Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin
Star五味消毒饮 (Five-Ingredient Decoction to Eliminate Toxin)
Source: Yi Zong Jin Jian (1742)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin (Five-Ingredient Decoction to Eliminate Toxin), from the Yi Zong Jin Jian, is used to clear heat; relieve fire-toxin; cool the blood; reduce swelling.
Presentation: Yang-type boils and carbuncles in metaphase; very red, swollen, hot, painful lesions; fever and chills; small but deep-seated, hard, very painful lesion; tongue: red with a yellow coating; pulse: rapid.
Syndrome: Yong Yang - Yang syndrome.
Composition strategy:
- Five herbs concentrate on intensively clearing heat, removing toxin and cooling blood.
Cautions:
- Only for severe cases at the metaphase stage and for a short period.
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 389.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jin Yin Hua
as printed: Jin Yin Hua (Lonicerae flos)
|
20g | 25% | Jun (Chief) | clear heat-toxin and expel heat |
|
Zi Hua Di Ding
as printed: Di Ding (Violae herba)
|
15g | 18.75% | Chen (Deputy) | enhance clearing heat-toxin, cool blood |
|
Tian Kui Zi
as printed: Tian Kui Zi (Semiaquilegiae radix)
|
15g | 18.75% | Chen (Deputy) | enhance clearing heat-toxin, cool blood |
|
Pu Gong Ying
as printed: Pu Gong Ying (Taraxaci herba)
|
15g | 18.75% | Chen (Deputy) | enhance clearing heat-toxin, cool blood |
|
Ye Ju Hua
as printed: Ye Ju Hua (Chrysanthemi indici flos)
|
15g | 18.75% | Chen (Deputy) | enhance clearing heat-toxin, cool blood |
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.
The combination strongly clears heat and resolves toxin while dispersing swelling, giving a focused action on hot, toxic sores and abscesses.
For red, swollen, painful boils and carbuncles of toxic-heat type. Cold and bitter; use with care where the spleen and stomach are weak.
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 (-1.81)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 81%, cool 19%.
Taste
- pungent 19%
- sweet 44%
- bitter 38%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Liver 75%
- Stomach 63%
- Heart 63%
- Lung 25%
- Large intestine 25%
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 with 2-3 tablespoons of rice wine added before cooking; take warm and cover up to promote sweating. Dregs may be applied topically. Doses are now usually increased 3-4 times.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 863.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- Xie Gan Tang = this formula without Tian Kui Zi + Xiao Xian Xiong Tang + Yin Chen Hao Tang + Ban Lan Gen, Chi Shao, Chong Lou, Huang Bai, Huang Qin, Mu Dan Pi and Zhi Shi
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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