Qing Liang Yin Zi
Star清凉饮子 (Clearing and Cooling Drink)
Source: Symptom, Cause, Pulse, and Treatment
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Qing Liang Yin Zi (Clearing and Cooling Drink), from Symptom, Cause, Pulse, and Treatment (Ming dynasty).
Associated formula of Huang Lian Jie Du Tang.
Actions: Clears fire; Enriches the yin
Indications: Thirst, irritability, bleeding, and swelling; erosions and sores in the mouth (e.g. herpes, stomatitis)
Pattern: Excess fire from dryness in the upper burner (mixed excess and deficiency)
Usage: For upper burner dry-fire with thirst, bleeding and mouth sores; one of several similar formulas of this name.
Category: Formulas that Clear Heat and Resolve Toxicity.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 171.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Huang Qin
as printed: Scutellariae Radix (huang qin) 6g
|
6g | 15.38% | — | |
|
Huang Lian
as printed: Coptidis Rhizoma (huang lian) 6g
|
6g | 15.38% | — | |
|
Zhi Zi
as printed: Gardeniae Fructus (zhi zi) 6g
|
6g | 15.38% | — | |
|
Bo He
as printed: Menthae haplocalycis Herba (bo he) 4.5g
|
4.5g | 11.54% | — | |
|
Mu Dan Pi
as printed: Moutan Cortex (mu dan pi) 4.5g
|
4.5g | 11.54% | — | |
|
Dang Gui
as printed: Angelicae sinensis Radix (dang gui) 4.5g
|
4.5g | 11.54% | — | |
|
Bai Shao
as printed: Paeoniae Radix alba (bai shao) 4.5g
|
4.5g | 11.54% | — | |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Glycyrrhizae Radix (gan cao) 3g
|
3g | 7.69% | — |
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 (-1.15)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 46%, cool 35%, neutral 8%, warm 12%.
Taste
- pungent 23%
- sweet 14%
- sour 6%
- bitter 58%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Heart 77%
- Spleen 62%
- Liver 62%
- Lung 50%
- Stomach 39%
- Large intestine 31%
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
Decoction. Source lists no dosages; those given are from contemporary usage.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang + Bo He, Dang Gui, Huang Lian, Huang Qin, Mu Dan Pi and Zhi Zi
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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