Chai Hu Xian Xiong Tang
Star柴胡陷胸汤 (Bupleurum Decoction for Sinking into the Chest)
Source: Chong Ding Tong Su Shang Han Lun — Yu Gen-Chu (Qing)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Chai Hu Xian Xiong Tang (Bupleurum Decoction for Sinking into the Chest), from the Chong Ding Tong Su Shang Han Lun (Revised Popular Guide to the Discussion of Cold-Induced Disorders) by Yu Gen-Chu — a variation of Xiao Xian Xiong Tang.
Actions: Clears heat and dissolves phlegm; Opens the chest and diaphragm; Harmonizes the shaoyang.
Presentation: Shaoyang syndrome with phlegm-heat in the chest: alternating chills and fever, distention and fullness in chest and diaphragm with pain on palpation, cough with sticky sputum, bitter taste in the mouth, yellow tongue coating, wiry rapid pulse.
Composition: Formed by combining Xiao Chai Hu Tang and Xiao Xian Xiong Tang and removing the tonics Ren Shen, Gan Cao and Da Zao.
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 1237.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chai Hu
as printed: Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri) 3g
|
3g | 7.25% | — | |
|
Ban Xia
zhu (boiled) with ginger; as printed: Ban Xia, zhu (boiled) with ginger (Rhizoma Pinelliae) 9g
|
9g | 21.74% | — | |
|
Huang Lian
as printed: Huang Lian (Rhizoma Coptidis) 2.4g
|
2.4g | 5.8% | — | |
|
Jie Geng
as printed: Jie Geng (Radix Platycodonis) 3g
|
3g | 7.25% | — | |
|
Huang Qin
as printed: Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae) 4.5g
|
4.5g | 10.87% | — | |
|
Gua Lou Ren
as printed: Gua Lou Zi (Semen Trichosanthis) 15g
|
15g | 36.23% | — | |
|
Zhi Shi
as printed: Zhi Shi (Fructus Aurantii Immaturus) 4.5g
|
4.5g | 10.87% | — | |
|
Sheng Jiang
chong fu (take drenched); printed dose 4 drops of juice (no single modern dose); as printed: Sheng Jiang, chong fu (take drenched) (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens) 4 drops of juice
|
g | — | — |
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 (-1.02)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 53%, cool 18%, neutral 7%, warm 22%.
Small but decisive: Huang Lian 2.4g (cold, 6% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 33%
- sweet 36%
- sour 4%
- bitter 28%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Stomach 86%
- Lung 76%
- Large intestine 64%
- Spleen 49%
- Gallbladder 24%
- Heart 17%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
1 herb without a dose in grams, so left out of every figure above: Sheng Jiang.
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 text: prepare as a decoction.
Click a node for details · double-click to expand it · Ctrl/⌘ + scroll or two fingers to zoom and pan.
Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Xiao Ban Xia Tang + Chai Hu, Gua Lou Ren, Huang Lian, Huang Qin, Jie Geng and Zhi Shi
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.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Chai Hu Xian Xiong Tang.
No notes yet.