Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang (身痛逐瘀汤) — Drive Out Blood Stasis from a Painful Body

On this page

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

Overview

Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang — the “Drive Out Blood Stasis from a Painful Body Decoction” — is one of Wang Qingren’s (1768–1831) signature Blood-stasis formulas from Yi Lin Gai Cuo. It addresses chronic body and joint pain from Blood stasis with Wind-Damp obstruction in the channels — the picture of long-standing, fixed, deep aches in the body or joints that haven’t responded to other approaches.

The formula combines Blood-moving herbs (Tao Ren, Hong Hua, Chuan Xiong, Mo Yao, Wu Ling Zhi), Qi-moving herbs (Xiang Fu, Niu Xi), Wind-Damp dispersers (Qiang Huo, Qin Jiao) and earthworm Di Long to open the channels.

I prescribe Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.

TCM pattern

Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang is prescribed for Blood stasis with Wind-Damp in the channels:

• Chronic body or joint pain
• Pain is fixed, deep, possibly stabbing
• Pain worse at night
• Pain worse with damp weather
• Long-standing history, often resistant to other treatments
• Possible numbness or tingling
• Tongue — purplish, possibly with stasis spots, white coat
• Pulse — wiry, choppy

Key herbs

1. Tao Ren (Sm. Persicae, 6-9g), Hong Hua (Flos Carthami, 6-9g) — move Blood
2. Chuan Xiong (Rx. Chuanxiong, 6-9g), Mo Yao (Myrrh, 3-6g) — move Blood and stop pain
3. Wu Ling Zhi (Faeces Trogopterori, 3-6g) — breaks Blood stasis
4. Xiang Fu (Rz. Cyperi, 1-3g) — regulates Liver Qi
5. Niu Xi (Rx. Cyathulae, 6-9g) — moves Blood and directs it downward
6. Qiang Huo (Rz. & Rx. Notopterygii, 3-9g), Qin Jiao (Rx. Gentianae, 3-9g) — dispel Wind-Damp from the channels
7. Di Long (earthworm, 3-6g) — opens channels and breaks Wind-Phlegm
8. Dang Gui (Rx. Angelicae Sinensis, 6-9g) — nourishes and moves Blood
9. Gan Cao (Rx. Glycyrrhizae, 3-6g) — harmonises

Formula actions

1. Moves Blood and breaks stasis
2. Disperses Wind-Damp
3. Opens the channels
4. Relieves chronic deep body pain

Conditions treated

1. Chronic body aches from old injury or whiplash
2. Chronic rheumatoid arthritis[14] with prominent Blood stasis — see rheumatoid arthritis
3. Fibromyalgia with Blood stasis pattern — see fibromyalgia
4. Chronic post-stroke^[18] pain
5. Chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
6. Chronic sciatica with Blood stasis — see sciatica
7. Chronic frozen shoulder with stasis pattern — see frozen shoulder

Cautions

Contains Tao Ren and Hong Hua — strictly contraindicated in pregnancy.

Contains Di Long (earthworm) and Wu Ling Zhi (squirrel droppings) — animal products. Vegetarian patients can request modification.

Use cautiously in patients on anticoagulants — multiple Blood-moving herbs.

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

[14] Han R, Ren HC, Zhou S, Gu S, Gu YY, Sze DM, Chen MH. Conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs combined with Chinese Herbal Medicines for rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Tradit Complement Med. 2022 Jan 26;12(5):437-446. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2022.01.005. PMID: 36081815.

[18] Shi YH, Wang Y, Fu H, Xu Z, Zeng H, Zheng GQ. Therapeutic effect of Chinese herbal medicines for post stroke recovery: A traditional and network meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Dec;96(49):e9214. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000009214. PMID: 29245245.