Four Substances (Si Wu Tang) is the foundational formula for building Blood. Blood deficiency stems from a variety of causes including organ disharmony, poor circulation, improper diet and blood loss. It is an appropriate formula for both men and women when Blood must be replenished to support a healthy body. It is suitable for any type of Blood deficiency pattern, while being most commonly used with patterns associated with Liver Blood deficiency. Four Substances nourishes Heart and Liver Blood, helping to relieve occasional feelings of irritability, anxiety, restlessness and forgetfulness. This formula fulfills an important goal: the harmonious balance of Yin and Yang, in which Yin is nourishment and stillness and Yang is movement and activity. Both must be abounding, balanced and represented together to complete the whole. This formula is comprised of two pairs of herbs, one aimed at nourishing and the other at invigorating the Yin and Yang aspects of Blood. Prepared Rehmannia root and White peony root are known for their ability to strongly tonify the Blood, and nourish the Yin. Simply nourishing the Blood, without providing the means to move it, could create stasis. The second pair, Dong quai root and Sichuan lovage rhizome support and encourage the movement of Blood, thus preventing the formula from becoming cloying and heavy. Four Substances is used widely and can be combined with any formula to further nourish and tonify Blood. With concurrent Spleen Qi deficiency, combine with Four Gentlemen as a general Qi and Blood tonic. ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENTFour Substances, or Soup of Four Things (Si Wu Tang), is found in the Imperial Grace Formulary of the Tai Ping Era (Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang), compiled during the Song Dynasty between 982 and 992 A.D. Again recorded by Dr. Chen Shi-Wen in the classic Song Dynasty 14 (1151 A.D.), Si Wu Tang is Chinese herbology’s basic formula used to tonify the Blood. In the ninth volume of his book, Dr. Chen recommends this formula be also used for deficiency of the Penetrating and Conception Vessels.
