Chinese: 百合固金汤
Pinyin: Bǎi Hé Gù Jīn Tāng
Other names: Lily Bulb Decoction to Consolidate the Lungs, Lily Bulb Decoction to Preserve the Metal
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that nourish Yin and tonify
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: AsthmaSilicosisCorpulmonale and five other conditions
- Nourishes Lung and Kidney Yin
- Lubricates the Lung and clears phlegm
Contraindications: This formula should be used with caution or modified in patients with Spleen... This formula should be used with caution or modified in patients with Spleen Deficiency or food Stagnation. Failure to do so may result in indigestion or diarrhea. It should not be used for patients with Exterior conditions. see more
Source date: 1573 AD
Source book: Writings for Posterity of [Zhou] Shen-Zhai
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.
Bai He Gu Jin Tang is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Lily Bulbs (Bai He), Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) and Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1573 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish Yin and tonify. Its main actions are: 1) nourishes Lung and Kidney Yin and 2) lubricates the Lung and clears phlegm.
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 Bai He Gu Jin Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Body Fluids Deficiency, Lung Dryness or Lung Yin Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as absence of menstruation, chronic bronchitis or chronic pharyngitis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the ten ingredients in Bai He Gu Jin Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Bai He Gu Jin Tang helps treat.
The ten ingredients in Bai He Gu Jin Tang
Bai He is a king ingredient in Bai He Gu Jin Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Lily Bulbs (Bai He)
Part used: Dried fleshly scale leaves of the bulb
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
In general Bai He's main actions are as follows: "Clears Heat and stops cough due to either Lung Yin Deficiency or Lung-Heat. Clears Heat from the Heart and calms the Spirit (Shen)."
In the context of Bai He Gu Jin Tang, it is used because it moistens and nourishes Dryness in the Lungs, and clears Heat.
Shu Di huang is a king ingredient in Bai He Gu Jin Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang)
Part used: Prepared dried root tuber
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiver
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Shu Di huang is a very powerful tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin. Together with its sister herb Unprepared rehmannia (Sheng Di Huang), it is also especially helpful in treating Fire due to Yin Deficiency.
Di Huang is a king ingredient in Bai He Gu Jin Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
3. Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang)
Part used: Prepared dried root tuber
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Di Huang strongly enriches the Yin and tonifies the Kidneys. It also cools the Blood to stop the bleeding since, according to Chinese medicine, excessive Heat in the Blood damages the vessels and leads to bleeding.
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Bai He Gu Jin Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Dwarf Lilyturf Roots (Mai Dong)
Part used: Dried root tuber
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartLungStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
Mai Dong is an important herb for tonifying the Yin, especially that of the Upper Burner. It also assist Lily bulb (Bai He) and the other two key herbs with their actions on the Lungs.
Xuan Shen is a deputy ingredient in Bai He Gu Jin Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Ningpo Figwort Roots (Xuan Shen)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: Large intestineLiverStomach
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Xuan Shen helps the Kidney water ascend to the Lungs and is very efficient at clearing Fire from Deficiency and treating steaming bone condition.
Dang Gui is an assistant ingredient in Bai He Gu Jin Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Dong Quai (Dang Gui)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Dang Gui , together with White peony roots, another assistant herb, nourish the Blood to support the Yin. Also they together protect the Lungs from violation thanks to their action of calming the Liver.
Jie Geng is an assistant ingredient in Bai He Gu Jin Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Platycodon Roots (Jie Geng)
Jie Geng facilitates the movement of Lung Qi and stops coughing, especially when combined with Fritillary bulbs (Chuan Bei Mu), as is the case here.
Chuan Bei Mu is an assistant ingredient in Bai He Gu Jin Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Fritillary Bulbs (Chuan Bei Mu)
Part used: Dried bulb
Nature: Cool
In general Chuan Bei Mu's main actions are as follows: "Clears Hot Phlegm and stops cough. Clears Lung Heat caused by Yin Deficiency. Clears Heat and reduces hard lumps and swellings."
