Qing Gu San
Star清骨散 (Cool the Bones Powder)
Source: Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng (1602)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Qing Gu San (Cool the Bones Powder), from the Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng, is used to reduce deficient heat.
Presentation: late stage of warm-febrile disease; chronic low-grade fever; bone steaming; irritability; lethargy; Kidney and Liver Yin deficiency with deficient heat.
Syndrome: Syndrome of aftermath of warm-febrile diseases.
Composition strategy:
- Although nourishing and reducing are combined, the emphasis is on reducing deficient fire to treat bone steaming
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 90.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Yin Chai Hu
as printed: Yin Chai Hu (Stellariae radix)
|
5g | 20% | Jun (Chief) | reduce deficient fire from the Yin region without over-draining |
|
Zhi Mu
as printed: Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae rhizoma)
|
3g | 12% | Chen (Deputy) | nourish Yin, reduce deficient heat and bone steaming |
|
Bie Jia
also envoy: guides herbs into the Yin region; toxic mark ** in source; as printed: Zhi Bie Jia (processed Trionycis carapax)
|
3g | 12% | Chen (Deputy) | nourish Yin, reduce deficient heat |
|
Di Gu Pi
as printed: Di Gu Pi (Lycii cortex)
|
3g | 12% | Chen (Deputy) | nourish Yin, reduce deficient heat |
|
Qing Hao
also envoy: vents heat to the Yang region; as printed: Qing Hao (Artemisiae annuae herba)
|
3g | 12% | Chen (Deputy) | disperse Qi and vent heat |
|
Qin Jiao
as printed: Qin Jiao (Gentianae macrophyllae radix)
|
3g | 12% | Chen (Deputy) | disperse Qi and vent heat |
|
Hu Huang Lian
as printed: Hu Huang Lian (Picrorhizae rhizoma)
|
3g | 12% | Zuo (Assistant) | reduce deficient heat, promote digestion |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae radix)
|
2g | 8% | Shi (Envoy) | protect Middle-Jiao, harmonize |
Dui Yao — Core Herb Pairs
The classical two-herb combinations at the heart of this formula, as recorded on the herbs' own pages — each pair has an action neither herb has alone.
Both clear deficiency heat; together they relieve steaming bones and tidal fever more strongly than either alone.
Steaming bone fever and night sweats from yin deficiency.
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 cool (-1.28)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 48%, cool 32%, neutral 20%.
Taste
- pungent 12%
- sweet 40%
- bitter 30%
- salty 12%
- bland 6%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Liver 80%
- Stomach 76%
- Kidney 48%
- Lung 32%
- Gallbladder 24%
- Heart 20%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
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
Taken as a draft between meals; now usually decocted at double the doses.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 214.
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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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