Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang (当归六黄汤) — Tangkuei & Six Yellows Decoction

On this page

1. Overview
2. TCM pattern
3. Key herbs
4. Formula actions
5. Conditions treated
6. Cautions

Overview

Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang — the “Tangkuei and Six Yellows Decoction” (so named because it contains the three “yellow” cold draining herbs — Huang Lian, Huang Qin, Huang Bai — plus three Di Huang and astragalus variants) — is from Li Dong-yuan’s Jin-Yuan-dynasty Lan Shi Mi Cang. It treats severe night sweats from Yin deficiency with intense empty Fire, a pattern beyond the gentler Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan. The Yin-nourishing Dang Gui + Sheng/Shu Di Huang restore Yin while the three Huangs drain the Fire; Huang Qi closes the surface to stop the sweating directly.

I prescribe Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.

TCM pattern

Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang is prescribed for severe Yin-deficient night sweats with empty Fire:

• Severe night sweats, soaking the bedclothes
• Five-palm Heat
• Marked afternoon flush, red face
• Palpitations, restlessness
• Dry mouth, bitter taste
• Possibly insomnia^[8] and vivid dreams
• Tongue — red with thin yellow coat or peeled
• Pulse — rapid, thin, possibly forceful

Key herbs

1. Dang Gui (Rx. Angelicae Sinensis, 6–15g) — nourishes Blood
2. Sheng Di Huang (Rx. Rehmanniae, 9–30g) — nourishes Yin; cools Blood
3. Shu Di Huang (Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata, 9–30g) — tonifies Yin and Blood at the root
4. Huang Lian (Rz. Coptidis, 3–9g) — clears Heart Fire
5. Huang Qin (Rx. Scutellariae, 6–12g) — clears Lung and middle-burner Heat
6. Huang Bai (Cx. Phellodendri, 3–9g) — clears Kidney Fire (empty Heat)
7. Huang Qi (Rx. Astragali, 12–30g) — consolidates the exterior; specifically stops night sweats

Formula actions

1. Nourishes Yin and Blood
2. Drains empty Fire from all three burners
3. Consolidates the exterior; stops severe night sweats

Conditions treated

1. Severe menopausal night sweats with marked Yin-deficient Fire — see menopausal symptoms
2. Tuberculosis night sweats (alongside conventional care)
3. Hyperthyroid[6] night sweats with intense Heat
4. Chemotherapy-induced night sweats with Yin damage
5. Severe Yin-deficient night sweats not responsive to Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan

Cautions

Not appropriate for night sweats from Qi deficiency (use Mu Li San) or pure Spleen-Yang deficient sweating.

Strong cold draining action — not for cold-deficient or Yang-deficient patterns.

For courses with rest periods; the strong cold herbs can damage Stomach Qi over time.

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the RCHM.

Prefer to be treated from home? Chinese herbal medicine online consultations are available throughout the UK and worldwide.

References

[6] Liu Y, Cheng L, Yan G, Gu J, Lyu Z, Ding J. Effectiveness and potential mechanism of Jiawei-Xiaoyao-San for hyperthyroidism: a systematic review. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Sep 18;14:1241962. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1241962. PMID: 37780612.

[8] Hu J, Teng J, Wang W, Yang N, Tian H, Zhang W, Peng X, Zhang J. Clinical efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine Xiao Yao San in insomnia combined with anxiety. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Oct 29;100(43):e27608. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000027608. PMID: 34713840.