In the context of Bai He Gu Jin Tang, it is used because it moistens the Lungs, transforms Phlegm, and stops coughing.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Bai He Gu Jin Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
9. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Gan Cao harmonizes the actions of the other herbs and, in combination with Platycodon root (Jie Geng), improves the status of the throat.
10. White Peony Roots (Bai Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Bai Shao , together with Dong quoi, another assistant herb, nourish the Blood to support the Yin. Also they together protect the Lungs from violation thanks to their action of calming the Liver.
Conditions and patterns for which Bai He Gu Jin Tang 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 Bai He Gu Jin Tang is used by TCM practitioners to treat four 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:
Absence of menstruation Chronic bronchitis Chronic pharyngitis Spontaneous pneumothorax Corpulmonale Silicosis Pulmonary tuberculosis Asthma
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Bai He Gu Jin Tang treats absence of menstruation" for instance. Rather, Bai He Gu Jin Tang is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind absence of menstruation.
Now let's look at the four patterns commonly treated with Bai He Gu Jin Tang.
Body Fluids (Jin Ye) is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Body Fluids in Chinese Medicine
Body Fluids Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Tongue shape: Cracked
Symptoms: Dry skin Dry nose Dry lips Dry mouth Dry cough Dry tongue Dry throat Dry stools Dehydration Unusual thirst
Bai He Gu Jin Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Body Fluids Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as dry skin, dry mouth, dry nose and dry cough. Patients with Body Fluids Deficiency typically exhibit choppy (Se) or fine (Xi) pulses.
Body Fluids are all the fluids in the body, except from Blood. This means that their Deficiency will inevitable result in various symptoms of Dryness. Typical symptoms include dry skin, dry mouth, dry nose, dry cough, dry lips and dry tongue.
A Deficiency of Body Fluids can cause Yin Deficiency but... read more about Body Fluids Deficiency
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Lung Dryness
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu)
Symptoms: Thirst Dry skin Dry cough Dry throat Hoarse voice
Bai He Gu Jin Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Lung Dryness. This pattern leads to symptoms such as dry cough, dry throat, dry skin and hoarse voice. Patients with Lung Dryness typically exhibit empty (Xu) pulses.
Lung Dryness is often accompanied by Body Fluids Deficiency and thus the symptoms of dry throat, dry cough and hoarse voice.
It is a stage before Lung Yin Deficiency but has not yet developed into this more severe pattern.
read more about Lung Dryness
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Lung Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Insomnia Red lips Dry cough Dry mouth Tiredness Thin chest Weak voice Dry throat Depression Blood spit Chest pain Malar flush Hoarse voice Night sweats Tickly throat Frequent sighing Aversion to speak Hot palms and soles Shortness of breath Thin body lacking strength Feeling of heat in the afternoon Low-grade fever in the afternoon
Bai He Gu Jin Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Lung Yin Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as hoarse voice, tickly throat, aversion to speak and thin chest. Patients with Lung Yin Deficiency typically exhibit rapid (Shu), empty (Xu) or floating (Fu) pulses as well as Normal or red color with no coating.
Exterior Heat and Dryness can invade the Lungs and exhausts the Body Fluids. If it is not dealt with for a long time, it leads to Lung Yin Deficiency. Typical manifestations are dry cough, throat and mouth, aversion to speak as well as Hoarse voice.
Other factors can cause this pattern such as the... read more about Lung Yin Deficiency
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Lung and Kidney Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire
Pulse type(s): Fine (Xi), Rapid (Shu)
Tongue coating: Partial absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Wheezing Dry throat Night sweats Hot palms and soles Coughing with blood-streaked sputum
Bai He Gu Jin Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Lung and Kidney Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire. This pattern leads to symptoms such as coughing with blood-streaked sputum, wheezing, dry throat and hot palms and soles. Patients with Lung and Kidney Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire typically exhibit fine (Xi) or rapid (Shu) pulses as well as a red tongue with partial absence of coating.
Learn more about Lung and Kidney Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire
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