Prepared aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) Atractylodes rhizomes (Bai Zhu) Fresh ginger (Sheng Jiang) Liquorice (Gan Cao)

Chinese: 白术附子汤

Pinyin: Bái Zhú Fù Zǐ Tāng

Other names: White Atractylodes and Aconite Accessory Root Decoction

Number of ingredients: 5 herbs

Formula category: Formulas that warm the middle and dispel Cold

  1. Warms the channels
  2. Disperses Cold
  3. Strenghtens the Middle Burner
  4. Promotes the resolution of Dampness

Contraindications: This formula has warming and strengthening properties and should not be used... This formula has warming and strengthening properties and should not be used for hard stools caused by Heat or Yin deficiency. see more

Source date: 220 AD

Source book: Essentials of the Golden Cabinet

Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) as a principal ingredient.

Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm the middle and dispel Cold. Its main actions are: 1) warms the channels and 2) disperses Cold.

On this page, after a detailed description of each of the five ingredients in Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang helps treat.

The five ingredients in Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang

Zhi Fu Zi is a king ingredient in Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.

1. Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi)

Part used: Processed daughter root

Nature: Hot

Taste(s): PungentSweet

Meridian affinity: HeartKidneySpleen

Category: Herbs that warm the Interior and/or expel Cold

Zhi Fu Zi has the strong nature of warming and dispersing, so that it mobilizes the Yang Qi at the gate of vitality to spread throughout the entire body to reach the Exterior, the Middle Burner, and the Intestines.

Learn more about Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi)

Bai Zhu is a deputy ingredient in Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.

2. Atractylodes Rhizomes (Bai Zhu)

Part used: Dried rhizome

Nature: Warm

Taste(s): BitterSweet

Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach

Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency

Bai Zhu is warm, sweet, and bitter. It dries Dampness and augments the Qi. In combination with the acrid and warming Prepared aconite, its action is more focused on the Exterior such as the muscles and flesh. It also stops sweating so as to counterbalance the dispersing action of the key herb. Sweating is contraindicated because there is already Dryness in the Intestines.

Learn more about Atractylodes Rhizomes (Bai Zhu)

Sheng Jiang is an assistant ingredient in Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.

3. Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang)

Part used: Fresh root

Nature: Warm

Taste(s): Pungent

Meridian affinity: LungSpleenStomach

Category: Warm/Acrid herbs that release the Exterior

Sheng Jiang harmonizes the Nutritive and Protective Qi, assists the Qi transformation
of the Middle Burner, and soothes the diverse actions of the formula into a single whole.

Learn more about Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang)

Gan Cao is an assistant ingredient in Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.

4. Liquorice (Gan Cao)

Part used: Dried root and rhizome

Nature: Neutral

Taste(s): Sweet

Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach

Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency

Gan Cao harmonizes the Nutritive and Protective Qi, assists the Qi transformation
of the Middle Burner, and soothes the diverse actions of the formula into a single whole.

Learn more about Liquorice (Gan Cao)

Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.

5. Jujube Dates (Da Zao)

Part used: Dried ripe fruit

Nature: Warm

Taste(s): Sweet

Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach

Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency

Da Zao harmonizes the Nutritive and Protective Qi, assists the Qi transformation
of the Middle Burner, and soothes the diverse actions of the formula into a single whole.

Learn more about Jujube Dates (Da Zao)

Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang is used to treat Wind-Cold-Damp

'Cold' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Cold pattern in Chinese Medicine

Wind-Cold-Damp

Pulse type(s): Fine (Xi), Floating (Fu), Slowed-down (Huan)

Symptoms: No thirst Stiff body Dry stools

Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Wind-Cold-Damp. This pattern leads to symptoms such as stiff body, no thirst and dry stools. Patients with Wind-Cold-Damp typically exhibit fine (Xi), floating (Fu) or slowed-down (Huan) pulses.

This pattern is characterized by Yang Deficiency with a predominance of Dampness, leading to specific symptoms and signs. This pattern is not primarily due to a disorder in the Spleen, despite its association with Spleen, as indicated by the absence of nausea or diarrhea. Instead, the root lies in... read more about Wind-Cold-Damp

Formulas similar to Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang

Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang is 67% similar to Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang

Zhen Wu Tang is 60% similar to Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang

Gui Zhi Tang is 60% similar to Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang

Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang is 50% similar to Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang

Xiao Jian Zhong Tang is 50% similar to Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang

Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang is 50% similar to Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang