Gua Lou Xie Bai Ban Xia Tang
Star瓜蒌薤白半夏汤 (Trichosanthes Fruit, Chinese Chive, and Pinellia Decoction)
Source: Jin Gui Yao Lue — Zhang Zhong-Jing (Eastern Han, c. 220)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Gua Lou Xie Bai Ban Xia Tang (Trichosanthes Fruit, Chinese Chive, and Pinellia Decoction), from the Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essentials from the Golden Cabinet) by Zhang Zhong-Jing — a variation of Zhi Shi Xie Bai Gui Zhi Tang.
Actions: Unblocks yang and disperses stagnation; Dispels phlegm and relieves chest fullness.
Presentation: Xiong bi from phlegm stagnation: severe chest fullness and pain radiating to the back that disturbs sleep.
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 832.
Composition
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 warm (+1.00)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: warm 100%.
Taste
- pungent 79%
- bitter 21%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 100%
- Stomach 100%
- Spleen 57%
- Large intestine 43%
- Heart 43%
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: Gua Lou.
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 all together in 10 cups [2,000 mL] grain-based liquor down to 4 cups [800 mL]; take 1 cup warm three times daily. Today decocted in water plus grain-based liquor with 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
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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