Zhen Ling Dan

Chinese: 震灵丹

Pinyin: Zhèn Líng Dān

Other names: Pregnancy Panacea

Zhen Ling Dan

Chinese: 震灵丹

Pinyin: Zhèn Líng Dān

Other names: Pregnancy Panacea

Number of ingredients: 8 herbs

Formula category: Formulas that secure irregular uterine bleeding and stop vaginal discharge

Main actions:

Stabilizes uterine bleeding
Clears Blood Stagnation

Contraindications: Contraindicated during pregnancy or for these patients with patterns of... Contraindicated during pregnancy or for these patients with patterns of Damp-Heat or Empty Cold without Blood Stagnation. see more

Source date: 1107 AD

Source book: Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the People in the Taiping Era

The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.

Zhen Ling Dan is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Limonitum (Yu Yu Liang) and Red Halloysite (Chi Shi Zhi) as principal ingredients.

Invented in 1107 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that secure irregular uterine bleeding and stop vaginal discharge. Its main actions are: 1) stabilizes uterine bleeding and 2) clears Blood Stagnation .

On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eight ingredients in Zhen Ling Dan, we review the patterns and conditions that Zhen Ling Dan helps treat.

The eight ingredients in Zhen Ling Dan

Yu Yu Liang is a king ingredient in Zhen Ling Dan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.

1. Limonitum (Yu Yu Liang)

Part used: The mineral

Nature: Cool

Taste(s): Pungent Sweet

Meridian affinity: Stomach Large intestine

Category: Herbs that stabilize and bind

In general Yu Yu Liang's main actions are as follows: "Astringes the intestines and stop diarrhea. Stop bleeding. "

In the context of Zhen Ling Dan, it is used because it astringent and excels at stopping bleeding and discharge.

Learn more about Limonitum (Yu Yu Liang)

Chi Shi Zhi is a king ingredient in Zhen Ling Dan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.

2. Red Halloysite (Chi Shi Zhi)

Part used: The mineral

Nature: Warm

Taste(s): Pungent Sour Sweet

Meridian affinity: Stomach Large intestine

Category: Herbs that stabilize and bind

In general Chi Shi Zhi's main actions are as follows: "Astringe the Large Intestine. Stop bleeding. Promote tissue regeneration and wound healing. "

In the context of Zhen Ling Dan, it is used because it astringent and excels at stopping bleeding and discharge.

Learn more about Red Halloysite (Chi Shi Zhi)

Zi Shi Ying is a deputy ingredient in Zhen Ling Dan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.

3. Fluorite (Zi Shi Ying)

Part used: The mineral

Nature: Warm

Taste(s): Sweet

Meridian affinity: Heart Kidney Lung

Category: Herbs that anchor and calm the Spirit

Zi Shi Ying warms the Uterus, settles the Heart, and calms the
Mind. It also support the key ingredients by warming the Uterus and stabilizing the Lower Burner.

Learn more about Fluorite (Zi Shi Ying)

Dai Zhe Shi is a deputy ingredient in Zhen Ling Dan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.

4. Hematite (Dai Zhe Shi)

Part used: The mineral

Nature: Cold

Taste(s): Bitter

Meridian affinity: Stomach Heart Liver Pericardium

Category: Herbs that anchor and calm the Spirit

Dai Zhe Shi enters the Liver, directs Rebellious Qi down, and stops bleeding. It also support the key ingredients by warming the Uterus and stabilizing the Lower Burner.

Learn more about Hematite (Dai Zhe Shi)

Ru Xiang is an assistant ingredient in Zhen Ling Dan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.

5. Frankincense (Ru Xiang)

Part used: An aromatic resin obtained from boswellia trees

Nature: Warm

Taste(s): Bitter Pungent

Meridian affinity: Spleen Heart Liver

Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood

Ru Xiang is acrid and warming. Thus it invigorates the Blood and transforming Stagnation. It also regulates the Qi and
alleviate pain.

Learn more about Frankincense (Ru Xiang)

Mo Yao is an assistant ingredient in Zhen Ling Dan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.

6. Myrrh (Mo Yao)

Part used: Dried resin of the tree

Nature: Neutral

Taste(s): Bitter

Meridian affinity: Spleen Heart Liver

Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood

Mo Yao is acrid and warming. Thus it invigorates the Blood and transforming Stagnation. It also regulates the Qi and
alleviate pain.

Learn more about Myrrh (Mo Yao)

Wu Ling Zhi is an assistant ingredient in Zhen Ling Dan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.

7. Flying Squirrel Faeces (Wu Ling Zhi)

Part used: Dried faeces

Nature: Warm

Taste(s): Bitter Sweet

Meridian affinity: Spleen Liver

Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood

Wu Ling Zhi is acrid and warming. Thus it invigorates the Blood and transforming Stagnation. It also regulates the Qi and
alleviate pain.

Learn more about Flying Squirrel Faeces (Wu Ling Zhi)

Zhu Sha is an assistant ingredient in Zhen Ling Dan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.

8. Cinnabar (Zhu Sha)

Part used: The mineral itself

Nature: Cool

Taste(s): Sweet

Meridian affinity: Heart

Category: Herbs that anchor and calm the Spirit

In general Zhu Sha's main actions are as follows: "Calms the spirit and Heart. Stops convulsions. Clears Heat and toxins."

In the context of Zhen Ling Dan, it is used because it calms the Mind, which is often disturbed by the bleeding and pain.

Learn more about Cinnabar (Zhu Sha)

Zhen Ling Dan is used to treat Directing and Penetrating vessels Deficiency with Empty Cold

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

Directing and Penetrating vessels Deficiency with Empty Cold

Pulse type(s): Fine (Xi), Wiry (Xian)

Tongue color: Reddish-Purple

Symptoms: Dark clots in menstrual blood Lower abdominal pain released afer passing clots Persistent uterine bleeding of purple or dark blood

Zhen Ling Dan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Directing and Penetrating vessels Deficiency with Empty Cold. This pattern leads to symptoms such as persistent uterine bleeding of purple or dark blood, dark clots in menstrual blood and lower abdominal pain released afer passing clots. Patients with Directing and Penetrating vessels Deficiency with Empty Cold typically exhibit fine (Xi) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a reddish-purple tongue.

This pattern involves a Deficiency in the Directing (Ren) and Penetrating (Chong) vessels, leading to a disruption in the regulation of blood. Key characteristics of this pattern include: