Xia Ku Cao Gao
Star夏枯草膏 (Prunella Syrup)
Source: Yi Zong Jin Jian (1742)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Xia Ku Cao Gao (Prunella Syrup), from Golden Mirror of the Medical Tradition (1742).
Associated formula of Xiao Luo Wan.
Actions: Promotes the movement of qi; Invigorates the blood; Transforms phlegm; Dissipates nodules
Indications: Hard scrofula from dry blood due to Liver yang excess.
Pattern: Hard scrofula from blood dryness with Liver yang excess
Usage: For hard scrofula; more dispersing and heat-clearing than the principal formula.
Category: Formulas that Transform Phlegm and Disperse Clumping.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 799.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Xia Ku Cao
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder preparation), not a single dose; as printed: Prunellae Spica (xia ku cao) 450g
|
450g | 52.26% | — | |
|
Dang Gui
as printed: Angelicae sinensis Radix (dang gui) 15g
|
15g | 1.74% | — | |
|
Bai Shao
as printed: Paeoniae Radix alba (bai shao) 15g
|
15g | 1.74% | — | |
|
Xuan Shen
as printed: Scrophulariae Radix (xuan shen) 15g
|
15g | 1.74% | — | |
|
Wu Yao
as printed: Linderae Radix (wu yao) 15g
|
15g | 1.74% | — | |
|
Zhe Bei Mu
as printed: Fritillariae thunbergii Bulbus (zhe bei mu) 15g
|
15g | 1.74% | — | |
|
Jiang Can
as printed: Bombyx batryticatus (bai jiang can) 15g
|
15g | 1.74% | — | |
|
Kun Bu
as printed: Eckloniae Thallus (kun bu) 9g
|
9g | 1.05% | — | |
|
Jie Geng
as printed: Platycodi Radix (jie geng) 9g
|
9g | 1.05% | — | |
|
Chen Pi
as printed: Citri reticulatae Pericarpium (chen pi) 9g
|
9g | 1.05% | — | |
|
Chuan Xiong
as printed: Chuanxiong Rhizoma (chuan xiong) 9g
|
9g | 1.05% | — | |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Glycyrrhizae Radix (gan cao) 9g
|
9g | 1.05% | — | |
|
Xiang Fu
as printed: Cyperi Rhizoma (xiang fu) 30g
|
30g | 3.48% | — | |
|
Hong Hua
as printed: Carthami Flos (hong hua) 6g
|
6g | 0.7% | — | |
|
Da Zao
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder preparation), not a single dose; as printed: Jujubae Fructus (da zao) 240g
|
240g | 27.87% | — |
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 (-0.79)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 55%, cool 4%, neutral 7%, warm 34%.
Pairs warm and cool. 34% of the weighed grams are warm or hot and 59% cool or cold — the net is their average, not the whole story.
Small but decisive: Zhe Bei Mu 15g (cold, 2% of the grams), Kun Bu 9g (cold, 1% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 34%
- sweet 32%
- sour 1%
- bitter 32%
- salty 3%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Liver 64%
- Gallbladder 53%
- Spleen 39%
- Stomach 33%
- Lung 11%
- Heart 5%
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
Decoct Prunellae Spica until concentrated, add the others to the strained liquid and simmer to a thick syrup.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Jie Geng Tang + Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang + Chen Pi, Chuan Xiong, Da Zao, Dang Gui, Hong Hua, Jiang Can, Kun Bu, Wu Yao, Xia Ku Cao, Xiang Fu, Xuan Shen and Zhe Bei Mu
- This formula = Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang + Jie Geng Tang + Chen Pi, Chuan Xiong, Da Zao, Dang Gui, Hong Hua, Jiang Can, Kun Bu, Wu Yao, Xia Ku Cao, Xiang Fu, Xuan Shen and Zhe Bei 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
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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