Bai Hu Jia Ren Shen Tang
Star白虎加人参汤 (White Tiger plus Ginseng Decoction)
Source: Shang Han Lun — Zhang Zhong-Jing (Eastern Han, c. 220)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Bai Hu Jia Ren Shen Tang (White Tiger plus Ginseng Decoction), from the Shang Han Lun (Discussion of Cold-Induced Disorders) by Zhang Zhong-Jing.
Actions: Clears heat; Tonifies qi and generates body fluids.
Presentation: Yangming jing (channel) syndrome or excess heat in the yangming qi (energy) level with qi and body fluid deficiencies: high fever, flushed face, irritability, a dry mouth, thirst with a strong desire to drink, profuse sweating, aversion to cold in the upper back, and a big, forceless pulse.
Pharmacological effects reported:
- Antidiabetic: relieved polydipsia in diabetic mice when given in food for 4 weeks
- Hypoglycemic: markedly lowered plasma glucose in rabbits and mice; formula and individual herbs hypoglycemic in genetically obese diabetic mice
- Antipruritic: 200 mg/kg orally reduced scratching and lowered skin temperature by 1.97 C in a mouse atopic dermatitis model
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 325.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Shi Gao
as printed: Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum, fen sui (pulverized)) 48g [30g]
|
30g | 49.18% | with the rest of Bai Hu Tang clears excess yangming heat | |
|
Zhi Mu
as printed: Zhi Mu (Rhizoma Anemarrhenae) 18g [9g]
|
9g | 14.75% | — | |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Zhi Gan Cao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae Praeparata cum Melle) 6g [3g]
|
3g | 4.92% | — | |
|
Jing Mi
as printed: Geng Mi (Semen Oryzae) 0.6 cup [9g]
|
9g | 14.75% | — | |
|
Ren Shen
as printed: Ren Shen (Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng) 9g [10g]
|
10g | 16.39% | tonifies qi and replenishes body fluids |
Energetics dose-weighted
The formula's overall nature, taste balance and channel reach, weighted by each herb's dose. Classical formulas often pair warm and cool herbs on purpose, so a net figure summarises the mix — it doesn't describe every herb in it.
Nature
Net cool (-1.11)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 64%, neutral 20%, warm 16%.
Taste
- pungent 25%
- sweet 60%
- bitter 16%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 100%
- Stomach 84%
- Spleen 36%
- Kidney 31%
- Heart 21%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
Dose-weighted from each herb's recorded nature, taste and channels (missing values are left out, never counted as neutral). It describes the composition — it is not a recommendation.
Preparation
Source: cook in 10 cups [2,000 mL] water until Geng Mi is cooked; take 1 cup [200 mL] warm three times daily. Today decocted at bracketed doses.
Relationships
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Formula family
Each entry reads as the larger formula written out: “+” adds its other catalogue cores, then the herbs none of them hold. A catalogue formula counts as a core only when at least 80% of its herbs are present, no more than 1 is absent, and the absent herb is not its chief.
Formula Network
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Similar Formulas by composition
Match score combines dosage-weighted composition (cosine, 70%) with shared-herb overlap (Jaccard, 30%).
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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