Wen Dan Tang: A Simple Guide to a Phlegm-Clearing, Stomach-Soothing Herbal Formula

Wen Dan Tang, or "Warm the Gallbladder Decoction," is a classic Chinese herbal formula from the Southern Song Dynasty’s Sanyin Jiyi Bingzheng Fanglun by Chen Yan. Renowned for resolving phlegm, soothing the stomach, and calming the mind, it restores balance by regulating the gallbladder and stomach.

This versatile remedy treats everything from insomnia to nausea caused by phlegm and heat, offering gentle relief with a balanced approach.

Wen Dan Tang

What’s in Wen Dan Tang?

Wen Dan Tang blends eight herbs to clear phlegm and harmonize digestion:

• Pinellia (Ban Xia): Warm and pungent, it dries dampness, clears phlegm, and stops vomiting.

• Bamboo Shavings (Zhu Ru): Slightly cold, it clears heat, resolves phlegm, and eases restlessness.

• Immature Bitter Orange (Zhi Shi): Bitter and cool, it descends qi, breaks stagnation, and relieves bloating.

• Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi): Warm and aromatic, it regulates qi and dries dampness.

• Poria (Fu Ling): Neutral, it strengthens the spleen and clears phlegm’s source.

• Licorice (Gan Cao): Harmonizes the formula and protects the stomach.

• Ginger (Sheng Jiang): Warms the stomach and reduces pinellia’s toxicity.

• Jujube (Da Zao): Nourishes the spleen and harmonizes digestion.

Preparation: Grind herbs into powder, take 12g with 1.5 cups water, ginger, and jujube, boil until reduced by 30%, strain, and take before meals. Modern method: Decoct with adjusted doses.

Wen Dan Tang blends eight herbs

How Wen Dan Tang Works

Wen Dan Tang targets bile stagnation and phlegm disturbance, causing:

• Insomnia, restlessness, or palpitations

• Nausea, vomiting, hiccups, or dizziness

• Chest tightness, epilepsy, or frequent nightmares

• White, greasy tongue coating and stringy, slippery pulse

Its actions include:

• Resolving Phlegm: Pinellia and bamboo shavings clear phlegm and ease nausea.

• Regulating Qi: Tangerine peel and bitter orange reduce stagnation and bloating.

• Soothing the Stomach: Ginger and jujube harmonize digestion.

• Calming the Mind: Poria and licorice balance the gallbladder for mental calm.

The formula’s warm (pinellia, tangerine peel) and cool (bamboo, bitter orange) herbs create a neutral blend, ensuring gentle, effective relief.

Wen Dan Tang /溫膽湯, 5:1 Concentrated Granules

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Modern Uses

Wen Dan Tang is used for:

• Mental Health: Treats insomnia, anxiety, or depression from phlegm-heat.

• Digestive Issues: Eases nausea, bloating, or loss of appetite.

• Neurological Conditions: Helps with dizziness, tinnitus, or epilepsy.

• Respiratory or Chest Symptoms: Relieves tightness from phlegm stagnation.

Customizations:

• Irritability: Add coptis or yam to clear heat.

• Insomnia: Include amber or polygala to calm the mind.

• Fright: Use mother-of-pearl or oyster to soothe nerves.

• Vomiting: Add perilla or loquat leaf to stop nausea.

• Dizziness: Include gastrodia or uncaria to calm the liver.

• Epilepsy: Use bile star or scorpion to stop convulsions.

Dietary and Lifestyle Support

To boost Wen Dan Tang’s effects:

• Yam Porridge: Strengthens the spleen and reduces dampness.

• Barley and Winter Melon Soup: Clears heat and drains phlegm.

• Water Chestnut Juice: Resolves phlegm and cools the body.

• Regular Sleep: Avoid staying up late to support organ balance.

• Gentle Exercise: Walking or tai chi promotes qi flow and clears dampness.

• Emotional Balance: Meditation reduces stress to prevent phlegm buildup.

Wen Dan Tang /溫膽湯, 5:1 Concentrated Granules

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Things to Keep in Mind

• Yin Deficiency with Heat: Avoid if you have dry mouth, hot flashes, or red tongue with little coating, as warm herbs may worsen symptoms.

