Bai He Di Huang Tang
Star百合地黄汤 (Lily Bulb and Rehmannia Decoction)
Source: Jin Gui Yao Lue (c. 220)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Bai He Di Huang Tang (Lily Bulb and Rehmannia Decoction), from Essentials from the Golden Cabinet (c. 220).
Actions: Moistens the Lungs; Enriches the fluids; Clears heat; Cools the blood
Indications: Mental disorientation, irritability, insomnia, palpitations and other transient cognitive, sensory and motor dysfunctions after an externally-contracted disorder, with dark urine, bitter taste, slightly rapid or weak rapid pulse, little tongue coating, otherwise normal appearance
Pattern: Lily disorder: pathogenic heat in the Lungs penetrating to the nutritive/blood level, agitating the spirits
Cautions:
- Not for excess fire in the Lungs and Heart
- Not for patterns where yin deficiency is the main pathology
Modifications:
- Fluid damage after high fever with insomnia, dry throat, irritability: Add Pseudostellariae Radix (tai zi shen), Ziziphi spinosae Semen (suan zao ren), Ostreae Concha (mu li), Polygoni multiflori Caulis (ye jiao teng), Talcum (hua shi)
- Hyperactive Heart fire with yin deficiency: Combine with Bupleurum plus Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction (chai hu jia long gu mu li tang)
- Lung dryness and heat with cough: Add Ophiopogonis Radix (mai men dong), Glehniae/Adenophorae Radix (sha shen), Fritillariae Bulbus (bei mu), Glycyrrhizae Radix (gan cao)
- Lily disorder with plum-pit qi: Combine with Pinellia and Magnolia Bark Decoction (ban xia hou po tang)
Commentary: Clears pathogenic heat from nutritive/blood levels without drying fluids or blocking qi; used today for disorientation and emotional disorders after febrile or emotional illness.
Category: Formulas that Clear Heat from Deficiency.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 220.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bai He
(15-30g); as printed: Lilii Bulbus (bai he) 7 bulbs (15-30g)
|
7bulbs | 100% | Jun (Chief) | Clears heat, drains and directs downward via urine and stool |
|
Sheng Di Huang
dose printed as 1 cup of fresh juice (15-30g); as printed: Rehmanniae Radix recens (xian di huang) 1 cup of fresh juice (15-30g)
|
g | — | Chen (Deputy) | Cools blood heat disturbing the spirits and enriches yin fluids |
Dui Yao — Core Herb Pairs
The classical two-herb combinations at the heart of this formula, as recorded on the herbs' own pages — each pair has an action neither herb has alone.
Heart and lung yin are nourished while heat is cooled from the blood, calming the spirit.
Lily disease with restlessness and absent-mindedness.
Preparation
Soak washed lily bulbs overnight, discard water, decoct in 2 cups spring water to half, strain, add 1 cup fresh Rehmannia juice, reduce to 1 1/2 cups, take warm in divided doses; stop once effective (stools may look like lacquer). Now a regular decoction with dried sheng di huang and tap water.
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Formula family
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Traditional formula information is for educational purposes only. Herbal formulas should be prescribed by a qualified practitioner — dosages and combinations are individualized and can interact with medications.
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