Sancai Fengsui Dan
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Ingredients
| Herb Name | English Name | Historical Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Tian Men Dong | two liang (approximately 75 g) | |
| Shu Di Huang | two liang (approximately 75 g) | |
| Ren Shen | one liang (approximately 37.5 g) | |
| Huang Nie | three liang (approximately 112.5 g) | |
| Sha Ren | one and a half liang (approximately 56.25 g) | |
| Gan Cao | seven and a half qian (approximately 28.13 g) | |
| Rou Cong Rong | five qian (approximately 18.75 g) |
Traditional Indications
Sancai Fengsui Dan is recorded in Yi Fang Ji Jie as a historical formula for supporting the TCM Spleen, Lung, and Kidney systems. The text describes it as lowering Heart fire, enriching Kidney water, nourishing yin and blood, and moistening without causing dryness. These are traditional TCM descriptions, not biomedical diagnoses.
Preparation & Administration
The six principal ingredients are made into pills with flour paste. Rou Cong Rong is sliced and soaked overnight in one large cup of wine; on the following day, it is decocted and the liquid is used to take the pills. The source does not state the number or weight of pills per dose.
Formula Rationale
The commentary assigns Tian Men Dong to supporting the Lung and generating water, Ren Shen to supporting the Spleen and qi, and Shu Di Huang to enriching the Kidney and yin. It uses the names Heaven, Earth, and Human to explain support for the upper, middle, and lower regions. Huang Nie is described as entering the Kidney to enrich yin, Sha Ren as entering the Spleen to move stagnation, and Gan Cao as moderating bitterness while supporting the role of Ren Shen.
Recorded Variants
Removing the final three ingredients and decocting Tian Men Dong, Shu Di Huang, and Ren Shen in equal amounts produces a preparation called Sancai Tang, historically associated in the source with deficiency-type cough. Removing the first three ingredients produces Fengsui Dan, historically associated with Heart fire and insecure Kidney essence with seminal leakage.