Huang Long Tang
Star黄龙汤 (Yellow Dragon Decoction)
Source: Shang Han Liu Shu (1445)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Huang Long Tang (Yellow Dragon Decoction), from the Shang Han Liu Shu, is used to drain heat; promote bowel movement; tonify Qi and blood.
Presentation: Qi and blood deficiency with severe constipation from excess heat in the Large Intestine; weak pulse; fatigue; shortness of breath; pulse: weak.
Syndrome: Accumulation syndrome due to excess heat in the intestine.
Composition strategy:
- When Qi and blood are too weak to move stool, tonics assist the purgatives; otherwise accumulation grows and further injures Qi and blood.
- Jie Geng opens Lung-Qi to speed Large Intestine Qi descending (Lung-Large Intestine relationship).
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 62.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Da Huang
first four herbs as in Da Cheng Qi Tang; role not restated; as printed: Da Huang (Rhei rhizoma)
|
12g | 21.05% | Jun (Chief) | purges (smaller dose than Da Cheng Qi Tang; cooked with others) |
|
Mang Xiao
as in Da Cheng Qi Tang; as printed: Mang Xiao (Natrii sulfas)
|
9g | 15.79% | Jun (Chief) | softens stool |
|
Zhi Shi
as in Da Cheng Qi Tang; as printed: Zhi Shi (Aurantii fructus immaturus)
|
9g | 15.79% | Chen (Deputy) | moves Qi |
|
Hou Po
as in Da Cheng Qi Tang; as printed: Hou Po (Magnoliae cortex)
|
12g | 21.05% | Chen (Deputy) | moves Qi |
|
Ren Shen
printed as '6' with no unit; as printed: Ren Shen (Ginseng radix)
|
g | — | Chen (Deputy) | tonifies Qi |
|
Gan Cao
deputy and assistant; as printed: Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae radix)
|
3g | 5.26% | Chen (Deputy) | tonifies Qi; also protects Stomach and Spleen |
|
Dang Gui
as printed: Dang Gui (Angelicae sinensis radix)
|
9g | 15.79% | Chen (Deputy) | tonifies blood |
|
Da Zao
deputy and assistant; as printed: Da Zao (Jujubae fructus)
|
2pieces | 40% | Chen (Deputy) | tonifies blood; also protects Stomach and Spleen |
|
Sheng Jiang
as printed: Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis rhizoma recens)
|
3pieces | 60% | Zuo (Assistant) | protects Stomach and Spleen from purgatives |
|
Jie Geng
strategic assistant; as printed: Jie Geng (Platycodi radix)
|
3g | 5.26% | Zuo (Assistant) | low dose; ascends Lung-Qi to speed Qi descending in Stomach and Large Intestine |
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 slightly cool (-0.53)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 37%, cool 16%, neutral 11%, warm 37%.
Pairs warm and cool. 37% of the weighed grams are warm or hot and 53% cool or cold — the net is their average, not the whole story.
Taste
- pungent 26%
- sweet 13%
- sour 5%
- bitter 47%
- salty 8%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Stomach 79%
- Spleen 79%
- Large intestine 74%
- Liver 37%
- Lung 32%
- Heart 21%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
3 herbs without a dose in grams, so left out of every figure above: Ren Shen, Sheng Jiang, Da Zao.
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
Da Huang cooked together with the other herbs (milder purge).
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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