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Formula理血剂· 活血祛瘀

补阳还五汤

Bǔ Yáng Huán Wǔ Tāng

Yang-Supplementing Five-Returning Decoction

The representative formula for wind-stroke (hemiplegia) from qi vacuity and Blood stasis. Its hallmark is the massive dose of Huang Qi (120g), greatly supplementing depleted original qi to propel Blood circulation; small amounts of Blood-invigorating, network-freeing herbs follow, embedding supplementation within freeing.

Source《医林改错》卷下·瘫痿论

Treatment Principle

补气活血通络

Supplement qi, invigorate Blood and free the network vessels

Composition · 组成

Herb	Role	Dosage	Notes
黄芪Huáng Qí	君Sovereign	120g	重用黄芪，大补元气，气旺则血行，瘀去络通
当归Dāng Guī	臣Minister	6g	养血活血，化瘀而不伤血
赤芍Chì Sháo	佐Assistant	5g	活血祛瘀
川芎Chuān Xiōng	佐Assistant	3g	活血行气，通达气血
桃仁Táo Rén	佐Assistant	3g	活血破瘀
红花Hóng Huā	佐Assistant	3g	活血祛瘀通络
地龙Dì Lóng	使Courier	3g	通经活络

Modifications · 加减

语言不利
+ 石菖蒲、远志
风痰阻窍
口角歪斜
+ 白附子、僵蚕
风痰阻络

Preparation · 煎服法

水煎服。

Editor-reviewed· 2026-04-16

PractitionerPatientDate

补阳还五汤Bǔ Yáng Huán Wǔ Tāng

Yang-Supplementing Five-Returning Decoction

Herb	Pinyin	Role	Dose
黄芪	Huáng Qí	Jun (Sovereign)	120g
当归	Dāng Guī	Chen (Minister)	6g
赤芍	Chì Sháo	Zuo (Assistant)	5g
川芎	Chuān Xiōng	Zuo (Assistant)	3g
桃仁	Táo Rén	Zuo (Assistant)	3g
红花	Hóng Huā	Zuo (Assistant)	3g
地龙	Dì Lóng	Shi (Courier)	3g

Preparation: 水煎服。

This prescription is provided only by the dispensing TCM practitioner. Take as directed; do not modify the dose or share it. If you experience any adverse effect, stop immediately and contact your practitioner. The content of this platform is educational reference, not medical advice.
Bencao Dian · https://bencaodian.org · CC BY-SA 4.0

Permalink · CC BY-SA 4.0

Cite this entry

@misc{bencaodian-bu-yang-huan-wu-tang,
  author       = {{Bencaodian Editorial}},
  title        = {Bǔ Yáng Huán Wǔ Tāng 补阳还五汤 (Yang-Supplementing Five-Returning Decoction)},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {Bencao Dian: A Bilingual Knowledge Graph of Traditional Chinese Medicine},
  url          = {https://bencaodian.org/en/formulas/bu-yang-huan-wu-tang},
  urldate      = {2026-04-16},
  note         = {CC BY-SA 4.0}
}

Permalink is fixed

Herb

Role

Dosage

Notes

黄芪Huáng Qí

君Sovereign

120g

重用黄芪，大补元气，气旺则血行，瘀去络通

养血活血，化瘀而不伤血

活血祛瘀

活血行气，通达气血

活血破瘀

活血祛瘀通络

通经活络

Herb

Pinyin

Role

Dose

黄芪

Huáng Qí

Jun (Sovereign)

120g

当归

Dāng Guī

Chen (Minister)

赤芍

Chì Sháo

Zuo (Assistant)

川芎

Chuān Xiōng

Zuo (Assistant)

桃仁

Táo Rén

Zuo (Assistant)

红花

Hóng Huā

Zuo (Assistant)

地龙

Dì Lóng

Shi (Courier)

@misc{bencaodian-bu-yang-huan-wu-tang, author = {{Bencaodian Editorial}}, title = {Bǔ Yáng Huán Wǔ Tāng 补阳还五汤 (Yang-Supplementing Five-Returning Decoction)}, year = {2026}, howpublished = {Bencao Dian: A Bilingual Knowledge Graph of Traditional Chinese Medicine}, url = {https://bencaodian.org/en/formulas/bu-yang-huan-wu-tang}, urldate = {2026-04-16}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }