Chinese: 苍附导痰丸
Pinyin: Cāng Fù Dǎo Tán Wán
Other names: Atractylodes-Cyperus Conducting Phlegm Pill, Black Atractylodes Coco-grass Conducting Phlegm Pill
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that dry Dampness and transform Phlegm
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: Scanty menstruationLow breast milk supplyAbsence of menstruation
Main actions: Resolves Dampness and Phlegm
Source date: 1817 AD
Source book: 叶天士女科证治秘方 / Doctor Ye Tian Shi's Gynecology formula
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.
Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Coco-Grass Rhizomes (Xiang Fu) and Black Atractylodes Rhizomes (Cang Zhu) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1817 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that dry Dampness and transform Phlegm. Its main action is that it resolves Dampness and Phlegm.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus or Phlegm. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as scanty menstruation, absence of menstruation or low breast milk supply for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eight ingredients in Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan, we review the patterns and conditions that Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan helps treat.
The eight ingredients in Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan
Xiang Fu is a king ingredient in Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Coco-Grass Rhizomes (Xiang Fu)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSanjiaoSpleen
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
In general Xiang Fu's main actions are as follows: "Unblocks Stagnant Liver Qi and relieves pain. Regulates the Liver and Spleen. Assists the regulation of menses and relieves pain."
In the context of Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan, it is used because it moves Qi and eliminates Qi Stagnation which will help to resolve Phlegm.
Cang Zhu is a king ingredient in Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Black Atractylodes Rhizomes (Cang Zhu)
Part used: The dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Aromatic herbs that transform Dampness
In general Cang Zhu's main actions are as follows: "Dries Damp and tonifies the Spleen. Relieves the Exterior for invasion of Wind-Cold-Damp. Relieves Wind-Damp painful obstruction. Dries Damp for either Damp-Cold or Damp-Heat when combined with the correct herbs. Clears the eyes and improves sight."
In the context of Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan, it is used because it resolves Dampness and Phlegm.
3. Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Part used: Dried sclerotium
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
In general Fu Ling's main actions are as follows: "Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit."
In the context of Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan, it is used because it resolves Dampness and Phlegm..
4. Bitter Oranges (Zhi Ke)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
In general Zhi Ke's main actions are as follows: "To regulate the flow of Qi, remove its stagnation, and alleviate distension."
In the context of Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan, it is used because it moves Qi and eliminates Qi Stagnation which will help to resolve Phlegm.
5. Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi)
In general Chen Pi's main actions are as follows: "Warms the Spleen and regulates the Middle Burner Qi. Dries Dampness and disperses Phlegm from the Lungs and Middle Burner. Reduces the potential for Stagnation caused by tonifying herbs."
In the context of Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan, it is used because it moves Qi and eliminates Qi Stagnation which will help to resolve Phlegm.
6. Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang)
In general Sheng Jiang's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Warms and circulates Qi in the Middle Burner. Calms a restless fetus and treats morning sickness. Treats seafood poisoning."
In the context of Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan, it is used because it helps digestion and dissolves food accumulation in the Stomach, which will help to resolve Phlegm.
7. Medicated Leaven (Shen Qu)
Part used: This is a fermented combination of wheat flour, Artemisia annua, Xanthium, Polygonum hydropiper and other herbs.
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that relieve Food Stagnation
In general Shen Qu's main actions are as follows: "Assists the Stomach in removing Food Stagnation. Harmonizes the Earth element and improves digestion."
In the context of Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan, it is used because it helps digestion and dissolves food accumulation in the Stomach, which will help to resolve Phlegm..
8. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Gan Cao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs."
In the context of Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan, it is used because it harmonizes all ingredients.
Conditions and patterns for which Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan may be prescribed
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan is used by TCM practitioners to treat two different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Scanty menstruation Absence of menstruation Low breast milk supply
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan treats scanty menstruation" for instance. Rather, Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind scanty menstruation.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan.
The Uterus is a so-called "Extraordinary" Organ. Learn more about the Uterus in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua)
Symptoms: Edema Nausea Oedema Fatigue Obesity Dizziness Moodiness Amenorrhea Overweight Depression Late period Infertility Heavy limbs Loose stools Listlessness Palpitations Ovarian cysts Sputum throat Lack strength Scanty periods Ovarian myomas Chest fullness Vagina discharge Phantom pregnancy Shortness of breath Sore and weak limbs Lower abdominal pain Abodominal heaviness Dull-pale complexion Pale menstrual blood Dizziness or vertigo Feeling of heaviness Thick menstrual blood Sticky menstrual blood Brown vaginal discharge Polycystic ovary syndrome Excessive vaginal discharge Feeling of heaviness of body Menstruation decreases gratually Feeling of oppression of the chest
Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus. This pattern leads to symptoms such as late period, amenorrhea, scanty periods and lower abdominal pain. Patients with Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus typically exhibit slippery (Hua) pulses.
Whenever the body has Dampness or Phlegm, the Spleen is always the first Organ to be checked, because it is responsible for Body Fluids metabolism. The Spleen transforms, transports, and distributes drinks along with food Essence and Grain Qi.
When these functions are impaired, Damp-Phlegm forms... read more about Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
Body Fluids (Jin Ye) is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Body Fluids in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Thick coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
Symptoms: Lumps Nausea Tumors Oedema Nodules Obesity Fatigue Vertigo Delirium Belching Vomiting Dizziness Moodiness Overweight Bad breath Depression Watery milk Clear mucus Irritability Poor appetite Low metabolism Chest fullness Chest pressure Breast distention Abdominal fullness Sputum in the chest Feeling of heaviness Thick tongue coating Muzziness of the head Numbness in the limbs Thick greasy secretions Feeling of oppression of the chest No feeling of distension of the breasts
Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Phlegm. This pattern leads to symptoms such as feeling of oppression of the chest, muzziness of the head, dizziness and nausea. Patients with Phlegm typically exhibit slippery (Hua) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as swollen tongue with sticky coating .
Phlegm has a great importance in Chinese Medicine as it is both a condition in and of itself as well as a cause for other diseases.
The main cause for the formation of Phlegm is Spleen Deficiency since the Spleen rules the transformation and transportation of Body Fluids. If this function is... read more about Phlegm
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