Chinese: 温经汤
Pinyin: Wēn Jīng Tāng
Other names: Flow-Warming Decoction, Warming the Menses Decoction,
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that invigorate Blood and dispel Blood Stagnation
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: SciaticaLeiomyomaVaginitis and fifteen other conditions
- Warms the Uterus and vessels
- Nourishes Blood
- Dispels Cold
- Dispels Blood Stagnation
Contraindications: Contraindicated for people who have abdominal masses due to Blood Stagnation... Contraindicated for people who have abdominal masses due to Blood Stagnation from excess. see more
Source date: 220 AD
Source book: Essentials from the Golden Cabinet
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.
Wen Jing Tang is a 12-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) and Evodia Fruits (Wu Zhu Yu) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that invigorate Blood and dispel Blood Stagnation. Its main actions are: 1) warms the Uterus and vessels and 2) nourishes Blood.
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 Wen Jing Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Cold in the Uterus, Qi And Blood Stagnation or Full Cold in the Directing and Penetraing Vessels. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as menstrual cramps, late menstruation or menopausal syndrome for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the twelve ingredients in Wen Jing Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Wen Jing Tang helps treat.
The twelve ingredients in Wen Jing Tang
Gui Zhi is a king ingredient in Wen Jing Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi)
In general Gui Zhi's main actions are as follows: "Adjusts the nutritive Ying and defensive Wei Qi. Relieves the Exterior through sweating. Warms and disperses Cold. Removes obstruction of Yang. Promotes the circulation of Yang Qi in the chest. Regulates and moves blood."
In the context of Wen Jing Tang, it is used because it enters the Food Qi (nutritive Qi) to improve circulation in the Blood vessels and disperse Cold.
Wu Zhu Yu is a king ingredient in Wen Jing Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Evodia Fruits (Wu Zhu Yu)
Wu Zhu Yu is acrid, bitter, and heating. It enters the Liver and Kidney Channels to disperse Cold and stop pain.
Dang Gui is a deputy ingredient in Wen Jing Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Dong Quai (Dang Gui)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Dang Gui nourishes and invigorates Blood, which is necessary because the obstruction of the Uterus by Cold prevents new Blood from taking its proper place there. It also regulates the menstruation, tonifies the Yin and regulates the Liver.
Chuan Xiong is a deputy ingredient in Wen Jing Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Szechuan Lovage Roots (Chuan Xiong)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: GallbladderLiverPericardium
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
In general Chuan Xiong's main actions are as follows: "Regulates and moves the Blood. Relieves Wind-Cold and pain. Circulates the Qi in the Upper Burner, relieving headaches."
In the context of Wen Jing Tang, it is used because it invigorates and nourishes the Blood, unblocks Blood Stagnation and regulates the menses.
Bai Shao is a deputy ingredient in Wen Jing Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. White Peony Roots (Bai Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Bai Shao nourishes and invigorates Blood, which is necessary because the obstruction of the Uterus by Cold prevents new Blood from taking its proper place there. It also regulates the menstruation, tonifies the Yin and regulates the Liver.
Mu Dan Pi is an assistant ingredient in Wen Jing Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Mudan Peony Bark (Mu Dan Pi)
Part used: Root barks
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Mu Dan Pi dispels Blood Stagnation and facilitates the menses, clear any Empty Heat which might arise from Blood Deficiency
7. Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang)
Sheng Jiang tonifies Qi and harmonizes the Spleen and Stomach to strengthen the source of production and transformation so that Yang can produce Yin and the Blood may not be Deficient.
8. Codonopsis Roots (Dang Shen)
Dang Shen tonifies Qi and harmonizes the Spleen and Stomach to strengthen the source of production and transformation so that Yang can produce Yin and the Blood may not be Deficient.
9. Dwarf Lilyturf Roots (Mai Dong)
Part used: Dried root tuber
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartLungStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
Mai Dong nourishes the Blood, tonifies the Yin, and regulates the Liver. In this formula, together with Donkey-hide gelatin, they focus on nourishing the Yin, moistening Dryness, and clearing Heat from Deficiency.
10. Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia)
Part used: Dried rhizome and tuber
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Ban Xia tonifies Qi and harmonizes the Spleen and Stomach to strengthen the source of production and transformation so that Yang can produce Yin and the Blood may not be Deficient. It also harmonizes the Uterus via the Stomach channel to which it is connected through the Penetrating Meridian.
11. 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 tonifies Qi and harmonizes the Spleen and Stomach to strengthen the source of production and transformation so that Yang can produce Yin and the Blood may not be Deficient. It also harmonizes the actions of the various herbs in the formula.
12. Donkey-Hide Gelatin (E Jiao)
Part used: Solid glue prepared from the dried or fresh skin of donkeys
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiverLung
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
E Jiao nourishes the Blood, tonifies the Yin, and regulates the Liver. In this formula, together with Dwarf lilyturf root, they focus on nourishing the Yin, moistening Dryness, and clearing Heat from Deficiency.
