Chinese: 萆薢分清饮
Pinyin: Bì Xiè Fēn Qīng Yǐn
Other names: Dioscoreae Drink to Separate the Clear, Tokoro Drink to Separate the Clear
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that warm and transform water and Dampness
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: Dark urineCloudy urineVaginal itching and three other conditions
- Clears Heat
- Warms the Kidneys
- Drains Dampness
- Separates the clear from the turbid
Source date: 1732 AD
Source book: Awakening of the Mind in Medical Studies
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Fish-Poison Yam (Bi Xie) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 1732 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm and transform water and Dampness. Its main actions are: 1) clears Heat and 2) warms the Kidneys.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Damp-Heat in the Bladder or Spleen Deficiency with Dampness. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as vaginal itching, vaginal discharge or cloudy urine for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the four ingredients in Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin, we review the patterns and conditions that Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin helps treat.
The four ingredients in Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin
Bi Xie is a king ingredient in Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Fish-Poison Yam (Bi Xie)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: BladderStomachLiver
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Bi Xie enters the Bladder, Liver, and Stomach Channels and removes Dampness by separating the turbid from the pure Fluids. Then it directs the turbid fluids out the body through the Bladder. It is thus one of the most important herbs in treating cloudy urinary difficulty or vaginal discharge.
Yi Zhi Ren is a deputy ingredient in Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Sharp-Leaf Galangal Fruits (Yi Zhi Ren)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: KidneySpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Yang Deficiency
Yi Zhi Ren is acrid and aromatic. It warms the Spleen and the Stomach to harmonize the Middle Burner. It also helps the Kidney Yang to secure the Lower Burner. Thus it reduces the urination frequency and stabilizes the Qi.
Wu Yao is an assistant ingredient in Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
3. Lindera Roots (Wu Yao)
Part used: Dried root tuber
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: BladderKidneyLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
In general Wu Yao's main actions are as follows: "Warms and stimulates the flow of Qi and relieves pain. Disperses Cold and Warms the Kidneys."
In the context of Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin, it is used because it warms the Kidneys as well as supports Qi movement and water transformation.
Shi Chang Pu is an assistant ingredient in Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Sweetflag Rhizomes (Shi Chang Pu)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: StomachHeartLiver
Category: Herbs that open the Orifices
In general Shi Chang Pu's main actions are as follows: "Opens the Orifices, awakens the Mind (Shen) and expels Wind-Damp Phlegm. Harmonizes the Earth element and dispels Damp. Applied internally or externally for Wind-Cold-Damp painful obstruction."
In the context of Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin, it is used because it is warm and acrid. It transforms turbidity as well as removes Dampness and Cold from the Bladder.
Conditions and patterns for which Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin may be prescribed
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin is used by TCM practitioners to treat two different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Vaginal itching Vaginal discharge Cloudy urine Dark urine Frequent urination Painful urination
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin treats vaginal itching" for instance. Rather, Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind vaginal itching.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin.
The Bladder is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Bladder in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat in the Bladder
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Symptoms: Fever Dark Urine Turbid urine Blood in urine Feeling of heat Burning urination Urinary dribbling Painful urinary dribbling Frequent and urgent urination Hypogastric fullness and pain Thirst with no desire to drink Stony painful urinary dribbling Urination stopping in the middle of flow Urine the color of rice water - grey and cloudy
Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Damp-Heat in the Bladder. This pattern leads to symptoms such as frequent and urgent urination, burning urination, urination stopping in the middle of flow and dark urine. Patients with Damp-Heat in the Bladder typically exhibit rapid (Shu), slippery (Hua) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as Thick sticky yellow coating on the root with red spots..
This is an Excess Heat and Dampness pattern which obstructs the smooth flow of Fluids in the Lower Burner. The obstruction gives rise to difficult urination, urgent urination and turbid urine.
The Heat causes burning and other Heat sensations.
In extreme cases, Dampness can materialize into... read more about Damp-Heat in the Bladder
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Spleen Deficiency with Dampness
Symptoms: Edema Diarrhea Insomnia Tiredness Dry mouth Dark Urine Loose stools Vaginal pain Vulvar itching Candida infection Urinary difficulty Trichomonas infection White vaginal discharge Sticky vaginal discharge Smelly Vaginal discharge Heat in vaginal and vulvar Excessive vaginal discharge General sensation of heaviness
Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Spleen Deficiency with Dampness. This pattern leads to symptoms such as edema, general sensation of heaviness, diarrhea and urinary difficulty.
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