Chinese: 清脾汤
Pinyin: Qīng Pí Tāng
Other names: Clear the Spleen Decoction
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear malarial disorders
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: Malaria
- Harmonizes and resolves
- Transforms Phlegm and dries Dampness
- Improves the Spleen's transportive function
- Clears Heat
- Moves Qi
Contraindications: This formula is contraindicated for malarial disorders without Damp-Phlegm.
Source date: 1253 AD
Source book: Formulas to Aid the Living
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.
Qing Pi Tang is a 9-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Bupleurum Roots (Chai Hu) and Baikal Skullcap Roots (Huang Qin) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1253 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear malarial disorders. Its main actions are: 1) harmonizes and resolves and 2) transforms Phlegm and dries Dampness.
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.
From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as malaria for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the nine ingredients in Qing Pi Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Qing Pi Tang helps treat.
The nine ingredients in Qing Pi Tang
Chai Hu is a king ingredient in Qing Pi Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Bupleurum Roots (Chai Hu)
Chai Hu , together with Baikal skullcap root, it resolves the Lesser Yang, venting pathogens and clearing Heat. It is the best herb for clearing the muscles and reducing fever. However, without Baikal skullcap root, it can neither cool the muscles nor release the Exterior.
Huang Qin is a king ingredient in Qing Pi 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 Bupleurum root, it resolves the Lesser Yang, venting pathogens and clearing Heat. Bupleurum root is the best herb for clearing the muscles and reducing fever. However, without Baikal skullcap root, it can neither cool the muscles nor release the Exterior.
Ban Xia is a deputy ingredient in Qing Pi Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia)
Part used: Dried rhizome and tuber
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Ban Xia dries the dampness and transforms the phlegm, and thus opens the Qi dynamic to facilitate the venting of the pathogen.
Cao Guo is a deputy ingredient in Qing Pi Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Tsaoko Fruits (Cao Guo)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Aromatic herbs that transform Dampness
Cao Guo dries the Dampness and transforms the Phlegm. It also circulation Qi to facilitate the venting of the pathogen.
Qing Pi is an assistant ingredient in Qing Pi Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Green Tangerine Peel (Qing Pi)
Part used: Dried pericarp of the young or immature fruits
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: GallbladderStomachLiver
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
In general Qing Pi's main actions are as follows: "Smooths the flow of Liver Qi and releases Stagnation. Reduces Food Stagnation. Dries Damp and reduces Phlegm."
In the context of Qing Pi Tang, it is used because it circulates the Qi in order to expel the fullness, dry the Dampness and transform Phlegm. .
Hou Pu is an assistant ingredient in Qing Pi Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Houpu Magnolia Bark (Hou Pu)
Part used: Dried stem bark, root bark or branch bark
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: LungSpleenStomach
Category: Aromatic herbs that transform Dampness
In general Hou Pu's main actions are as follows: "Moves Rebellious Qi downward, dries Dampness and relieves Food Stagnation. Transforms Phlegm and redirects Rebellious Qi of the Lung."
In the context of Qing Pi Tang, it is used because it circulates the Qi in order to expel the fullness, dry the Dampness and transform Phlegm.
Bai Zhu is an assistant ingredient in Qing Pi Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Atractylodes Rhizomes (Bai Zhu)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Bai Zhu strengthens the Spleen, augments the Qi, and dispels Dampness. The combination of Atractylodes rhizome and Poria-cocos mushroom removes the cause of Dampness helps to eliminate any Excessive Body Fluid from the body.
Fu Ling is an assistant ingredient in Qing Pi Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Part used: Dried sclerotium
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Fu Ling strengthens the Spleen, augments the Qi, and dispels Dampness. The combination of Atractylodes rhizome and Poria-cocos mushroom removes the cause of Dampness helps to eliminate any Excessive Body Fluid from the body.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Qing Pi 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
In general Gan Cao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs."
In the context of Qing Pi Tang, it is used because it harmonizes the formula and moderates its harshness.
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