Conditions and patterns for which Wen Jing Tang 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 Wen Jing Tang is used by TCM practitioners to treat four 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:
Menstrual cramps Late menstruation Menopausal syndrome Dysfunctional uterine bleeding Uterine hypoplasia Endometrial hyperplasia Endometriosis Leiomyoma Polycystic ovaries Infertility Habitual miscarriage Threatened abortion Perimenopausal syndrome Vaginitis Erectile dysfunction Oligospermia Benign prostatic hypertrophy Sciatica
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Wen Jing Tang treats menstrual cramps" for instance. Rather, Wen Jing Tang is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind menstrual cramps.
Now let's look at the four patterns commonly treated with Wen Jing Tang.
The Uterus is a so-called "Extraordinary" Organ. Learn more about the Uterus in Chinese Medicine
Cold in the Uterus
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Soggy (Ru)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Symptoms: Fatigue Diarrhea Lassitude Sore back No period Sore legs Pale face Tiredness Amenorrhea Cold limbs Infertility Late period Loose stools Poor appetite Scanty periods Painful period Abdominal pain Feeling of cold Low sexual desire Frequent urination Dark colored blood Cold hands and feet Lower abdominal pain Irregular menstruation Pain relieved with heat Dark clots in menstrual blood Thin and watery vaginal discharge
Wen Jing Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Cold in the Uterus. This pattern leads to symptoms such as loose stools, poor appetite, fatigue and lassitude. Patients with Cold in the Uterus typically exhibit deep (Chen) or soggy (Ru) pulses as well as Pale tongue with white coating.
O'Cold in the Uterus' is one the most common TCM pattern for women. It can be responsible for many gynecological diseases such as menstrual cramps, irregular periods, late period, scanty period, amenorrhea, infertility, etc.
The Cold here mainly refers to Wind-Cold or Damp-Cold which can invade the... read more about Cold in the Uterus
Qi is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Qi in Chinese Medicine
Qi And Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Deep (Chen), Fine (Xi)
Symptoms: Insomnia Dark face Moodiness Dizziness Chest pain Depression Amenorrhea Purple lips Mood swings Breast pain Hot flushes Purple nails Irritability Blotchy skin Restlessness Breast lumps Restlnessness Chest fullness Painful period Scanty periods Clots in blood Abdominal pain Abdominal masses Lochia retention Breast distention Dark colored blood Abdominal fullness Intense period pain High blood pressure Swelling of the feet Lower abdominal pain Dark menstrual blood Flooding and leaking Abdominal distension Pre-menstrual tension Black and tarry stools Irregular menstruation Boring fixed stabbing pain Pre-menstrual irritability Dark clots in menstrual blood Menstruation decreases gratually Feeling of fullness in the chest Abdominal distention and fullness Pain relief after clots discharge
Wen Jing Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Qi And Blood Stagnation. This pattern leads to symptoms such as chest fullness, chest pain, boring fixed stabbing pain and dark face. Patients with Qi And Blood Stagnation typically exhibit choppy (Se), deep (Chen) or fine (Xi) pulses.
The typical symptoms of Qi stagnation are distension, oppression and swelling. There are also emotional issues like mood swing, depression or irritability. However, the Blood Stagnation is more on pains and purple color manifestation on skin, face, lips and nails.
Qi Stagnation can cause the... read more about Qi And Blood Stagnation
'Cold' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Cold pattern in Chinese Medicine
Full Cold in the Directing and Penetraing Vessels
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Tight (Jin)
Tongue color: Bluish-Purple, Pale
Symptoms: Infertility Late period Painful period Cold in the lower abdomen Dark clots in menstrual blood Abdominal pain after childbirth
Wen Jing Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Full Cold in the Directing and Penetraing Vessels. This pattern leads to symptoms such as painful period, cold in the lower abdomen, infertility and late period. Patients with Full Cold in the Directing and Penetraing Vessels typically exhibit deep (Chen), slow (Chi) or tight (Jin) pulses as well as a bluish-purple, pale tongue.
Learn more about Full Cold in the Directing and Penetraing Vessels
The Uterus is a so-called "Extraordinary" Organ. Learn more about the Uterus in Chinese Medicine
Dampness and Phlegm in the Uterus
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Bluish-Purple
Symptoms: Cold limbs Late period Infertility Purple lips Painful period Feeling of cold Lochia retention Irregular menstruation Cold feeling in vagina Brown vaginal discharge White vaginal discharge Cold in the lower abdomen Dark clots in menstrual blood Abdominal pain after childbirth
Wen Jing Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Dampness and Phlegm in the Uterus. This pattern leads to symptoms such as late period, painful period, dark clots in menstrual blood and brown vaginal discharge. Patients with Dampness and Phlegm in the Uterus typically exhibit choppy (Se), deep (Chen), slow (Chi) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a bluish-purple tongue.
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