🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Women of a certain age are familiar with Wuji Baifeng Wan. It is a remedy used by women for regulation and treatment, passed down through generations by Chinese physicians and women alike. When stomach discomfort arises, take a few pills; when leukorrhea increases or menstruation becomes irregular, take a box or two; even today, some physicians advise beauty-conscious women: don’t waste money on cosmetics—just take two pills of Wuji Baifeng Wan daily. It’s affordable and supposedly more effective than any cosmetic product. Whether it works or not doesn’t matter much—after all, it’s Chinese medicine, so what side effects could there be? Better to take it than nothing.
However, some people report that Wuji Baifeng Wan is not a panacea. For instance, regarding menstrual irregularity, some women find it helpful, while others find it makes things worse. So, what exactly is Wuji Baifeng Wan? How wide is its scope of application? With these questions in mind, we visited the Shanxi Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine to consult Dr. Zhang Yufen, a 66-year-old authoritative figure in TCM gynecology.
Dr. Zhang explained: Wuji Baifeng Wan is a modified version of the “Great and Small Wuji Pills” from the ancient text "Jiyin Gangmu," estimated to have been around for a century. Originally, Wuji (black chicken) was precious, so it was used only in imperial courts. Now that black chickens are everywhere, it is widely used among the general public. As a fixed formula, the dosage is standardized regardless of manufacturer. It consists of 20 herbs: Black Chicken, Ginseng, Astragalus, Salvia, Angelica, White Peony, Ligusticum, Rehmannia, Prepared Rehmannia, Licorice, Processed Cyperus, Deer Horn Gelatin, Deer Horn Frost, Silver Clematis, Oyster Shell, Softshell Turtle Shell, Cuttlebone, Lotus Seed, Yam, and Asparagus. Among them, Astragalus and Ginseng tonify qi; Deer Horn Gelatin and Deer Horn Frost tonify liver and kidney; Cuttlebone consolidates and supplements kidney yang; Angelica, Ligusticum, White Peony, and Rehmannia—known as the “Four Substances Decoction”—are used to nourish blood; Salvia, Oyster Shell, Softshell Turtle Shell are used to activate blood, dissipate nodules, nourish yin, and calm the spirit; Silver Clematis and Softshell Turtle Shell clear deficient heat; Asparagus nourishes yin; Yam and Lotus Seed strengthen the spleen, remove dampness, solidify the kidney, and stop leukorrhea; Processed Cyperus is a qi-regulating herb.
From this analysis, Wuji Baifeng Wan is a patent medicine that tonifies qi, nourishes blood, regulates menstruation, stops leukorrhea, and balances yin and yang. Its scope is broad, yet precisely because of this, it lacks specificity in treating diseases—it is not a specialized gynecological drug. For example, menstrual irregularity is a common gynecological issue, though symptoms are similar, causes differ: it may stem from qi deficiency, yin deficiency with internal heat, or liver heat. Generally, for qi deficiency-related menstrual irregularity, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan is used; for yin deficiency with internal heat (i.e., blood heat), Di Dì Tang is used; for liver heat-related menstrual irregularity, Dan Zhi Xiao Yao Wan is used. None of these use Wuji Baifeng Wan.
Similarly, leukorrhea comes in various forms: kidney deficiency leukorrhea, spleen deficiency leukorrhea, damp-heat leukorrhea. If purely spleen deficiency, use Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan; using Wuji Baifeng Wan would yield poor results. Kidney deficiency leukorrhea further divides into kidney yang deficiency and kidney yin deficiency. Kidney yin deficiency is treated with Liuwei Dihuang Tang; kidney yang deficiency with Yougui Wan. Damp-heat leukorrhea is better treated with Yi Huang Tang than Wuji Baifeng Wan. Dr. Zhang gave an example: if a patient has trichomoniasis vaginitis with excessive leukorrhea, taking 100 boxes of Wuji Baifeng Wan would be useless. TCM emphasizes dialectical treatment—only when the patient’s symptoms match Wuji Baifeng Wan’s indications will it be effective; otherwise, other drugs are preferable. This explains why some people benefit from Wuji Baifeng Wan while others see no effect.
Regarding its cosmetic effects, Dr. Zhang believes they are exaggerated. If there is any effect, it is only when the patient’s skin issues—like spots or discoloration—are caused by qi deficiency, blood deficiency, yin deficiency, or yang deficiency. In such cases, taking Wuji Baifeng Wan might improve the condition, producing a so-called cosmetic effect. Conversely, if skin problems stem from other causes, Wuji Baifeng Wan will have no effect.
Finally, Dr. Zhang emphasized: overall, Wuji Baifeng Wan contains more yang-tonifying ingredients and fewer yin-nourishing ones. It is suitable only for those with both qi and blood deficiency and imbalance of yin and yang. Wuji Baifeng Wan has significant heat-inducing properties. Ordinary people should avoid or limit consumption in summer, but those with yang deficiency may consume moderately in summer. As the saying goes, “medicine has three parts poison.” One must not assume that because Wuji Baifeng Wan is Chinese medicine, it can be taken indiscriminately. When health issues arise, one must visit a reputable hospital, have a doctor diagnose the condition, and tailor a treatment plan based on individual symptoms.