Qing Wen Bai Du Yin
Star清瘟败毒饮 (Clear Epidemics and Overcome Toxin Decoction)
Source: Wen Re Jing Wei (1794)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Qing Wen Bai Du Yin (Clear Epidemics and Overcome Toxin Decoction), from the Wen Re Jing Wei, is used to clear heat at the Qi, Ying and Xue levels together; relieve toxicity, cool the blood and drain fire.
Presentation: pestilence from heat-toxin (e.g. epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, poliomyelitis, SARS); high fever; intense thirst; severe stabbing headache with nausea; extreme irritability and insomnia; severe cases: delirium, convulsions, deep purple erythema/purpura, hematemesis, epistaxis; tongue: deep red with a dry yellow coating; pulse: rapid and deep, or rapid, deep and thready.
Syndrome: Syndrome of heat at the Xue level (blood level).
Composition strategy:
- Large but clearly structured formula combining Bai Hu Tang, Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang and Huang Lian Jie Du Tang components
- Original gives large/medium/small doses for Shi Gao, Huang Lian, Xi Jiao and Sheng Di Huang: large doses without hesitation in critical conditions, then medium/small once improved
- Remaining herbs' doses are set according to need
Cautions:
- Large doses of cold substances may injure Qi and Yang; reduce dose once the condition improves
- Xi Jiao is banned (**)
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 84.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sheng Di Huang
Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang component; dose printed as 18–30 g/9–15 g/6–12 g; as printed: Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae radix)
|
g | — | Jun (Chief) | cool blood, remove heat-toxin from blood |
|
Xi Jiao
Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang component; dose printed as 18–24 g/9–15 g/6–12 g; toxic mark ** in source; as printed: Xi Jiao (Rhinoceri cornu)
|
g | — | Jun (Chief) | cool blood, remove heat-toxin from blood |
|
Chi Shao
Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang component; as printed: Chi Shao Yao (Paeoniae radix rubra)
|
g | — | Jun (Chief) | cool blood |
|
Mu Dan Pi
Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang component; as printed: Mu Dan Pi (Moutan cortex)
|
g | — | Jun (Chief) | cool blood |
|
Huang Lian
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang component; dose printed as 12–18 g/6–12 g/3–4.5 g; as printed: Huang Lian (Coptidis rhizoma)
|
g | — | Chen (Deputy) | drain fire and fire-toxin |
|
Huang Qin
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang component; as printed: Huang Qin (Scutellariae radix)
|
g | — | Chen (Deputy) | drain fire and fire-toxin |
|
Zhi Zi
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang component; as printed: Zhi Zi (Gardeniae fructus)
|
g | — | Chen (Deputy) | drain fire and fire-toxin |
|
Xuan Shen
as printed: Xuan Shen (Scrophulariae radix)
|
g | — | Chen (Deputy) | nourish Yin, drain fire, cool blood; enhance Sheng Di |
|
Dan Zhu Ye
as printed: Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatheri herba)
|
g | — | Zuo (Assistant) | clear Qi-level heat, venting heat from Ying to Qi |
|
Lian Qiao
as printed: Lian Qiao (Forsythiae fructus)
|
g | — | Zuo (Assistant) | clear Qi-level heat, venting heat from Ying to Qi |
|
Jie Geng
as printed: Jie Geng (Platycodi radix)
|
g | — | Shi (Envoy) | ascend, disperse Lung-Qi and carry other herbs to the Lung |
|
Shi Gao
Bai Hu Tang component; clears Qi-level heat; dose printed as 180–240 g/60–120 g/24–36 g; as printed: Shi Gao (Gypsum)
|
g | — | clear Qi-level heat | |
|
Zhi Mu
Bai Hu Tang component; as printed: Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae rhizoma)
|
g | — | clear Qi-level heat | |
|
Gan Cao
Bai Hu Tang component; as printed: Zhi Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae radix preparata)
|
g | — | clear Qi-level heat |
Preparation
Cook shi gao and shui niu jiao first for 15-20 minutes. Source gives small/medium/large doses only for the first four substances (6-12g, 9-15g, or 18-24g of Rhinocerotis Cornu); the rest are from modern textbooks and are scaled to the chosen level. Choose the level by pulse: submerged, thin, rapid = large; floating, large, rapid = small; in between = medium.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 179.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang + Jie Geng Tang + Huang Lian, Huang Qin, Xuan Shen, Zhi Zi, Dan Zhu Ye, Lian Qiao, Shi Gao and Zhi Mu
- This formula = Jie Geng Tang + Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang + Huang Lian, Huang Qin, Xuan Shen, Zhi Zi, Dan Zhu Ye, Lian Qiao, Shi Gao and Zhi Mu
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
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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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