Geng Yi Wan
Star更衣丸 (Pill Requiring a Change of Clothes)
Source: Xian Xing Zhai Yi Xue Guang Bi Ji (1613)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Geng Yi Wan (Pill Requiring a Change of Clothes), from Extensive Notes on Medicine from Xian Xing Studio (Xian Xing Zhai Yi Xue Guang Bi Ji).
Actions: Drain heat to promote defecation
Indications: Indicated for the treatment of constipation due to exuberance of liver fire and stomach-intestines dryness-heat, with difficulty in defecation, vexation and chest oppression, impatience and irascibility, difficulty in sleeping, red tongue with yellow coating, wiry, and rapid pulse
Category: Formulas that Treat the Interior Excess Syndrome with Cold Purgation.
Source: Xi S, Gong Y. Essentials of Chinese Materia Medica and Medical Formulas: New Century Traditional Chinese Medicine. Academic Press/Elsevier, 2017, pp. 450–451.
Composition
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.
Bitter-cold purging of heat combined with heavy settling and clearing of the Heart, which moves the bowels while calming irritability.
Heat constipation with irritability and insomnia. Zhu Sha contains mercury and must never be heated or taken long term; Lu Hui is contraindicated in pregnancy.
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 cold (-1.58)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 58%, cool 42%.
Taste
- sweet 42%
- bitter 58%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Large intestine 58%
- Stomach 58%
- Liver 58%
- Heart 42%
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
Make into pills. Take orally with wine, 3 g each time, twice a day
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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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