Chinese: 黄芩汤
Pinyin: Huáng Qín Tāng
Other names: Scutellaria Decoction
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Heat from the Organs
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: Acute colitisBacillary dysenteryPelvic inflammatory disease
- Clears Heat
- Alleviates dysenteric disorders
- Stops pain
- Harmonizes the Middle Burner
Contraindications: Not indicated for the initial stages of dysenteric or feverish disorders with... Not indicated for the initial stages of dysenteric or feverish disorders with pronounced exterior symptoms. It is also contraindicated for dysenteric disorders due to Cold or Deficiency. see more
Source date: 220 AD
Source book: 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.
Huang Qin Tang is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Baikal Skullcap Roots (Huang Qin) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat from the Organs. Its main actions are: 1) clears Heat and 2) alleviates dysenteric disorders.
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 Huang Qin Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Heat in Lessor Yang. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as bacillary dysentery, acute colitis or pelvic inflammatory disease for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the four ingredients in Huang Qin Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Huang Qin Tang helps treat.
The four ingredients in Huang Qin Tang
Huang Qin is a king ingredient in Huang Qin Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. 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 is bitter and cold. It drains Heat from the Lesser Yang and Yang Brightness, resolves toxicity, and stops dysentery and diarrhea.
Bai Shao is a deputy ingredient in Huang Qin Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. White Peony Roots (Bai Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Bai Shao drains Heat from the Middle Burner, while its sourness astringes and contains the Yin. White peony root with Liquorice is also forms a synergistic pairing that is specific for abdominal cramping and pain.
Gan Cao is an assistant ingredient in Huang Qin Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
3. 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 resolves toxicity and, in conjunction with Jujube dates (Da zao), harmonizes the Middle Burner, augments the Qi, and enriches the Yin. Both herbs thus serve as assistants and envoys in this formula.
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Huang Qin Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Jujube Dates (Da Zao)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Da Zao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach Qi. Tonifies the Blood. Calms the Shen (spirit). Moderates the actions of other herbs in formula."
In the context of Huang Qin Tang, it is used because it is harmonizes the Middle Burner, augments the Qi, and enriches the Yin.
Huang Qin Tang is used to treat Heat in Lessor Yang
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 Huang Qin Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Heat in Lessor Yang" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Heat in Lessor Yang here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Bacillary dysentery Acute colitis Pelvic inflammatory disease
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Huang Qin Tang treats bacillary dysentery" for instance. Rather, Huang Qin Tang is used to treat Heat in Lessor Yang, which is sometimes the root cause behind bacillary dysentery.
Now let's look at Heat in Lessor Yang, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Huang Qin Tang.
'Heat' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Heat pattern in Chinese Medicine
Heat in Lessor Yang
Pulse type(s): Floating (Fu), Rapid (Shu)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Fever Diarrhea Tenesmus sticky taste Abdominal pain Anal irritation Burning abdominal pain Bitter taste in the mouth Loose stools with foul smell
Huang Qin Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Heat in Lessor Yang. This pattern leads to symptoms such as fever, bitter taste in the mouth, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Patients with Heat in Lessor Yang typically exhibit floating (Fu) or rapid (Shu) pulses as well as a red tongue with yellow coating.
This pattern often presents as a diarrhea or dysenteric disorder. This condition arises when Heat accumulates in the Lesser Yang, creating a disturbance that forces its way into the Stomach and Intestines.
Initially, an external pathogen obstructs the protective Qi in the Greater Yang, leading to... read more about Heat in Lessor Yang
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