Sheng Hua Tang: A Gentle Remedy for Postpartum Recovery
Health Lab- Feb 2
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 30
Sheng Hua Tang, or "Engendering and Transforming Decoction," is a cherished formula from Fu Qingzhu’s Women’s Medicine, written by a Qing Dynasty physician. With just five simple herbs—angelica root, Sichuan lovage root, peach kernel, roasted ginger, and roasted licorice—this blend works wonders for new mothers.
Known in ancient times as a "postpartum savior" and "holy medicine for blood clots," it helps clear out lochia, replenish blood, and ease pain. This article breaks down its ingredients, benefits, modern uses, and how dietary tweaks can boost its effects.
What’s in Sheng Hua Tang?
This formula uses a handful of herbs, each with a vital role in postpartum recovery:
Angelica root (24g): Nourishes blood, improves circulation, and clears blood clots.
Sichuan lovage root (9g): Boosts energy and blood flow, easing abdominal pain.
Peach kernel (6g, peeled, 14 pieces): Breaks up blood clots and promotes smooth lochia discharge.
Roasted ginger (2g, blackened): Warms the body and relieves cold-related abdominal pain.
Roasted licorice root (2g): Harmonizes the formula, reduces inflammation, and eases pain.
How to Use It
Boil the herbs in a mix of water and a splash of rice wine (or just water in modern practice). If using rice wine, it enhances circulation and warms the body. Drink the decoction warm, often mixed with melted herbs for best effect.
What It Does and When to Use It
Sheng Hua Tang is tailored for postpartum recovery, helping with:
Clearing lochia: It promotes uterine contractions to expel residual blood and tissue.
Replenishing blood: It combats weakness from blood loss during childbirth.
Easing pain: It relieves abdominal cramps caused by poor blood flow or cold.
Warming the body: It fights off cold to reduce lower abdominal discomfort.
Supporting uterine recovery: It helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy state.
It’s ideal for new mothers with symptoms like prolonged lochia, cold pain in the lower abdomen, or weakness due to blood loss. It also helps with conditions like poor uterine recovery, retained placenta, chronic pelvic inflammation, or fallopian tube adhesions.
Why It Works
After childbirth, the body is vulnerable—blood loss weakens it, and cold can settle in, slowing blood flow and causing clots. This leads to abdominal pain, stalled lochia, and discomfort. Angelica and Sichuan lovage nourish blood and improve circulation, while peach kernel clears clots for smooth lochia discharge.
Roasted ginger warms the body to ease cold-related pain, and licorice ties it all together, ensuring the herbs work in harmony. Together, they help the uterus heal and the body regain strength.
Modern Uses
Sheng Hua Tang remains a staple for postpartum care, supported by modern research showing it:
Promotes uterine contractions to clear lochia and reduce placental retention.
Lowers blood viscosity and platelet clumping for better circulation.
Offers pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Speeds up endometrial healing and uterine recovery.
It’s used for postpartum issues like lochia retention, abdominal pain, and slow uterine recovery, as well as related conditions like pelvic inflammation or fallopian tube issues.
When to Take It
Timing depends on delivery method:
Natural birth: Start 24 hours to 3 days postpartum, for about a week.
Cesarean section: Begin 3 to 5 days postpartum, for no more than a week.
Always follow a doctor’s guidance for safe use.
Pairing with Food for Extra Relief
Boost recovery with these nourishing foods:
Red date and longan soup: Boil red dates and longan fruit to nourish blood and energy.
Black bean and pig tail soup: Cook black beans with pig tail for collagen to aid healing.
Wolfberry chicken soup: Simmer wolfberry and chicken to boost immunity and milk production.
Things to Watch Out For
Sheng Hua Tang isn’t for everyone. Avoid it if you have:
Postpartum fever or heat-related issues: It could worsen symptoms.
Heavy bleeding or extreme weakness: It may aggravate bleeding or fatigue.
Yin deficiency with excess heat: Use cautiously, ideally under a doctor’s supervision.
Consult a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner to ensure it’s safe for your condition.
Wrapping Up
Sheng Hua Tang is a gentle yet powerful remedy for postpartum recovery, helping new mothers clear lochia, ease pain, and regain strength. Its simple blend of herbs supports blood flow, warms the body, and speeds up uterine healing.
Paired with nourishing foods, it can make the postpartum period more comfortable and healthy. Always use it under professional guidance to ensure safety and maximize its benefits, letting this time-tested formula support a smooth recovery.
Chinese Name | 生化湯 |
Phonetic | Sheng Hua Tang |
English Name | Engendering and Transforming Decoction |
Classification | Blood-regulating formulas |
Source | 《Fu Qing-zhu’s [Treatise on] Gynecology》Fu Qing Zhu Nu Ke《傅青主女科》 |
Combination | Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Dang Gui) 8 qian (24g), Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuan Xiong) 3 qian (9g), Persicae Semen (Tao Ren) 14 pcs (6g), Zingiberis Rhizoma Praeparatum (Pao Jiang Jiang) 5 fen (2g), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle (Zhi Gan Cao) 5 fen (2g) |
Method | Decoct the medicinals in equal amounts of yellow wine and infant’s urine. (Modern use: prepare Sheng Hua Tang as a decoction, or decoct with a moderate amount of yellow wine.) |
Action | Nourishes the blood and dissolves blood stasis, warms the channels and relieves pain. |
Indication | Patterns of blood deficiency, congealed cold, and blood stasis marked by inhibited lochia after childbirth and cold pain in the lower abdomen. |
Pathogenesis | The pathogenesis of this formula is blood deficiency, congealed cold, and blood stasis. Following delivery women are deficient in qi and blood and are vulnerable to external cold contraction, leading to congealed cold and blood stasis. In this case lochia becomes retained and blood stasis blocks the uterus, causing cold pain in the lower abdomen; for where there is obstruction, there is pain. The therapeutic method is to nourish the blood, dissolve blood stasis, warm the channels, and relieve pain. |
Application | 1. Essential pattern differentiation Sheng Hua Tang is commonly used after childbirth. In some areas, it is a necessary formula to take after childbirth. Although this formula has its benefits, it is most suitable for those who have actual pattern of blood deficiency and obstruction from congealed cold. This clinical pattern is marked by retained lochia after childbirth, cold pain in the lower abdomen, loose stool, slightly yellow, greasy tongue coating, weak pulse. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders when the patient shows signs of blood deficiency and congealing cold, blood stasis stagnation: poor involution of uterus, postpartum painful uterine contraction, and retained placenta. 3. Cautions and contraindications This formula should be used with caution in patterns associating with blood heat. It is contraindicated for profuse lochia, continuous bleeding, sweating, and shortness of breath. |
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