Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang
Star调胃承气汤 (Regulate the Stomach and Order the Qi Decoction)
Source: Shang Han Lun (c. 220)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang (Regulate the Stomach and Order the Qi Decoction), from the Shang Han Lun, is used to promote bowel movement and purge clumped heat steadily and moderately.
Presentation: constipation (less severe than Da Cheng Qi Tang); abdominal fullness; poor appetite; thirst; fever; irritation; accumulation with weakened Stomach; constipation with weak Stomach-Qi after repeated vigorous purgatives; tongue: sticky, yellow coating; pulse: slippery and rapid.
Syndrome: Accumulation syndrome due to excess heat in the intestine.
Composition strategy:
- Da Huang and Mang Xiao in large doses but Da Huang is cooked with the other herbs.
- Zhi Gan Cao replaces Zhi Shi and Hou Po because Qi obstruction is milder but the Stomach is weak.
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 61.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Zhi Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae radix preparata)
|
6g | 20% | Zuo (Assistant) | tonifies Middle-Jiao Qi, protects the Stomach, moderates Da Huang so it acts smoothly and longer |
|
Da Huang
role not stated; as printed: Da Huang (Rhei rhizoma)
|
12g | 40% | purges clumped heat (cooked with the other herbs) | |
|
Mang Xiao
role not stated; as printed: Mang Xiao (Natrii sulfas)
|
12g | 40% | softens stool |
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 cold (-1.60)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 80%, neutral 20%.
Taste
- sweet 20%
- bitter 60%
- salty 20%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Stomach 100%
- Large intestine 80%
- Spleen 60%
- Pericardium 40%
- Liver 40%
- Lung 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
Da Huang cooked together with the other herbs.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- Liang Ge San = this formula + Lian Qiao, Bo He, Dan Zhu Ye, Huang Qin, Zhi Zi and Feng Mi
- Qu Feng Zhi Bao Dan = this formula + Fang Feng Tong Sheng San + Xi Gan San + Wen Qing Yin + Du Huo, Quan Xie, Ren Shen, Tian Ma and Xi Xin
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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