Chinese: 蒿芩清胆汤
Pinyin: Hāo Qín Qīng Dǎn Tāng
Other names: Sweet Wormwood and Scutellaria Decoction to Clear the Gallbladder
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that harmonize lesser Yang-warp disorders
Mother formula: Er Chen Tang
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: MalariaTyphoidPneumonia and nine other conditions
- Clears Heat and relieves acute conditions of the Gallbladder
- Relieves acute Damp-Heat syndromes
- Resolves Phlegm
- Harmonizes the Stomach
Contraindications: Contraindicated for Phlegm Damp cases due to Yang Deficiency.
Source date: Qing Dynasty
Source book: Revised Popular Guide to the Discussion of Cold Damage
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.
Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Sweet Wormwood Herbs (Qing Hao) and Baikal Skullcap Roots (Huang Qin) as principal ingredients.
Invented in Qing Dynasty, it belongs to the category of formulas that harmonize lesser Yang-warp disorders. Its main actions are: 1) clears Heat and relieves acute conditions of the Gallbladder and 2) relieves acute Damp-Heat syndromes.
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 Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Gallbladder Heat, Phlegm or Heat in Gall Bladder. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as cholecystitis, icteric hepatitis or pyelonephritis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the ten ingredients in Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang helps treat.
The ten ingredients in Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang
Qing Hao is a king ingredient in Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Sweet Wormwood Herbs (Qing Hao)
Part used: Dried aerial parts
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer HeatHerbs that clear Yin Deficiency Heat
Qing Hao , together with Baikal skullcap root (Huang Qin), the other key herb in the formula, drain Damp Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder.
Huang Qin is a king ingredient in Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Baikal Skullcap Roots (Huang Qin)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLungSmall intestineSpleen
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
Huang Qin , together with Sweet wormwood herb, the other key herb in the formula, drain Damp Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder.
Zhu Ru is a deputy ingredient in Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Bamboo Shavings (Zhu Ru)
Part used: Dried middle shavings
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: GallbladderStomachLung
In general Zhu Ru's main actions are as follows: "Clears Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs. Clears Heat in the Stomach and stops vomiting. Cools the Blood and stops bleeding."
In the context of Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang, it is used because it drains Heat from the Gallbladder and Stomach and stops the vomiting.
Ban Xia is a deputy ingredient in Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia)
Part used: Dried rhizome and tuber
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Ban Xia , together with Bitter orange and Tangerine peel (Chen Pi), other deputies of this formula, drains Gallbladder and Stomach Heat, directs rebellious Qi downward, harmonizes the Stomach, and transforms Phlegm.
Zhi Ke is a deputy ingredient in Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Bitter Oranges (Zhi Ke)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
Zhi Ke , together with Crow-dipper rhizome (Ban Xia) and Tangerine peel (Chen Pi), other deputies of this formula, drains Gallbladder and Stomach Heat, directs rebellious Qi downward, harmonizes the Stomach, and transforms Phlegm.
Chen Pi is a deputy ingredient in Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
6. Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi)
Chen Pi , together with Crow-dipper rhizome (Ban Xia) and Bitter orange, other deputies of this formula, drains Gallbladder and Stomach Heat, directs rebellious Qi downward, harmonizes the Stomach, and transforms Phlegm.
Fu Ling is an assistant ingredient in Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Part used: Dried sclerotium
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Fu Ling , together with Liquorice (Gan Cao), Talc (Hua Shi) and Natural Indigo (Qing Dai), the other assistants in this formula, drain Damp Heat through the urine to break Stagnation in the Triple Burner.
Hua Shi is an assistant ingredient in Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Talc (Hua Shi)
Part used: The mineral itself
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: BladderStomach
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Hua Shi , together with Liquorice (Gan Cao), Poria-cocos mushroom (Fu Ling) and Natural Indigo (Qing Dai), the other assistants in this formula, drain Damp Heat through the urine to break Stagnation in the Triple Burner.
Gan Cao is an assistant ingredient in Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
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 , together with Talc (Hua Shi), Poria-cocos mushroom (Fu Ling) and Natural Indigo (Qing Dai), the other assistants in this formula, drain Damp Heat through the urine to break Stagnation in the Triple Burner.
10. Natural Indigo (Qing Dai)
Part used: Dried powder or mass prepared from the leaf and/or the stem
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Salty
In general Qing Dai's main actions are as follows: "Clears Heat, resolves Fire toxicity and cools the Blood. Disperses Stagnation and reduces swelling. Drains Liver Fire, dispels Summer-Heat and extinguishes Wind to stop tremors."
Conditions and patterns for which Hao Qin Qing Dan 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 Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang is used by TCM practitioners to treat three 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:
Cholecystitis Icteric hepatitis Pyelonephritis Malaria Typhoid Pelvic inflammatory disease Pneumonia Leptospirosis Reflux gastritis Aural vertigo Hypertension Coronary artery disease
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang treats cholecystitis" for instance. Rather, Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind cholecystitis.
Now let's look at the three patterns commonly treated with Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang.
The Gallbladder is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Gallbladder in Chinese Medicine
Gallbladder Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Wiry (Xian)
Symptoms: Thirst Nausea Dry throat Hypochondrial pain Epigastrium fullness Bitter taste in the mouth Alternation of hot and cold feeling
Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Gallbladder Heat. This pattern leads to symptoms such as alternation of hot and cold feeling, bitter taste in the mouth, thirst and dry throat. Patients with Gallbladder Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or wiry (Xian) pulses.
This pattern is almost the same as the Lesser Yang pattern within the Six Stages theory. It is also one of the five patterns of the Qi level, the second level of the Four Levels theory.
The main difference between this pattern and the Lesser Yang pattern is that it is characterized by more Heat and... read more about Gallbladder Heat
Body Fluids (Jin Ye) is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Body Fluids in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Thick coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
Symptoms: Lumps Nausea Tumors Oedema Nodules Obesity Fatigue Vertigo Delirium Belching Vomiting Dizziness Moodiness Overweight Bad breath Depression Watery milk Clear mucus Irritability Poor appetite Low metabolism Chest fullness Chest pressure Breast distention Abdominal fullness Sputum in the chest Feeling of heaviness Thick tongue coating Muzziness of the head Numbness in the limbs Thick greasy secretions Feeling of oppression of the chest No feeling of distension of the breasts
Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Phlegm. This pattern leads to symptoms such as feeling of oppression of the chest, muzziness of the head, dizziness and nausea. Patients with Phlegm typically exhibit slippery (Hua) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as swollen tongue with sticky coating .
Phlegm has a great importance in Chinese Medicine as it is both a condition in and of itself as well as a cause for other diseases.
The main cause for the formation of Phlegm is Spleen Deficiency since the Spleen rules the transformation and transportation of Body Fluids. If this function is... read more about Phlegm
The Gallbladder is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Gallbladder in Chinese Medicine
Heat in Gall Bladder
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Thick coating, Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Thirst Nausea Epigastrium fullness Bitter taste in the mouth Stifling sensation in the chest Spitting up bitter or sour fluids Mild chills alternating with pronounced fever Distention and pain in the chest and hypochondria
Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Heat in Gall Bladder. This pattern leads to symptoms such as mild chills alternating with pronounced fever, bitter taste in the mouth, stifling sensation in the chest and spitting up bitter or sour fluids. Patients with Heat in Gall Bladder typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a red tongue with thick coating, yellow coating.
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