A famous patent remedy for women care in China for thousand years that has gained world-wide distribution

Wu Chi Pai Feng Wan (literally, black chicken, white phoenix pills) is a famous patent remedy in China that has gained world-wide distribution. There is a particular chicken that has black colored bones, meat, and skin ("black chicken" wu chi; the pinyin spelling is wuji), which is used in China as a food and medicine for nourishing yin and blood. It is referred to here as the white phoenix (pai feng; the pinyin spelling is baifeng) because of the paradoxical pure white feather color. The phoenix (Chinese: fenghuang) is a prominent symbol not only in China, but in many parts of the world. It was said that the immortals would eat the eggs of the phoenix to gain their longevity. The black chicken can have feathers of other colors as well, but the ones with white feathers are preferred.

According to the modern Pharmacopoeia, Wu Chi Pai Feng Wan is indicated for "deficiency of both qi and blood, marked by emaciation and feebleness, aching and limpness of loins and knees, disorders of menstruation with abnormal uterine bleeding, and excessive leukorrhea." According to Thousand Formulas and Thousand Herbs of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the formula is used "to reinforce qi and nourish blood; used for deficiency of blood in women, manifesting in leukorrhea, weakness after giving birth, and edema in the limbs." The latter symptom, which might be accompanied by turbid urine, could be the result of nephritis.

The formulation is focused on tonification of yin, blood, and essence, with cyperus and salvia to promote circulation of qi and blood. Typical uses of this version would be to help alleviate anemia and other blood deficiency syndromes, to enhance immune functions, alleviate chronic cough with night sweating, and regulate menstruation. This preparation could be combined with others that are readily available to address conditions such as persistent uterine bleeding or leukorrhea that are often indications for use of the Chinese patents.

Thanks for

Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon

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