Classic formula · Expel phlegm
Wen Dan Tang
温胆汤 Warm the Gallbladder Decoction
Er Chen Tang with bamboo shavings and bitter orange added. For phlegm heat unsettling the Gallbladder and Stomach: nausea, a bitter taste, dizziness, palpitations, anxiety, timidity, and insomnia with a greasy yellow coat. The formula for the queasy, jumpy, sleepless person with too much phlegm.
The Gallbladder governs decisions and courage. When phlegm heat clouds it, the person is nauseous, jumpy, and cannot settle. Despite the name, the formula cools and clears; it 'warms' the Gallbladder by giving it back its calm.
Also sold as: Wen Dan Wan · Bamboo and Hoelen Combination
Who Wen Dan Tang is for
This formula is chosen for 2 patterns. Match your own picture before you match the name.
Signs it is classically given for
- Nausea, vomiting, a bitter or sticky mouth
- Dizziness and a heavy head
- Palpitations, anxiety, being easily startled
- Insomnia with vivid dreams
- Chest fullness
- Timidity and indecision in a phlegmy person
- Morning sickness or motion sickness with a greasy coat, when prescribed
- Tongue
- Yellow greasy coat.
- Pulse
- Slippery, wiry, and a little rapid.
What is in Wen Dan Tang
Amounts are the classic decoction range in grams. Patent pills use the same herbs in the same proportion, so read the box for these names.
| Herb | Amount | Role | Job in the formula |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ban Xia Raw Pinellia Tuber High caution | 6 g | Chief | Processed pinellia transforms phlegm and stops nausea. |
| Zhu Ru Bamboo Shavings | 6 g | Chief | Bamboo shavings clear phlegm heat and settle the stomach and the mind. |
| Zhi Shi Immature Bitter Orange Fruit Use caution | 6 g | Deputy | Immature bitter orange breaks up the phlegm and moves qi down. |
| Chen Pi Dried Tangerine Peel | 9 g | Deputy | Tangerine peel moves qi and dries damp. |
| Fu Ling Poria | 5 g | Assistant | Poria drains damp and calms the mind. |
| Zhi Gan Cao Honey-Fried Licorice Root Use caution | 3 g | Envoy | Honey-fried licorice harmonizes. |
| Sheng Jiang Fresh Ginger Use caution | 5 g | Envoy | Fresh ginger settles nausea. |
| Da Zao Chinese Date | 3 g | Envoy | Jujube dates support the Spleen. |
How Wen Dan Tang works
The Er Chen Tang base clears the phlegm. Bamboo shavings add the cooling and the calming; bitter orange adds the push downward. The result is a formula that settles the stomach and the nerves at once, which is why it is so often used for anxiety with nausea.
Actions in classic terms
- Regulates qi and transforms phlegm
- Clears the Gallbladder and harmonizes the Stomach
Common changes to Wen Dan Tang
A practitioner rarely gives the bare formula. These are the classic additions for a specific picture.
- Strong heat and agitation add Huang Lian This becomes Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang.
- Insomnia that will not shift add Suan Zao Ren, Yuan Zhi Calming herbs.
- Dizziness add Tian Ma Gastrodia for phlegm dizziness.
Cautions with Wen Dan Tang
- Drying. Not for a dry, yin-deficient person with a red peeled tongue.
- Not for nausea from cold with a white wet coat.
- Pinellia must be processed.
- Pregnancy: use only under a qualified practitioner.
Forms and typical dose
Sold as teapills, granules, decoction.
- Teapills
- 8 pills, three times a day, the usual label dose
- Course
- Two to four weeks.
Follow the label of the brand you buy. Pill sizes differ between makers.
Buying Wen Dan Tang
The box reads Wen Dan Tang or Wan with the characters 温胆. Eight ingredients: Er Chen Tang plus Bamboo shavings and immature Bitter orange, with ginger and dates.
Brand comparisons for formulas live on Supplements Apothecary, the buying side of this library.
Formulas often confused with Wen Dan Tang
- Er Chen Tang 二陈汤 The base without bamboo and bitter orange, for cold phlegm with no heat or anxiety.
- Ban Xia Hou Po Tang 半夏厚朴汤 Phlegm knotted with stuck qi in the throat.
Conditions where Wen Dan Tang comes up
Sources
- Bensky, Scheid, Ellis and Barolet, Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies, 2nd edition Composition, actions, indications, and cautions.
Important Note
Formula pages describe classic use so you can read a label, ask a better question, and find the right monographs. They are education, not a prescription. A formula that fits the wrong pattern can make things worse, so match the picture first.