The Xuanbu Wan （pills for diffusing and tonifying） was first mentioned in the historical medical literature in the

Jiyan Fang

（

Collection of Verified Prescriptions

） written by the renowned Northern Zhou physician Yao Sengyuan during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. This prescription， which treats kidney Xiaoke （consumptive thirst） with frequent urination， was cited in

Beiji Qianjin Yaofang

（

Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies

） and

Waitai Miyao

（

Secret Prescriptions from the Imperial Library

）. Through a review of historical literature， this paper explores the origin and evolution of the Xuanbu Wan and explains the unique treatment method of combining "Xuan" （dispersing） and "Bu" （tonifying） for treating Xiaoke （consumptive thirst）， which can be traced back to the 46th prescription in

Zhi Liu Shi Bing He Qi Tang Fa

（

Methods of Preparing Decoctions for Treating Sixty Diseases

） from the Western Han Dynasty Tianhui Medical Bamboo Slips. This therapeutic concept is also found in Zhang Zhongjing's Shenqi Wan （pills for tonifying kidney qi） and matured by the Six Dynasties period， with a systematic exposition of its theoretical foundation in the

Xiaopin Fang

（

Minor Essentials of Prescriptions

）. From the Tang Dynasty onward， medical prescriptions such as Wubu Qixuan Wan （five-tonifying and seven-dispersing pills） were developed for the treatment of various diseases. From the Song Dynasty onward， Xuanbu Wan spread widely with the publication of

Taiping Huimin Heji Ju Fang

（

Formulary of the Pharmacy of the Peaceful Benevolent Dispensary

）， and traces of it have also been found in the medical prescriptions unearthed from Heishuicheng. During the Jin and Yuan dynasties， Liu Wansu inherited this therapeutic method and expanded its application to a wide range of conditions， including stroke， malaria， and amenorrhea， thereby ensuring its transmission to later generations.