Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang

What It Is

Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang — literally translated as “Tangkuei and Six-Yellow Decoction” — is a classic traditional Chinese herbal formula first recorded in Wen Bing Tiao Bian (Treatise on Epidemic Febrile Diseases) during the Qing Dynasty.

It contains seven key herbs, with “six yellow” referring to the inclusion of several herbs that have a yellow hue and a cooling nature. The standard formulation includes:

• Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis) – Nourishes and invigorates the blood.
• Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa, raw) – Cools the blood and nourishes yin.
• Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa, prepared) – Deeply nourishes yin and blood.
• Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis) – Clears heat from the upper burner.
• Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis) – Clears heat from the middle burner and heart fire.
• Huang Bai (Phellodendron amurense) – Drains damp-heat from the lower burner.
• Huang Qi (Astragalus membranaceus) – Tonifies qi and strengthens the body’s surface to stop sweating.

The combination of these herbs balances the yin and yang, nourishes the blood and fluids, and clears internal heat.

How It Works

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang acts by addressing two main pathological conditions:

1. Yin Deficiency with Excess Fire. The formula nourishes the yin (particularly the blood and kidney yin) to replenish body fluids and restore balance. Herbs such as Sheng Di Huang and Shu Di Huang deeply nourish yin, while Dang Gui supports blood enrichment.
2. Fire or Heat Rising from Deficiency. The “six yellows” (Huang Qin, Huang Lian, Huang Bai, etc.) have strong heat-clearing and fire-draining actions, especially targeting the heart, liver, and kidneys. This helps to reduce symptoms such as irritability, night sweats, and a sensation of heat.
3. Qi Consolidation to Prevent Fluid Loss. Huang Qi is particularly important for reinforcing the defensive qi (wei qi) to stabilize the exterior. This helps control spontaneous or night sweating by sealing the pores and reducing yin leakage.

In biomedical terms, modern research suggests that the formula may:

• Regulate endocrine and immune function.
• Exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
• Support autonomic nervous balance, reducing stress-related sweating.
• Improve microcirculation and hormonal homeostasis in yin-deficient conditions.

Why It’s Important

Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang holds an important place in Chinese herbal medicine because it is one of the most effective formulas for addressing yin-deficient internal heat with night sweats — a hallmark sign of imbalance between yin and yang.

It is particularly valuable for:

• Perimenopausal and menopausal women experiencing hot flashes, night sweats, and irritability.
• Post-illness recovery, where body fluids and yin have been depleted.
• Chronic low-grade fevers, insomnia, and restlessness from yin deficiency.
• Hyperthyroidism-like symptoms (in a TCM framework).
• Diabetic internal heat patterns and certain skin conditions with dryness and heat.

Its balanced nature — nourishing while cooling — makes it suitable for long-term use under supervision, offering a harmonizing effect rather than a purely suppressive one.

Considerations

While Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang is powerful, it must be used thoughtfully:

Pattern Differentiation

• It is suitable only when the root cause is yin deficiency with fire or heat symptoms. If used in people with cold deficiency or damp stagnation, it can worsen symptoms such as fatigue, bloating, or diarrhea.

Contraindications

• Should be avoided in cases of cold-type sweating, spleen qi deficiency with dampness, or yang deficiency.
• Not ideal for those with digestive weakness, as the heavy, cloying herbs can burden the stomach.

Dosage and Administration

• Traditionally taken as a decoction, but modern versions exist as granules or pills. Dosage and proportions should be adjusted based on individual constitution and presenting symptoms by a qualified TCM practitioner.

Possible Side Effects

• Mild gastrointestinal discomfort, reduced appetite, or loose stools may occur in those with weak digestion. Overuse may lead to overcooling or digestive stagnation.

Medical Supervision

• It’s best prescribed by a licensed practitioner after proper pattern diagnosis. Those taking Western medications, especially hormone regulators or antihypertensives, should consult both practitioners to avoid interactions.