Sang Xing Tang
Star桑杏汤 (Mulberry Leaf and Apricot Kernel Decoction)
Source: Wen Bing Tiao Bian (1798)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Sang Xing Tang (Mulberry Leaf and Apricot Kernel Decoction), from the Wen Bing Tiao Bian, is used to gently disperse dryness; clear and moisten the Lung.
Presentation: dry throat; thirst; dry cough without phlegm or with scanty thick phlegm; fever; headache; tongue: red, with a thin, dry, white coating; pulse: floating at the Lung position.
Syndrome: Syndrome of external dryness - warm-dryness.
Composition strategy:
- Pungent, cold and moistening herbs together disperse/clear Lung-heat while protecting and generating fluid.
- Very small dosages reflect the principle for treating Lung disorders (light treatment for the upper organ).
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 352.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sang Ye
as printed: Sang Ye (Mori folium)
|
3g | 11.76% | Jun (Chief) | gently disperse Lung heat |
|
Dan Dou Chi
as printed: Dan Dou Chi (Sojae semen praeparatum)
|
3g | 11.76% | Jun (Chief) | disperse heat in the Lung (processed with Bo He and Qing Hao; pungent and cold) |
|
Xing Ren
as printed: Xing Ren (Armeniacae semen)
|
4.5g | 17.65% | Chen (Deputy) | disperse and descend Lung-Qi; moisten the Lung |
|
Bei Sha Shen
as printed: Bei Sha Shen (Glehniae radix)
|
6g | 23.53% | Zuo (Assistant) | moisten the Lung, generate fluid |
|
Chuan Bei Mu
as printed: Chuan Bei Mu (Fritillariae cirrhosae bulbus)
|
3g | 11.76% | Zuo (Assistant) | moisten the Lung, stop cough, remove phlegm |
|
Li Pi
as printed: Li Pi (Pyri pericarpium)
|
3g | 11.76% | Zuo (Assistant) | moisten the Lung, stop cough, remove phlegm |
|
Zhi Zi
as printed: Zhi Zi (Gardeniae fructus)
|
3g | 11.76% | Zuo (Assistant) | clear heat in the Upper-Jiao |
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.
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 (-0.88)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 24%, cool 59%, warm 18%.
Taste
- pungent 4%
- sweet 39%
- bitter 57%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 100%
- Stomach 35%
- Heart 35%
- Large intestine 29%
- Kidney 12%
- Liver 12%
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; listed doses follow the source text and are usually increased 2-3 times today.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 665.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Zhi Zi Chi Tang + Sang Ye, Xing Ren, Bei Sha Shen, Chuan Bei Mu and Li Pi
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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