Qing Gong Tang
Star清宫汤 (Clearing the Palace Decoction)
Source: Wen Bing Tiao Bian (1798)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Qing Gong Tang (Clearing the Palace Decoction), from the Wen Bing Tiao Bian, is used to clear heat-toxin from the Heart; nourish the Yin.
Presentation: mind disturbed by heat; high fever; loss of consciousness; delirium.
Syndrome: Syndrome of heat at the Ying level (Nutritive level).
Composition strategy:
- 'Xin' (heart): the sprout/kernel of a plant is thought to enter the human Heart; the sprouts are chosen as the coldest parts of the herbs to clear heat and toxin from the Heart and nourish Yin — hence 'Clearing the (Emperor's) Palace'
Cautions:
- Xi Jiao is a banned substance (**)
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 81.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Xuan Shen
as printed: Xuan Shen (Scrophulariae radix)
|
9g | 28.13% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Mai Men Dong
as printed: Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis radix)
|
9g | 28.13% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Dan Zhu Ye
as printed: Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatheri herba)
|
6g | 18.75% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Lian Qiao
as printed: Lian Qiao (Forsythiae fructus)
|
6g | 18.75% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Lian Zi Xin
as printed: Lian Zi Xin (Nelumbinis plumula)
|
2g | 6.25% | Shi (Envoy) | — |
|
Xi Jiao
dose printed as 2–5 g; toxic mark ** in source; as printed: Xi Jiao (Rhinoceri cornu)
|
g | — | — |
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 (-1.53)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 53%, cool 47%.
Small but decisive: Lian Zi Xin 2g (cold, 6% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- sweet 33%
- bitter 48%
- salty 9%
- bland 9%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 75%
- Stomach 75%
- Heart 72%
- Small intestine 38%
- Kidney 34%
- Spleen 28%
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: Xi Jiao.
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. Source text specifies 6g of shaved or powdered Rhinocerotis Cornu. Wu Ju-Tong advised using the 'heart' (central portion) of each herb to direct them into the Heart.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 163.
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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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