"Shentong Zhuyu Tang" (Body Pain Stasis-Expelling Decoction) by the Qing Dynasty Physician Wang Qingren
"Shentong Zhuyu Tang" (Body Pain Stasis-Expelling Decoction) comes from the Qing Dynasty physician Wang Qingren's book Yilin Gaicuo (Correction of Errors in Medical Classics). The formula is composed of: Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma) 1 qian, Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma) 2 qian, Taoren (Persicae Semen) 3 qian, Honghua (Carthami Flos) 3 qian, Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix) 2 qian, Qianghuo 1 qian, Moyao (Myrrha) 2 qian, Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) 3 qian, Wulingzhi (Troglopteri Eupisima, fried) 2 qian, Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma) 1 qian, Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) 3 qian, Dilong (Pheretima, earth removed) 2 qian. Decoct in water for oral use. If there is slight fever, add Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) and Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex); if the patient is deficient and weak, add 1 to 2 liang of Huangqi (Astragali Radix) as appropriate.
One qian in the Qing Dynasty was about 3.72 grams in modern measure; today it may be converted to 3 grams, or to 4 grams — the author often converts it to 4 or 5 grams. One liang in the Qing Dynasty was about 37.2 grams today, and may also be converted to 40 grams.
Wang Qingren liked to use a large dose of raw Huangqi. This formula notes that if the patient is weak and deficient, one to two liang of Huangqi may be used, i.e., about 40–80 grams today; his Buyang Huanwu Tang uses an even larger amount of Huangqi. The ancients held that Huangqi's action is to supplement qi; modern pharmacological research shows that its main effect is to raise hemoglobin content, and hemoglobin carries oxygen to every cell of the body, so saying that it supplements qi makes sense.
How did Wang Qingren explain the use of this formula? He said: "Whatever shoulder pain, arm pain, lower back pain, leg pain, or pain all over the body — collectively termed bi syndrome … there are many ancient formulas; if the ancient formulas do not work, use Shentong Zhuyu Tang." Today this formula is generally considered to have the main functions of activating blood and dispelling stasis, unblocking the meridians and stopping pain, and expelling wind and dampness. It can be used to treat qi stagnation and blood stasis with obstruction of the meridians and collaterals, manifesting as shoulder and back pain, lower back and leg pain, generalized pain, pain that has long failed to resolve, ecchymoses on the tongue, or petechiae on the tongue surface, a pulse that is choppy or wiry and tight, or purpura on the skin.
Today it is commonly used for venous atherosclerosis, arterial atherosclerosis, various thromboses, coronary heart disease, sciatica, fasciitis, osteoarthritis, lumbar disc herniation, post-craniocerebral trauma syndrome, etc. It may also be used for facial palsy, trigeminal neuralgia, Raynaud's syndrome, peripheral neuritis, and cancer pain caused by various tumors.
The herbs in Shentong Zhuyu Tang mainly act to activate blood and resolve stasis and to eliminate dampness and stop pain. Chuanxiong, Taoren, Honghua, Qianghuo, Moyao, Danggui, Wulingzhi, Niuxi and Dilong in the formula are all blood-activating and stasis-resolving herbs; these have good anticoagulant and thrombolytic effects and improve blood flow to various parts of the body. Qiangjiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix), Xiangfu and Qianghuo also have good analgesic effects.
Thus, on the whole, Wang Qingren's formula is centered on anticoagulation and thrombolysis and is suitable for various blood-stasis syndromes. Its action closely resembles that of the Western drug aspirin, but its analgesic effect may be superior to aspirin. Wang Qingren also specifically mentioned slight fever, i.e., a low-grade fever, which is one of the common symptoms of illnesses caused by blood stasis. For patients accompanied by slight fever, adding Cangzhu and Huangbai is because, from the TCM perspective, these two herbs eliminate damp-heat; modern medical research shows they have anti-inflammatory effects, and their fever-relieving action is achieved through anti-inflammation.
Most of Wang Qingren's formulas have outstanding clinical efficacy and are produced by several Chinese patent medicine manufacturers. The patent medicine made from Shentong Zhuyu Tang is Shentong Zhuyu Wan. Patients needing long-term treatment may choose the corresponding patent medicine instead of decocting herbs.