Ku Jiu Tang
Star苦酒汤 (Vinegar Decoction)
Source: Shang Han Lun — Zhang Zhong-Jing (Eastern Han, c. 220)
Last updated October 20, 2026
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Description
Ku Jiu Tang (Vinegar Decoction) is the formula given in Line 312 of the Shang Han Lun for lesser yīn disease with damage and sores in the throat, inability to speak and loss of voice. The book's formula note identifies the vinegar (苦酒 kǔ jiǔ) as rice vinegar, with the amount left unspecified.
Also contains (not linked): chicken's egg (鸡子 jī zǐ), printed 鸡子一枚（去黄，内上苦酒，着鸡子壳中）: 1 egg, yolk removed, vinegar added into the shell.
Source: Mitchell C, Feng Y, Wiseman N. Shang Han Lun: On Cold Damage, Translation & Commentaries. Paradigm Publications, 1999, pp. 518–520.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ban Xia
as printed: 半夏十四枚（洗，破如枣核） (14 pieces, washed, broken into pieces the size of jujube kernels)
|
14pieces | 100% | — | |
|
Mi Cu
as printed: 苦酒 (kǔ jiǔ, vinegar), poured into the egg shell; formula note 1 identifies it as rice vinegar (米醋) and says the amount is not specified
|
g | — | — |
Preparation
(1) [For] the above two ingredients, add pinellia (bàn xià) to the vinegar (kǔ jiǔ). Place the egg shell in the ring of a knife [handle] over a flame. Boil three times and remove the dregs. Hold a little in the mouth, then swallow. (2) [If there is] no recovery, make three more formulae. (Mitchell, Feng & Wiseman 1999, p. 519, Line 312)
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