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Wan Dai Tang: A classic prescription for soothing the liver and strengthening the spleen, removing dampness and stopping leukorrhea

Writer's picture: Hongji MedicalHongji Medical

Wan Dai Tang comes from Fu Qingzhu's Gynecology, which is a prescription created by Fu Qingzhu to treat leukorrhea in women. Fu Qingzhu, whose given name was Fu Shan and whose courtesy name was Qingzhu, was a famous physician in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, and made outstanding contributions in gynecology in particular. In Fu Qingzhu's Gynecology, he elaborated on the etiology and pathogenesis of leukorrhea in detail and proposed the special prescription of Wandai Decoction.


Finished soup
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Wan Dai Tang Recipe Composition


The composition of Wan Dai Tang mainly includes the following medicinal ingredients:

  • Main medicine : Atractylodes macrocephala, Chinese yam

    • Atractylodes macrocephala: strengthens the spleen and replenishes Qi, dries dampness and strengthens the spleen.

    • Yam: strengthens the spleen and replenishes qi, replenishes vital energy.

  • Assistant medicine : Ginseng, Atractylodes macrocephala

    • Ginseng: replenishes vital energy and helps spleen function.

    • Atractylodes macrocephala: dries dampness and strengthens the spleen, helps Atractylodes macrocephala to strengthen the spleen.

  • Adjuvant : Bupleurum, Chenpi, Nephrolepis

    • Bupleurum: Soothes the liver and regulates Qi, relieves depression and dispels evil.

    • Chenpi: regulates Qi and strengthens the spleen, dries dampness and resolves phlegm.

    • Jingjie: Soothes the liver and regulates qi, relieves depression and dispels evil.

  • Adjuvant : White Peony Root, Plantago Seed, Licorice

    • White Peony Root: nourishes blood and softens the liver, relieves pain.

    • Plantago seed: promotes diuresis and moisture permeation, clears away heat and removes dampness.

    • Licorice: harmonizes various medicines and relieves pain.

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There are slight differences in the composition of Wandai Soup in various medical books, which are mainly reflected in the following aspects:

  1. Dosage ratio : The dosage ratios of the drugs listed in different books vary, but they all use Atractylodes macrocephala, Chinese yam, white peony root, etc. as the main drugs.

  2. The presence or absence of some medicines : for example, Pinellia ternata is added in "Differentiation Record"; Adison Belladonna replaces Plantago seed in "Zhenyan Yifang Gekuo"; some doctors do not mention ginseng.

  3. Preparation method : All schools of thought emphasize that some medicines need to be fried, such as Atractylodes macrocephala and yam, Semen nephrolepis need to be fried until black, and Paeonia lactiflora and Plantago seed need to be fried with wine.


Pathogenesis of Wan Dai Tang


The pathogenesis of Wandai Decoction mainly involves three aspects: spleen deficiency, liver depression and dampness .


First of all, spleen deficiency is one of the important causes of leukorrhea. The spleen is responsible for transportation and transformation, and is responsible for converting nutrients in food into qi and blood, and expelling moisture from the body. If the spleen is deficient, the transportation and transformation function is abnormal, and moisture will stagnate inside, forming dampness, which will flow down to the belt meridian, causing leukorrhea.


Finished soup
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Secondly, liver depression is also a key factor in the pathogenesis of Wandai Decoction. The liver governs the flow of qi and is responsible for regulating the movement of qi. If liver qi is depressed and qi is not smooth, it will affect the spleen's function of transportation and transformation, further aggravating the accumulation of dampness. Liver depression can also lead to emotional instability, prone to depression, anxiety and other symptoms, these emotional problems will in turn affect the health of the body, forming a vicious cycle.


Finally, dampness and turbidity flowing downward is a direct manifestation of the pathogenesis of Wandai Decoction. Dampness and turbidity are the result of the combined effects of spleen deficiency and liver depression . When dampness and turbidity accumulate to a certain extent, they will flow downward to the belt meridian, leading to leukorrhea.


