Chinese: 竹叶柽柳汤
Pinyin: Zhú Yè Chēng Liǔ Tāng
Other names: Lophatherum and Tamarisk Decoction
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Wind-Heat
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: HerpesMeaslesChickenpox
- Releases the Exterior
- Vents rashes
- Clears
- Generates Body Fluids
Contraindications: Because of the strong Heat-clearing properties of this formula, it should only... Because of the strong Heat-clearing properties of this formula, it should only be used where Heat from excess is actively damaging the Body Fluids. For this purpose, it contains bitter, cold, and sweet herbs that inhibit the Qi dynamic. This may prevent the venting of toxins and rashes to the outside, if prescribed inappropriately. see more
Source date: 1613 AD
Source book: Extensive Notes on Medicine from the First-Awakened Studio
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.
Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang is a 11-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Tamarisk Twigs And Leaves (Cheng Liu) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 1613 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Wind-Heat. Its main actions are: 1) releases the Exterior and 2) vents rashes.
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 Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Wind-Heat. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as measles, chickenpox or herpes for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eleven ingredients in Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang helps treat.
The eleven ingredients in Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang
Cheng Liu is a king ingredient in Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Tamarisk Twigs And Leaves (Cheng Liu)
Part used: Dry twigs and leaves
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: StomachHeartLung
Category: Herbs that dispel Wind and Dampness
Cheng Liu is acrid in taste, neutral in nature and ascending in action. It enters the Yang Brightness Channels and is used specifically for discharging and dispersing measles like rashes.
Niu Bang Zi is a deputy ingredient in Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Greater Burdock Fruits (Niu Bang Zi)
Niu Bang Zi is acrid, cool, and moist. It opens up areas of constraint in the Exterior and the Lung collaterals, soothes the throat, resolves toxicity, vents rashes, and stops itching.
Dan Zhu Ye is a deputy ingredient in Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. 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
Dan Zhu Ye clears Heat from the Heart via the urine. It thereby eliminates irritability but without damaging the Body Fluids, and prevents Toxic-Heat from sinking into the Pericardium.
Jing Jie is an assistant ingredient in Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Japanese Catnip (Jing Jie)
Part used: Aerial portion and flowers, or the spikes only (in which case it is called Jing Jie Sui)
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Pungent
In general Jing Jie's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold or Heat depending on the other herbs used. Releases the Exterior for measles. Stops bleeding. Abates swellings."
In the context of Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang, it is used because it releases the Exterior, disperse Fire from Stagnation, and facilitates the venting of toxins.
Ge Gen is an assistant ingredient in Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Kudzu Roots (Ge Gen)
In general Ge Gen's main actions are as follows: "Relieves muscle tension especially in the neck and shoulders. Relieves the Exterior and scatters Wind. Supports the Fluids and eases thirst. Assists in the expression of measles. Relieves diarrhea. Relieves hypertension."
In the context of Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang, it is used because it releases the Exterior, disperse Fire from Stagnation, and facilitates the venting of toxins.
Chan Tui is an assistant ingredient in Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Cicada Sloughs (Chan Tui)
Part used: Dry Cicada slough
Nature: Cold
In general Chan Tui's main actions are as follows: "Clears Wind-Heat and benefits the throat. Allows the release of Toxins from the skin and relieves itching. Expels Wind and relieves spasms and convulsions associated with Heat. "
In the context of Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang, it is used because it releases the Exterior, disperse Fire from Stagnation, and facilitates the venting of toxins.
Bo He is an assistant ingredient in Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Wild Mint (Bo He)
In general Bo He's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Exterior and disperses Wind-Heat. Clears Wind-Heat from the head, eyes and throat. Allows the release of toxins from the skin. Moves Stagnant Liver Qi"
In the context of Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang, it is used because it releases the Exterior, disperse Fire from Stagnation, and facilitates the venting of toxins.
Zhi Mu is an assistant ingredient in Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Anemarrhena Rhizomes (Zhi Mu)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Meridian affinity: KidneyLungStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
Zhi Mu drains Heat from the Interior, generates Body Fluids, and thereby facilitate the venting of Toxin from the Nutritive and Protective Qi aspects.
Xuan Shen is an assistant ingredient in Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
9. Ningpo Figwort Roots (Xuan Shen)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: Large intestineLiverStomach
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Xuan Shen drains Heat from the Interior, generates Body Fluids, and thereby facilitate the venting of Toxin from the Nutritive and Protective Qi aspects.
Mai Dong is an assistant ingredient in Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
10. Dwarf Lilyturf Roots (Mai Dong)
Part used: Dried root tuber
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartLungStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
Mai Dong drains Heat from the Interior, generates Body Fluids, and thereby facilitate the venting of Toxin from the Nutritive and Protective Qi aspects.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
11. 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 Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang, it is used because it clears Heat, resolves Toxicity, and harmonizes the actions of the other herbs in the formula.
Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang is used to treat Wind-Heat
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 Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Wind-Heat" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Wind-Heat here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang treats measles" for instance. Rather, Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang is used to treat Wind-Heat, which is sometimes the root cause behind measles.
Now let's look at Wind-Heat, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Zhu Ye Cheng Liu 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
Wind-Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Floating (Fu)
Symptoms: Fever Chills Thirst Sneezing Coughing Sweating Headaches Runny nose Sore throat Yellow mucus Fear of wind Blocked nose Itchy throat Swollen tonsils Aversion to cold Occipital stiffness Occipital headaches
Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Wind-Heat. This pattern leads to symptoms such as aversion to cold, fever, sneezing and coughing. Patients with Wind-Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or floating (Fu) pulses.
Within the Four-Levels theory, Wind-Heat is the first level of invasion of External Pathogens, when it still resides in the body's Exterior.
This pattern is similar to Wind-Cold, but the Wind is together with Heat rather than Cold. The common symptoms are aversion to cold, sneezing, coughing, runny... read more about Wind-Heat
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