SHEN TONG ZHU YU TANG

Channel-Unblocking & Blood-Stasis Removing • Wind-Damp Dispelling & Joint-Relieving Formula

Symptoms

Widespread Body Pain: Severe, sharp, stabbing, or fixed pain throughout the body, including the joints, shoulders, neck, lower back, knees, or extremities.

Chronic Joint & Muscle Stiffness: Persistent rigidity, swelling, or limited range of motion in the joints and limbs, often aggravated by cold or damp weather.

Localized Tenderness: Pain that is worse with pressure, fixed in location, and long-standing (chronic recalcitrant painful obstruction / Bi syndrome).

Numbness & Tingling: Sensation of numbness, heaviness, or pins-and-needles in the limbs due to impeded Qi and Blood circulation in the collaterals.

Tongue: Dark red or purple body, often with purple stasis spots/dots along the edges or undersurface, with a thin white coating.

Pulse: Deep (Chen), wiry (Xian), or choppy (Se).

Ingredients

Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis)
Raw Herbs 9g | Granules 12.0g

Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong)
Raw Herbs 6g | Granules 8.0g

Tao Ren (Prunus persica - Peach Kernel)
Raw Herbs 9g | Granules 12.0g

Hong Hua (Carthamus tinctorius - Safflower)
Raw Herbs 9g | Granules 12.0g

Mo Yao (Commiphora myrrha - Myrrh)
Raw Herbs 6g | Granules 8.0g

Wu Ling Zhi (Trogopterus xanthipes)
Raw Herbs 6g | Granules 8.0g

Qin Jiao (Gentiana macrophylla)
Raw Herbs 3g | Granules 4.0g

Qiang Huo (Notopterygium incisum)
Raw Herbs 3g | Granules 4.0g

Xiang Fu (Cyperus rotundus)
Raw Herbs 3g | Granules 4.0g

Niu Xi (Achyranthes bidentata)
Raw Herbs 9g | Granules 12.0g

Di Long Zhi (Pheretima aspergillum - Earthworm)
Raw Herbs 6g | Granules 8.0g

Gan Cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis)
Raw Herbs 6g | Granules 8.0g

Posology

Granules: 3 to 9g per day, divided into two or three doses.

Raw Plants: Decoct in 800ml of water and drink 1 to 2 cups per day. For acute stiffness, the decoction should be taken warm to encourage mild sweating, which helps "vent" the wind.

Description

Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang (Body Pain-Removing Decoction with Stasis-Eliminating Action) is Wang Qingren’s premier classical design for generalized body pain, joint rigidity, and chronic Bi syndrome caused by Blood stasis obstructing the meridians and collaterals.

Tao Ren, Hong Hua, Mo Yao, and Wu Ling Zhi form the core stasis-breaking quartet. They powerfully invigorate Blood, break up stubborn stasis, open the collaterals, and directly stop sharp, fixed pain.

Dang Gui and Chuan Xiong nourish and move the Blood simultaneously, preventing stagnation while ensuring that newly generated Blood flows freely to the malnourished joints and muscles.

Qiang Huo and Qin Jiao dispel Wind-Dampness and alleviate pain; Qiang Huo targets the upper body, neck, and back, while Qin Jiao clears dampness from the joints without causing dryness.

Niu Xi and Di Long Zhi enhance collateral circulation. Niu Xi guides Blood downward, strengthens the lower back and knees, and unblocks the channels; Di Long Zhi acts as a dynamic collateral opener, clearing obstruction in the micro-vessels.

Xiang Fu regulates Qi to facilitate Blood movement (as "Qi is the commander of Blood"), while Gan Cao harmonizes all twelve herbs and protects the stomach.

Contraindications

STRICTLY CONTRAINDICATED DURING PREGNANCY due to the strong blood-stasis breaking and channel-opening actions of Tao Ren, Hong Hua, Mo Yao, and Di Long Zhi.

Do not use in patients with active bleeding disorders, hemorrhagic conditions, or heavy menstrual bleeding.

Use with extreme caution in cases of severe general Qi and Blood Deficiency without true stasis.

Cautions

Not indicated for Heat-Bi. Avoid if joints are red, swollen, and hot to the touch; this formula is warm and acrid and will worsen inflammatory heat. Use with caution in cases of severe Yin deficiency (dryness/night sweats). Because it contains strong blood-movers like Jiang Huang and Dang Gui, consult a practitioner if taking blood-thinning medications.