Chai Hu Qing Gan Tang
Star柴胡清肝汤 (Bupleurum Decoction to Clear the Liver)
Source: Yi Zang Jin Jian (1742)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Chai Hu Qing Gan Tang (Bupleurum Decoction to Clear the Liver), from the Yi Zang Jin Jian, is used to drain Liver-fire and relieve toxicity; spread Liver-Qi and strengthen the Spleen.
Presentation: heat in Liver and GB meridians; severe headache; flushed cheeks; foul breath; tinnitus, reduced hearing; irritability; insomnia; cough with sticky thick sputum; dark urine; tongue: red; pulse: wiry, rapid.
Syndrome: Syndrome of heat in the Liver.
Composition strategy:
- Disperses constrained heat and Qi and reduces clumped heat-toxin
- Circulates blood to stop pain
- Nourishes Yin; all procedures match the pathology of heat-toxin in the Liver/GB meridians
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 98.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chai Hu
as printed: Chai Hu (Bupleuri radix)
|
4.5g | 9.09% | Jun (Chief) | spread Liver-Qi, reduce heat in San Jiao and GB meridians |
|
Zhi Zi
as printed: Zhi Zi (Gardeniae fructus)
|
4.5g | 9.09% | Jun (Chief) | reduce accumulated heat |
|
Lian Qiao
as printed: Lian Qiao (Forsythiae fructus)
|
6g | 12.12% | Chen (Deputy) | reduce Upper-Jiao heat |
|
Huang Qin
as printed: Huang Qin (Scutellariae radix)
|
3g | 6.06% | Chen (Deputy) | reduce Upper-Jiao heat |
|
Niu Bang Zi
group 1; as printed: Niu Bang Zi (Arctii fructus)
|
4.5g | 9.09% | Zuo (Assistant) | disperse and reduce fire-toxin, treat pain |
|
Dang Gui
group 2; as printed: Dang Gui (Angelicae sinensis radix)
|
6g | 12.12% | Zuo (Assistant) | promote blood circulation, reduce pain |
|
Chi Shao
group 2; as printed: Chi Shao Yao (Paeoniae radix rubra)
|
4.5g | 9.09% | Zuo (Assistant) | promote blood circulation, reduce pain |
|
Chuan Xiong
group 2; as printed: Chuan Xiong (Chuanxiong rhizoma)
|
3g | 6.06% | Zuo (Assistant) | promote blood circulation, reduce pain |
|
Tian Hua Fen
group 3; as printed: Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthis radix)
|
3g | 6.06% | Zuo (Assistant) | nourish fluids, reduce heat |
|
Sheng Di Huang
group 3; as printed: Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae radix)
|
4.5g | 9.09% | Zuo (Assistant) | nourish fluids, reduce heat |
|
Fang Feng
group 1; as printed: Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae radix)
|
3g | 6.06% | Zuo (Assistant) | disperse fire-toxin, treat pain |
|
Gan Cao
group 1; as printed: Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae radix)
|
3g | 6.06% | Zuo (Assistant) | reduce fire-toxin |
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 (-0.79)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 33%, cool 36%, neutral 6%, warm 24%.
Small but decisive: Zhi Zi 4.5g (cold, 9% of the grams), Huang Qin 3g (cold, 6% of the grams), Niu Bang Zi 4.5g (cold, 9% of the grams), Sheng Di Huang 4.5g (cold, 9% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 24%
- sweet 23%
- sour 5%
- bitter 49%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Heart 55%
- Liver 52%
- Lung 49%
- Spleen 30%
- Stomach 27%
- Gallbladder 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.
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Fang Feng Xiong Gui Tang + Wu Lin San + Chai Hu, Huang Qin, Lian Qiao, Niu Bang Zi and Tian Hua Fen
- This formula = Wu Lin San without Chi Fu Ling + Fang Feng Xiong Gui Tang + Chai Hu, Huang Qin, Lian Qiao, Niu Bang Zi and Tian Hua Fen
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
Formulas that share herbs with this one — the closer to the centre, the stronger the match. Click a node to explore.
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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