Xian Fang Huo Ming Yin
Star仙方活命饮 (Sublime Formula for Sustaining Life)
Source: Jiao Zhu Fu Ren Liang Fang (16th century)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Xian Fang Huo Ming Yin (Sublime Formula for Sustaining Life), from the Jiao Zhu Fu Ren Liang Fang, is used to clear heat and heat-toxin; reduce swelling; promote discharge of pus; invigorate blood and alleviate pain.
Presentation: early metaphase of Yang-type boils and carbuncles from fire-toxin and phlegm-fire; red, swollen, hot, painful lesions; fever; mild chills; headache; tongue: thin, yellow or white coating; pulse: rapid and forceful.
Syndrome: Yong Yang - Yang syndrome.
Composition strategy:
- Directly clears heat-toxin and expels the pathogen.
- Promotes circulation to open blockage, reduce swelling and pain, assisting local resistance.
- Chuan Shan Jia and Zao Jiao Ci soften hardness in early metaphase and hasten perforation and pus discharge in late metaphase.
Cautions:
- Because of Chuan Shan Jia and Zao Jiao Ci, not for the initial stage nor after perforation has occurred.
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 388.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jin Yin Hua
as printed: Jin Yin Hua (Lonicerae flos)
|
9g | 18.75% | Jun (Chief) | clear heat-toxin, disperse constrained heat |
|
Fang Feng
as printed: Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae radix)
|
3g | 6.25% | Chen (Deputy) | enhance Jin Yin Hua's dispersing |
|
Bai Zhi
as printed: Bai Zhi (Angelicae dahuricae radix)
|
3g | 6.25% | Chen (Deputy) | enhance Jin Yin Hua's dispersing |
|
Dang Gui
dose printed as 6–12 g; as printed: Dang Gui (Angelicae sinensis radix)
|
g | — | Chen (Deputy) | regulate blood, dissipate congealed blood, reduce swelling and pain |
|
Chi Shao
as printed: Chi Shao Yao (Paeoniae radix rubra)
|
3g | 6.25% | Chen (Deputy) | regulate blood, dissipate congealed blood |
|
Ru Xiang
as printed: Ru Xiang (Olibanum)
|
3g | 6.25% | Chen (Deputy) | dissipate congealed blood, alleviate pain |
|
Mo Yao
as printed: Mo Yao (Myrrhae)
|
3g | 6.25% | Chen (Deputy) | dissipate congealed blood, alleviate pain |
|
Zhe Bei Mu
as printed: Zhe Bei Mu (Fritillariae thunbergii bulbus)
|
3g | 6.25% | Zuo (Assistant) | clear heat, dissipate hard swelling |
|
Tian Hua Fen
as printed: Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthis radix)
|
3g | 6.25% | Zuo (Assistant) | clear heat, dissipate hard swelling |
|
Chuan Shan Jia
toxic mark ** in source; as printed: Chuan Shan Jia (Manitis squama)
|
3g | 6.25% | Zuo (Assistant) | open channels, promote pus discharge, break hardness |
|
Zao Jiao Ci
as printed: Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsiae spina)
|
3g | 6.25% | Zuo (Assistant) | open channels, promote pus discharge, break hardness |
|
Chen Pi
as printed: Chen Pi (Citri reticulatae pericarpium)
|
9g | 18.75% | Zuo (Assistant) | regulate Qi |
|
Gan Cao
assistant and envoy; as printed: Sheng Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae radix)
|
3g | 6.25% | Zuo (Assistant) | reduce heat-toxin, harmonize |
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 neutral (-0.25)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 25%, cool 19%, neutral 13%, warm 44%.
Pairs warm and cool. 44% of the weighed grams are warm or hot and 44% cool or cold — the net is their average, not the whole story.
Small but decisive: Zhe Bei Mu 3g (cold, 6% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 31%
- sweet 31%
- sour 3%
- bitter 28%
- salty 6%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 63%
- Stomach 50%
- Spleen 44%
- Heart 44%
- Liver 38%
- Large intestine 25%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
1 herb without a dose in grams, so left out of every figure above: Dang Gui.
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
Rice wine listed in the composition (amount not given).
Relationships
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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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