Chinese: 清燥救肺汤
Pinyin: Qīng Zào Jiù Fèi Tāng
Other names: Clear Dryness and Rescue the Lungs Decoction，Eriobotrya and Ophiopogon Combination
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that disperse Dryness and moisten
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: AsthmaInfluenzaPneumonia and six other conditions
- Clears dryness
- Moistens the Lungs
Contraindications: Use with caution for patients with Spleen and Stomach Deficiency due to the... Use with caution for patients with Spleen and Stomach Deficiency due to the formula's rich cloying herbs. see more
Source date: 1658 AD
Source book: Precepts for Physicians
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 Zao Jiu Fei Tang is a 9-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Mulberry Leaves (Sang Ye) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 1658 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that disperse Dryness and moisten. Its main actions are: 1) clears dryness and 2) moistens the Lungs.
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 Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Dry-Heat or Dry-Fire or Lung Yin Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as influenza, acute bronchitis or chronic bronchitis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the nine ingredients in Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang helps treat.
The nine ingredients in Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang
Sang Ye is a king ingredient in Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Mulberry Leaves (Sang Ye)
Part used: Dried leaves
Nature: Cold
Sang Ye clears and disperses Dryness from the Lungs. It is said that the Mulberry leaves capture the Metal Qi of Autumn as they stay in the mulberry tree until after a frost.
Shi Gao is a deputy ingredient in Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Gypsum (Shi Gao)
Part used: The mineral itself
Nature: Cold
Meridian affinity: LungStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
Shi Gao clears Heat from the Lung and Stomach Channels so as to relieve thirst. It is used to counterbalance the spreading action of the key herb.
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Dwarf Lilyturf Roots (Mai Dong)
Part used: Dried root tuber
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartLungStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
Mai Dong is sweet and cooling. It supports Body Fluids generating so as to nourish the Yin. It also assists the key herb in protecting the Yin and the Lungs from Heat Dryness invasion.
E Jiao is an assistant ingredient in Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Donkey-Hide Gelatin (E Jiao)
Part used: Solid glue prepared from the dried or fresh skin of donkeys
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiverLung
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
E Jiao moistens the Lungs and nourish the Lung Yin. It harmonizes the Heat-clearing and Lung Qi-disseminating actions of the other ingredients with a moistening action.
Hei Zhi Ma is an assistant ingredient in Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Black Sesame Seeds (Hei Zhi Ma)
Part used: Dried seeds
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiver
Category: Laxative herbs that drain downward
Hei Zhi Ma moistens the Lungs and nourish the Lung Yin. It harmonizes the Heat-clearing and Lung Qi-disseminating actions of the other ingredients with a moistening action.
Xing Ren is an assistant ingredient in Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Apricot Seeds (Xing Ren)
Part used: Dried ripe seeds
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: Large intestineLung
Category: Herbs that relieve coughing and wheezing
In general Xing Ren's main actions are as follows: "Stops cough and wheezing caused by either Heat or Cold. Lubricates the Intestines and relieves constipation."
In the context of Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang, it is used because it moistens the Lungs and also directs the Lung Qi to go downwards. .
Pi Pa Ye is an assistant ingredient in Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Loquat Leaves (Pi Pa Ye)
Part used: Dried leaves
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: StomachLung
Category: Herbs that relieve coughing and wheezing
In general Pi Pa Ye's main actions are as follows: "Expels hot phlegm in the Lungs and redirects rebellious Lung Qi. Cools stomach Heat and redirects rebellious Stomach Qi. Relieves cough and vomiting."
In the context of Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang, it is used because it moistens the Lungs and also directs the Lung Qi to go downwards.
Ren Shen is an assistant ingredient in Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Ginseng (Ren Shen)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Ren Shen tonifies Qi and harmonizes the Middle Burner. It supports the 'mother' (Spleen) in order to benefit the 'child' (Lungs). Glehnia roots or Crown prince ginseng are often used to replace Ginseng as they are less expensive, but also they nourish the Lung Yin directly and tonifies Qi in the Middle Burner.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Qing Zao Jiu Fei 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 in the formula. It also tonifies Qi and harmonizes the Middle Burner. It supports the 'mother' (Spleen) in order to benefit the 'child' (Lungs).
Conditions and patterns for which Qing Zao Jiu Fei 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 Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang 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:
Influenza Acute bronchitis Chronic bronchitis Asthma Bronchiectasis Pulmonary tuberculosis Pneumonia Pertussis Lung cancer
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang treats influenza" for instance. Rather, Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind influenza.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Qing Zao Jiu Fei 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
Dry-Heat or Dry-Fire
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Floating (Fu)
Symptoms: Fever Thirst Sweating Dry Skin Dry nose Dry cough Dry mouth Dry throat Sore throat Aversion to cold
Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Dry-Heat or Dry-Fire. This pattern leads to symptoms such as fever, thirst, sweating and sore throat. Patients with Dry-Heat or Dry-Fire typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or floating (Fu) pulses.
Within the Four-Levels theory, Dry-Heat is the first level of invasion of External Pathogens, when it still resides in the body's Exterior.
It is the combination of two pathogens: Heat and Dryness. Both Evils can hurt Body Fluids and as a result injures Yin. As vicious circle, it makes the... read more about Dry-Heat or Dry-Fire
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
Qing Zao Jiu Fei 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
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