• Pregnancy: Do not use without a doctor’s guidance.

• Dietary Caution: Skip spicy, greasy, or cold foods to prevent phlegm formation.

• Professional Guidance: Consult a TCM practitioner for tailored dosing and safety.

Why Wen Dan Tang Matters

Wen Dan Tang is a TCM gem, blending pinellia, tangerine peel, and poria to clear phlegm, soothe the stomach, and calm the mind. Rooted in Song Dynasty wisdom, it shines in modern clinics for insomnia, nausea, and more.

Paired with spleen-friendly foods and expert guidance, this formula restores harmony, proving the timeless power of Chinese herbal medicine.

Chinese Name	溫膽湯
Phonetic	Wen Dan Tang
English Name	Gallbladder-Warming Decoction
Classification	Phlegm-expelling formulas
Source	《Treatise on Diseases, Patterns, and Formulas Related to the Unification of the Three Etiologies》San Yin Ji Yi Bing Zheng Fang Lun《三因極一病證方論》
Combination	Pinelliae Rhizoma (Ban Xia) 2 liang (60g), Bambusae Caulis in Taenias (Zhu Ru) 2 liang (60g), Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhi Shi) 2 liang (60g), Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chen Pi) 3 liang (90g), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle (Zhi Gan Cao) 1 liang (30g), Poria (Fu Ling) 1.5 liang (45g), Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Sheng Jiang) 5 pieces, Jujubae Fructus (Da Zao) 1 piece
Method	Grind these medicinals in to powder. Add 1.5 Zhan of water to boil four qian (12g) of powder with 5 pieces of sheng jiang and 1 piece of da zao until 70% of water remained. Remove the dregs. Take the decoction before meal.
Action	Rectifies qi and dissolves phlegm, harmonizes the stomach and promotes gallbladder secretion.
Indication	Wen Dan Tang is designed for patterns of gallbladder constraint with phlegm stirring up. This patterns manifest timidity and patients may be easily frightened. Other symptoms include vexation, insomnia or dreaminess, nausea, vomiting and hiccup, vertigo, epilepsy. The tongue coating is white and greasy, and the pulse is wiry and slippery.
Pathogenesis	Constitutionally, these patients have gallbladder qi insufficiency shown by their timidity or easily to be frightened. When they get depressed emotionally, the liver and gallbladder qi cannot flow freely. As a result, qi stagnation generates heat causing vexation, strange dreams at night, palpitations; and fluid accumulating into phlegm. When turbid phlegm harasses the interior, primarily the stomach, patients present with nausea, vomiting saliva or phlegm, and hiccups. When the phlegm blocks the clear orifices, patients may complain of vertigo, palpitations, or even epilepsy. Therefore, the treatment principle is to regulate qi and dissolve phlegm, harmonize the stomach and promote gallbladder secretion.
Application	1. Essential pattern differentiation Wen Dan Tang is a representative formula for gallbladder constraint with harassing phlegm. This clinical pattern is marked by insomnia due to vexation, vertigo and palpitations, nausea and vomiting, white and greasy tongue coating, wiry and slippery pulse. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders when the patient has a pattern of gallbladder constraint with rising phlegm: acute or chronic gastritis, psychoneurosis, Meniere's syndrome, menopause syndrome, epilepsy, and acute or chronic bronchitis.
Additonal formulae	Shi Wei Wen Dan Tang (Ten Ingredients Gallbladder-Warming Decoction 十味温胆汤) [Source]《Effective Formulas from Generations of Physicians》Shi Yi De Xiao Fang《世医得效方》 [Ingredients] Wen Dan Tang minus zhu ru, plus ren shen 1 liang (3g), shu di 1 liang (3g), wu wei zi 1 liang (3g), suan zao ren 1 liang (3g), yuan zhi 1 liang (3g) [Preparation and Administration] Prepare it as a decoction. [Actions] Boosts qi, and nourishes blood, dissolves phlegm and calms the mind. [Applicable Patterns] Pattern of trepidation and phlegm-turbidity harassing the interior. Symptoms include easy to be frightened, palpitation, insomnia, nightmares, shortness of breath and spontaneous sweating, dizziness and tinnitus, chest obstruction, restlessness, a pale tongue with a greasy coating, and a deep and moderate pulse.