Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang
Star清燥救肺汤 (Eliminate Dryness and Rescue the Lungs Decoction)
Source: Yi Men Fa Lü (1658)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang (Eliminate Dryness and Rescue the Lungs Decoction), from the Yi Men Fa Lü, is used to clear warm-dryness; moisten the Lung.
Presentation: headache; fever; thirst; dry cough without phlegm; dry throat and nasal cavities; fullness in the chest; irritability; tongue: dry tongue body without coating; pulse: weak, thready and rapid.
Syndrome: Syndrome of external dryness - warm-dryness.
Composition strategy:
- Uses sweet, bitter, cold, moistening herbs and avoids both pungent/aromatic dispersing and bitter-cold heat clearing, which would harm a dry Lung.
- Shi Gao in small dose so dispersing predominates, supporting Sang Ye and sparing a weak Stomach and Middle-Jiao Qi.
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 353.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sang Ye
as printed: Sang Ye (Mori folium)
|
9g | 25.35% | Jun (Chief) | disperse Lung-Qi, moisten dryness, clear Lung heat |
|
Shi Gao
as printed: Shi Gao (Gypsum)
|
7.5g | 21.13% | Chen (Deputy) | enhance Sang Ye in clearing heat and relieving dryness (small dose) |
|
Mai Men Dong
as printed: Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis radix)
|
3.6g | 10.14% | Chen (Deputy) | nourish Yin and fluid, reduce heat |
|
E Jiao
as printed: E Jiao (Asini corii colla)
|
2.4g | 6.76% | Zuo (Assistant) | tonify blood and essence, moisten the Lung |
|
Hei Zhi Ma
as printed: Hei Zhi Ma (Sesami semen nigricum)
|
3g | 8.45% | Zuo (Assistant) | tonify blood and essence, moisten the Lung |
|
Xing Ren
as printed: Xing Ren (Armeniacae semen)
|
2g | 5.63% | Zuo (Assistant) | clear heat, descend Lung-Qi |
|
Pi Pa Ye
as printed: Mi Zhi Pi Pa Ye (honey-fried Eriobotryae folium)
|
3g | 8.45% | Zuo (Assistant) | clear heat, descend Lung-Qi |
|
Ren Shen
as printed: Ren Shen (Ginseng radix)
|
2g | 5.63% | Zuo (Assistant) | tonify Qi injured by heat and dryness |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae radix)
|
3g | 8.45% | Zuo (Assistant) | tonify Qi |
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 (-1.10)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 57%, cool 9%, neutral 24%, warm 11%.
Taste
- pungent 11%
- sweet 55%
- bitter 35%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 92%
- Stomach 48%
- Liver 41%
- Spleen 24%
- Heart 24%
- Kidney 21%
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. Glehnia/Adenophora or Pseudostellaria at 2-3 times the dose usually replaces Ginseng; though the source specifies calcined gypsum, unprepared Gypsum is used today (calcined reserved for external use).
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 667.
Relationships
Full-screen graph →Click a node for details · double-click to expand it · Ctrl/⌘ + scroll or two fingers to zoom and pan.
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.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang.
No notes yet.