Chinese: 泻青丸
Pinyin: Xie Qing Wan
Other names: Drain the Green Pill
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Heat from the Organs
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: InsomniaHerpes zosterPanophthalmitis and two other conditions
Main actions: Clears the Liver and drains Fire
Contraindications: Contraindicated in those with a weak and deficient Spleen and Stomach.
Source date: 1119 AD
Source book: Craft of Medicinal Treatment for Childhood Disease Patterns
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.
Xie Qing Wan is a 9-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Chinese Gentian (Long Dan Cao) and Notopterygium Roots (Qiang Huo) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1119 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat from the Organs. Its main action is that it clears the Liver and drains Fire .
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 Xie Qing Wan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Liver Fire Blazing. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as vascular headaches, herpes zoster or insomnia for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the nine ingredients in Xie Qing Wan, we review the patterns and conditions that Xie Qing Wan helps treat.
The nine ingredients in Xie Qing Wan
Long Dan Cao is a king ingredient in Xie Qing Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Chinese Gentian (Long Dan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLiverLung
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Long Dan Cao's main actions are as follows: "Expels Damp-Heat especially in the Liver and Gallbladder Meridians. Clears Liver-Fire. Clears Liver-Wind."
In the context of Xie Qing Wan, it is used because it is bitter and cold. It enters into the Liver Channel and drains its Fire..
Qiang Huo is a king ingredient in Xie Qing Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Notopterygium Roots (Qiang Huo)
Qiang Huo is a Wind herb. Such herbs resonate with the wood phase and have ability to empower the out-thrusting and ascending nature of Liver Qi. In the present context, they are used for treating Fire constraint by discharging it.
Zhi Zi is a deputy ingredient in Xie Qing Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Cape Jasmine Fruits (Zhi Zi)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLungSanjiao
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
Zhi Zi guides the Liver Fire downward to eliminate it via the bowels and urinary tract. When Fire becomes constrained and clumps in the Liver Channel, the Liver loses its ability to thrust out the body's Qi.
Da Huang is a deputy ingredient in Xie Qing Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Rhubarb (Da Huang)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomachLarge intestineLiverPericardium
Category: Purgative herbs that drain downward
Da Huang guides the Liver Fire downward to eliminate it via the bowels and urinary tract. When Fire becomes constrained and clumps in the Liver Channel, the Liver loses its ability to thrust out the body's Qi.
Fang Feng is a deputy ingredient in Xie Qing Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Saposhnikovia Roots (Fang Feng)
Fang Feng is a Wind herb. Such herbs resonate with the wood phase and have ability to empower the out-thrusting and ascending nature of Liver Qi. In the present context, they are used for treating Fire constraint by discharging it.
Dang Gui is an assistant ingredient in Xie Qing Wan. 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 nourishes and moves the Liver Blood, preventing Fire from damaging the
Yin. This is necessary because the Liver is 'Yin in Essence' and tends toward 'hardness.' Unless the Liver Blood is strong and soft, the Liver Qi cannot be controlled.
Chuan Xiong is an assistant ingredient in Xie Qing Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Szechuan Lovage Roots (Chuan Xiong)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: GallbladderLiverPericardium
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
Chuan Xiong nourishes and moves the Liver Blood, preventing Fire from damaging the
Yin. This is necessary because the Liver is 'Yin in Essence' and tends toward 'hardness.' Unless the Liver Blood is strong and soft, the Liver Qi cannot be controlled.
Dan Zhu Ye is an assistant ingredient in Xie Qing Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Lophatherum Herbs (Dan Zhu Ye)
Part used: Dried stem and leaf
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartSmall intestineStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
In general Dan Zhu Ye's main actions are as follows: "Clears Heat and aids thirst. Aids urination and drains Damp-Heat."
In the context of Xie Qing Wan, it is used because it clears Heart Fire and dispels restlessness and irritability by guiding Heat out
via the urine.
Feng Mi is an envoy ingredient in Xie Qing Wan. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
9. Honey (Feng Mi)
Part used: Honey
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: StomachLarge intestineLung
Category: Laxative herbs that drain downward
Feng Mi is used to make the pills, and the sugar dissolved in the decoction. It relaxes the Liver and harmonizes the formula with it sweetness.
Xie Qing Wan is used to treat Liver Fire Blazing
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 Xie Qing Wan is mostly used to treat the pattern "Liver Fire Blazing" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Liver Fire Blazing here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Vascular Headaches Herpes zoster Insomnia Panophthalmitis Hypertensive Headaches
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Xie Qing Wan treats vascular headaches" for instance. Rather, Xie Qing Wan is used to treat Liver Fire Blazing, which is sometimes the root cause behind vascular headaches.
Now let's look at Liver Fire Blazing, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Xie Qing Wan.
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Fire Blazing
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Wiry (Xian), Full (Shi)
Symptoms: Thirst Tinnitus Deafness Red face Red eyes Dizziness Epistaxis Dry stools Dark Urine Haemoptysis Irritability Constipation Haematemesis Outbursts of anger Temporal headaches Dream disturbed sleep Bitter taste in the mouth
Xie Qing Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Liver Fire Blazing. This pattern leads to symptoms such as irritability, outbursts of anger, tinnitus and deafness. Patients with Liver Fire Blazing typically exhibit rapid (Shu), wiry (Xian) or full (Shi) pulses.
Many of these symptoms are located in the upper-parts of the body because the nature of Fire is to flare upwards. As such we have the red face and eyes, the temporal headache, dizziness, etc. The headache is typically very intense, throbbing in character and located on the temples or felt in the... read more about Liver Fire Blazing
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