Lou Xie Liu Ren Tang
Star蒌薤六仁汤 (Six-Seed Decoction with Trichosanthis and Chinese Garlic)
Source: Bases of Medicine (1861)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Lou Xie Liu Ren Tang (Six-Seed Decoction with Trichosanthis and Chinese Garlic), from Bases of Medicine (1861).
Associated formula of Xing Su San.
Actions: Unblocks stagnation; Directs the qi downward (with acrid, slippery herbs)
Indications: Abdominal urgency, despondency, chest painful obstruction, diaphragmatic pain, incomplete bowel movements, in severe cases dry clumping with abdominal pain; white-yellow coating sore to touch; pulse submerged, excessive and small on the right, wiry, small and rough on the left.
Pattern: Residual dryness after wind-cold (or Lung painful obstruction) obstructing the upper-burner qi dynamic with dry bowels
Usage: For autumn sequelae of wind-cold where dryness remains, with chest obstruction and dry bowels.
Category: Formulas that Gently Disperse and Moisten Dryness.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 664.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gua Lou Pi
as printed: Trichosanthis Pericarpium (gua lou pi) 9g
|
9g | 24.39% | Jun (Chief) | Moistens by acridity and directs qi down by slipperiness |
|
Xie Bai
as printed: Allii macrostemi Bulbus (xie bai) 4.5g
|
4.5g | 12.2% | Jun (Chief) | Moistens by acridity and directs qi down by slipperiness |
|
Xing Ren
as printed: Armeniacae Semen (xing ren) 9g
|
9g | 24.39% | — | |
|
Sha Ren
as printed: Amomi Fructus (sha ren) 0.9g
|
0.9g | 2.44% | — | |
|
Yu Li Ren
as printed: Pruni Semen (yu li ren) 9g
|
9g | 24.39% | — | |
|
Tao Ren
as printed: Persicae Semen (tao ren) 5 pieces
|
5pieces | 11.11% | — | |
|
Song Zi Ren
as printed: Pini Semen (song zi ren) 40 pieces
|
40pieces | 88.89% | — | |
|
Bai Zi Ren
as printed: Platycladi Semen (bai zi ren) 4.5g
|
4.5g | 12.2% | — |
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 neutral (-0.10)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 24%, neutral 37%, warm 39%.
Taste
- pungent 17%
- sweet 33%
- bitter 51%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Large intestine 73%
- Lung 61%
- Stomach 39%
- Spleen 27%
- Heart 24%
- Small intestine 24%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
2 herbs without a dose in grams, so left out of every figure above: Tao Ren, Song Zi Ren.
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
Decoction.
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.
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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