DANG GUI NIAN TONG TANG

Damp-Heat Clearing • Joint-Relieving & Channel-Unblocking Formula

Symptoms

Heavy, swollen, and painful joints (specifically in the lower limbs and feet).

Redness and heat at the site of the joint pain (Gout-like presentation).

Generalized heaviness of the body.

Difficult or scanty urination (dark yellow).

Possible low-grade fever or a feeling of "stifling" heat in the chest.

Tongue: Red body with a thick, yellow, and greasy coating.

Pulse: Slippery (Hua) and rapid (Shuo), or Wiry (Xian).

Ingredients

Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis)
Raw Herbs: 12g       Granules: 8.1g  

Qiang Huo (Notopterygium incisum)
Raw Herbs: *       Granules: 10.1g   

Fang Feng (Saposhnikovia divar.)
Raw Herbs: 10g       Granules: 6.8g   

Sheng Ma (Cimifuga heracleif.)
Raw Herbs: 6g       Granules: 3.9g   

Ge Gen (Pueraria lobata)
Raw Herbs: 10g       Granules: 6.8g

Cang Zhu (Atractylodes lancea)
Raw Herbs: 10g       Granules: 6.8g   

Bai Zhu (Atracylodis macr.)
Raw Herbs: 12g      Granules: 8.1g

Zhu Ling (Polyporus umbellatus)
Raw Herbs: 10g      Granules: 6.8g   

Ze Xie (Alisma plantago-aq.)
Raw Herbs: 9g       Granules: 6.1g   

Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis)
Raw Herbs: 8g       Granules: 5.4g   

Zhi Gan Cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis)
Raw Herbs: 15g      Granules: 10.1g   

Yin Chen (Artemisia capillaris)
Raw Herbs: 15g     Granules: 10.1g

Ku Shen (Sophora flavescens)
Raw Herbs: 10g      Granules: 6.8g   

Ren Shen (Panax giseng)
Raw Herbs: 6g       Granules: 4.1g   

Posology

Granules
3 to 9g per day after main meals, diluted in hot water.

Raw Herbs
Boil in 1000–1200ml of water and drink 1 to 3 cups per day.

Description

Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang is a complex "multi-target" formula. It doesn't just attack the pain; it drains the dampness that causes the swelling and clears the heat that causes the inflammation.

Qiang Huo and Fang Feng dispel Wind and Dampness from the upper and exterior layers.

Yin Chen Hao, Ku Shen, and Huang Qin are the "cooling team" that drains Damp-Heat through the urine and clears internal fire.

Cang Zhu and Bai Zhu dry dampness and strengthen the Spleen to prevent further damp accumulation.

Zhu Ling and Ze Xie facilitate the downward movement and excretion of fluids.

Dang Gui and Ren Shen protect the Blood and Qi, ensuring the strong "draining" herbs don't exhaust the patient’s underlying vitality.

Contraindications

Contraindicated for Yin Deficiency with heat (night sweats, dry tongue).

Not for use in cases of Wind-Cold Bi (pain that improves with heat and lacks redness).

Use with caution in patients with very weak digestion (the bitter/cold herbs can be harsh).

Discontinue once the "greasy" tongue coating and acute swelling have resolved.