Zi Ren9g
Biota Seed- nourishes the heart
- calms the spirit and moistens the intestines
酸棗仁Suan Zao Ren9g
Sour Jujube Seed- nourishes the heart to calm the mind
Classical Composition
- Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Ren Shen) 5 qian (15g)
- Poria (Fu Ling) 5 qian (15g)
- Scrophulariae Radix (Xuan Shen) 5 qian (15g)
- Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Dan Shen) 5 qian (15g)
- Platycodonis Radix (Jie Geng) 5 qian (15g)
- Polygalae Radix (Yuan Zhi) 5 qian (15g)
- Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Dang Gui) 1 liang (30g)
- Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus (Wu Wei Zi) 1 liang (30g)
- Ophiopogonis Radix (Mai Men Dong) 1 liang (30g)
- Asparagi Radix (Tian Men Dong) 1 liang (30g)
- Platycladi Semen (Bai Zi Ren) 1 liang (30g)
- Ziziphi Spinosae Semen (Suan Zao Ren dry-fried) 1 liang (30g)
- Rehmanniae Radix (Sheng Di) 4 liang (120g)
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Enriches yin and clears heat
- nourishes blood and calms the mind.
Indications
- Deficiency of yin and insufficiency of blood have lead to the disturbance of the mind.
- Symptoms include palpitations, vexation, insomnia, mental fatigue, forgetfulness, nocturnal emission, feverish feeling in palms and soles, aphtha, a sore mouth and tongue, and dry stool.
Tongue & pulseThe tongue is red with scanty coating, and the pulse is thin and rapid.
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- This pattern is caused by excessive heart fire consuming yin-blood.
- Excessive heart fire disturbs the heart spirit, while insufficiency of yin-blood leads to a lack of nourishment of the heart spirit.
- The pattern is manifest by insomnia, profuse dreaming, palpitations, and vexation.
Clinical presentation
- The red tongue and thin and rapid pulse also indicates that the pathomechanism is excessive heart fire and deficiency of yin-blood.
Treatment strategy
- The therapeutic method is to drain excessive fire and supplement yin-blood to calm the mind.
How does this formula compare?
Clinical Perspective
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan strongly nourishes Heart Yin-Blood for deficiency insomnia. Suan Zao Ren Tang nourishes Liver Blood with milder clearing. Gui Pi Tang tonifies Spleen-Heart for overthinking. Gan Mai Da Zao Tang softens for Zang Zao.
Clinical Differentiation
- Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan is applicable to patterns of heart and kidney deficiency, deficiency of yin, shortage of blood, and deficiency-fire disturbing the interior mainly caused by excessive grief and thinking that consumes yin-blood.
- Deficiency of yin and shortage of blood fail to nourish the heart.
- This clinical pattern is marked by palpitations, insomnia, mental fatigue and forgetfulness, feverish feeling in the palms and soles, vexation, nocturnal emissions, aphtha and tongue sores, red tongue, thin, rapid pulse.
Safety notes: This formula should be cautiously applied to patients who have spleen and stomach deficiency marked by long-term poor appetite and loose stool because it contains many medicinals that enrich yin.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actions of Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan?
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan has the actions of nourishing Heart and Kidney Yin, enriching Blood, clearing deficiency Heat, and calming the Shen (spirit). It is the classic formula for Yin and Blood deficiency of the Heart and Kidney that allows deficient Heat to disturb the mind.
Which modern diseases is Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan suited to?
Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within Heart-Kidney Yin and Blood deficiency, including insomnia of Yin-deficiency type, neurasthenia or anxiety with palpitations and restlessness, menopausal symptoms with night heat and irritability, recurrent mouth ulcers of deficiency-Heat pattern, and certain presentations of forgetfulness or dry constipation accompanying these signs.
Is Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan suitable for improving insomnia, palpitations, and night-time restlessness with dry mouth?
For presentations of difficulty falling or staying asleep, vivid or disturbing dreams, palpitations, mental fatigue or forgetfulness, five-center Heat or night sweats, dry mouth, possible mouth sores or dry stools, a red tongue with little coating, and a thin rapid pulse — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms Heart and Kidney Yin deficiency with deficient Heat — TCM commonly applies Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan as an adjunct. It cannot replace standard medical evaluation of sleep or cardiac symptoms.
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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.