The typical symptoms of leucorrhea are heavy and continuous leucorrhea. In severe cases, it is also accompanied by waist and abdominal pain, fatigue and weakness . Wandai Decoction can effectively regulate the spleen and stomach functions, relieve liver depression, and clear away dampness by strengthening the spleen and liver, and stopping leucorrhea, thereby achieving the purpose of treating leucorrhea.


Finished soup
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The efficacy and principle of Wan Dai Tang


The efficacy of Wandai Tang can be understood from the following aspects:

  1. Strengthen the spleen and replenish qi, eliminate dampness and stop leukorrhea : The herbs in the prescription, such as white atractylodes, yam, and atractylodes, have the effects of strengthening the spleen and replenishing qi, eliminating dampness and strengthening the spleen, and are targeted at leukorrhea caused by spleen deficiency and excessive dampness. Ginseng replenishes vital energy to help the spleen function.

  2. Soothing the liver and regulating qi, and unblocking the qi mechanism : Herbs such as Bupleurum, Chenpi, and Jingjie have the effects of soothing the liver and regulating qi, relieving depression and dispersing evil, and are aimed at the dysfunction of the belt meridian caused by liver depression and qi stagnation.

  3. Nourishes blood and softens the liver, relieves acute pain : White peony root has the effects of nourishing blood and softening the liver, relieves acute pain, and can relieve pain caused by stagnation of liver qi.

  4. Promoting diuresis and removing dampness, clearing away heat and removing dampness : Plantago seed has the effects of promoting diuresis and removing dampness, clearing away heat and removing dampness, and can expel dampness from the body through urine.



Wan Dai Tang is mainly used to treat leucorrhea in women, especially symptoms such as excessive leucorrhea and continuous bleeding. Its main effects include:

  • Strengthen the spleen and soothe the liver : replenish the qi of the spleen and stomach, soothe the liver and relieve depression.

  • Eliminate dampness and stop leukorrhea : dry dampness and strengthen the spleen, promote diuresis and moisture absorption, clear away heat and remove dampness.


Finished soup
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Modern Applications of Wan Dai Tang


Modern medical research has found that Wan Dai Tang can relieve the symptoms of excessive vaginal discharge by regulating the endocrine system and improving the function of the reproductive system. In addition, Wan Dai Tang is also used to treat modern gynecological diseases such as vaginitis, cervical erosion, and pelvic inflammatory disease.


In clinical applications, Wandai Decoction is often used to treat symptoms such as excessive leucorrhea and chronic reproductive system inflammation in women. It is particularly effective for leucorrhea caused by spleen deficiency, liver depression, and dampness and turbidity.





Precautions and side effects


The following points should be noted when using Wandai Soup:

  1. Treatment based on syndrome differentiation : This prescription is a commonly used prescription for treating leucorrhea due to spleen deficiency. The key points for syndrome differentiation are clear, thin, white leucorrhea, pale tongue with white coating, and soft and slow pulse.

  2. Contraindications : This prescription is not suitable for patients with leucorrhea due to downward movement of damp heat, or liver depression transforming into fire, and leucorrhea that is thick, sticky, smelly, yellow, or reddish-white in color.

  3. Side effects : Generally there are no obvious side effects, but the dosage should be adjusted according to the patient's specific situation to avoid overdose.


Summary


Wan Dai Tang is a prescription that mainly soothes the liver and strengthens the spleen, eliminates dampness and stops leukorrhea. It is precisely formulated, ingeniously matched, and has a precise therapeutic effect. The application and understanding of this prescription by doctors of different dynasties vary slightly, but they all affirm its function of strengthening the spleen and eliminating dampness, soothing the liver and regulating qi. When used clinically, it should be treated according to the patient's specific condition, and the drug and dosage should be reasonably selected to achieve the best therapeutic effect. In terms of precautions and side effects, special attention should be paid to the treatment according to the syndrome differentiation to avoid misuse for inappropriate symptoms.

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