Wu Zhu Yu Tang
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
吴茱萸汤 · Wú Zhū Yú Tāng
A Shang Han Lun formula for cold in the Jueyin or Yangming, presenting with vomiting, vertex headache, cold limbs and a desire for warm drinks. It warms the Middle and descends rebellious Qi.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Yang-Tonifying Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Yang Deficiency
- Primary Function
- Warm the Middle, tonify deficiency, stop vomiting
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Warm the Liver and Stomach, descend counterflow and stop vomiting
- Classical Source
- Shang Han Lun (Zhang Zhongjing, Eastern Han)
- Available as Granules
- Yes
Formula Overview
A Shang Han Lun formula for cold in the Jueyin or Yangming, presenting with vomiting, vertex headache, cold limbs and a desire for warm drinks. It warms the Middle and descends rebellious Qi.
Therapeutic Principle
Traditionally selected for cold-type vomiting with vertex headache or clear cold signs in the Middle — the representative formula for Liver-Stomach cold counterflow rather than pure Spleen Yang deficiency.
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
Classical Composition
- Euodiae Fructus (Wu Zhu Yu) 1 sheng (9g)
- Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Ren Shen) 3 liang (9g)
- Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Sheng Jiang) 6 liang (18g)
- Jujubae Fructus (Da Zao) 12 pcs (4 pieces)
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Warms the center and supplements deficiency
- directs counterflow downward and arrests vomiting.
Indications
- Wu Zhu Yu Tang is indicated for patterns of liver and stomach deficiency-cold with the upward reversal of turbid yin.
- The pattern is characterized by nausea after meals, acid regurgitation, belching, drooling of cold frothy saliva, fullness in the chest, stomach pain, vertex headache, aversion to cold, cold limbs with reversal counterflow cold of the four limbs, diarrhea, vexation and agitation, restlessness, a pale white tongue body and a white, slippery tongue coating, and a deep, wiry or slow pulse.
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- This pattern is caused by deficiency-cold of the liver and stomach and the upward reversal of turbid yin.
- Due to the deficiency-cold of the liver and stomach, the stomach fails to descend and causes an upward reversal of turbid yin, which causes nausea after meals, acid regurgitation, belching, and drooling of cold frothy saliva.
- The jueyin channel passes through the stomach, belongs to the liver, and connects upward with the associated du mai at the vertex.
- The turbid yin of the stomach travels upward along the liver channel to disturb the head, which causes a vertex headache.
- Fullness of the chest and stomachache are caused by turbid yin obstruction and the disturbance of qi circulation.
- The body is unable to get warm because of the deficiency-cold of the liver and stomach and yang deficiency, which leads to an aversion to cold and cold limbs.
- The spleen and stomach are located in the middle jiao.
- Stomach illness affects the spleen causing the spleen’s failure to ascend the clear, and thus there is diarrhea.
Clinical presentation
- The pale tongue body with white tongue coating and the deep, wiry, and slow pulse are due to the deficiency-cold.
Treatment strategy
- The proper therapeutic method is to warm the center, supplement deficiency, direct counterflow downward, and arrest vomiting.
How does this formula compare?
Clinical Perspective
Wu Zhu Yu Tang warms Liver-Stomach cold and stops counterflow vomiting. Li Zhong Tang is the core Middle-warming formula for Spleen-Stomach cold deficiency. Dang Gui Si Ni Tang warms channels for cold extremities with Blood deficiency. Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang descends rebellious Qi with phlegm for epigastric fullness and belching.
Clinical Differentiation
- Wu Zhu Yu Tang is a common formula used to treat deficiency-cold of the liver and stomach and the counterflow of turbid yin.
- This clinical pattern is marked by nausea after meals, vertex headache, belching, drooling of frothy saliva, aversion to cold, cold limbs, pale white tongue body and white, slippery tongue coating, wiry, thready, and slow pulse.
Safety notes: This formula is prohibited for vomiting due to stomach heat or yin deficiency and for headaches due to the hyperactivity of liver yang.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actions of Wu Zhu Yu Tang?
Wu Zhu Yu Tang has the actions of warming the Middle Jiao, tonifying deficiency, dispersing Cold, and descending rebellious Qi. It warms Liver and Stomach Cold while directing counterflow Qi downward to stop vomiting and relieve associated pain.
Which modern diseases is Wu Zhu Yu Tang suited to?
Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within Liver-Stomach deficiency Cold with rebellious Qi, including cold-type chronic gastritis or vomiting, neurogenic vomiting, vertex or migraine-type headache of Cold pattern, Ménière’s disease with Cold signs, certain cases of morning sickness, and dysmenorrhea associated with Cold in the Liver channel.
Is Wu Zhu Yu Tang suitable for improving vomiting of clear fluid, dry retching, and vertex headache?
For presentations of vomiting shortly after eating, dry retching, vomiting of clear saliva or fluid, severe headache at the top of the head, cold extremities, epigastric cold pain, a pale tongue with white slippery coating, and a deep wiry or slow pulse — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms Liver-Stomach deficiency Cold with turbid Yin ascending — TCM commonly applies Wu Zhu Yu Tang as an adjunct. It cannot replace standard medical treatment.
Related Products
Nong's Wu Zhu Yu Tang (Evodia Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules
Related Articles
Wu Zhu Yu Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Stomach Cold, Vomiting & Vertex Headache
Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Rebellious Qi, Belching & Phlegm-Damp
Dang Gui Si Ni Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Blood Deficiency, Cold Extremities & Pain
Li Zhong Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Spleen Deficiency, Cold & Diarrhea
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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.