WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

Pulsatilla Decoction(Bai tou weng tang)

【SOURCE】:Treatise on Cold-Attack

【INGREDIENTS】: Pulsatilla root 15g ，Phellodendron bark 12g ，Coptis root 6g， Ash bark 12g

【DIRECTIONS:】Decoct the above herbs in water for oral administration.

【EFFECTS】:Clearing away heat and poison, cooling blood to relieve dysentery.

【INDICATIONS】: Heat dysentery manifested by abdominal cramps with te­nesmus, burning sensation in the anus, diarrhea with more blood and less mucus, thirst with desire for drinking, red tongue with yellow coating, taut rapid pulse.

【ANALYSIS OF FORMULA】: This is a chief formula for heat dysentery with tenesmus. Being bitter flavor and cold nature, pulsatilla root acts as the main herb to clear away heat and poison as well as cooling blood for relieving dysentery. As the assistant and adjuvant herbs, coptis root, phellodendron bark and ash bark are to purge fire and poison as well to dry dampness for relieving dysentery. For dys­entery due to pestilent poison and blood heat marked by diarrhea with purple blood and pus, rehmannia root and moutan bark can be used cooperatively to nourish yin and cool blood.