Xiao Ji Yin Zi
Star小蓟饮子 (Cirsii Decoction)
Source: Ji Sheng Fang (1253)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Xiao Ji Yin Zi (Cirsii Decoction), from the Ji Sheng Fang, is used to cool blood; stop bleeding; promote urination.
Presentation: blood Lin syndrome from heat in the Lower-Jiao; urgent, frequent, painful urination; blood in the urine; tongue: red; pulse: rapid.
Syndrome: Syndrome of bleeding.
Composition strategy:
- cools blood and stops bleeding while draining damp-heat through urination to treat the cause
- stasis-preventing herb placed among cooling herbs; Yin-tonifying herb among draining herbs
Cautions:
- Mu Tong here is Akebia (Caulis Akebiae, 木通), as Xi & Gong 2017 specify. Do not substitute Guan Mu Tong (Aristolochia manshuriensis), which contains nephrotoxic aristolochic acids and is banned in many countries.
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 293.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Xiao Ji
as printed: Herba Cirsii (xiao ji) 15 g
|
15g | 14.42% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Sheng Di Huang
as printed: Radix Rehmanniae (sheng di huang) 30 g
|
30g | 28.85% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Pu Huang
as printed: dry-fried Pollen Typhae (chao pu huang) 9 g
|
9g | 8.65% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Ou Jie
as printed: Nodus Nelumbinis Rhizomatis (ou jie) 9 g
|
9g | 8.65% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Hua Shi
as printed: Talcum (hua shi) 5 g
|
5g | 4.81% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Mu Tong
as printed: Caulis Akebiae (mu tong) 6 g
|
6g | 5.77% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Dan Zhu Ye
as printed: Herba Lophatheri (dan zhu ye) 9 g
|
9g | 8.65% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Dang Gui
as printed: Radix Angelicae Sinensis (dang gui) 6 g
|
6g | 5.77% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Zhi Zi
as printed: Fructus Gardeniae (zhi zi) 9 g
|
9g | 8.65% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae (gan cao) 6 g
|
6g | 5.77% | Shi (Envoy) | — |
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 (-1.22)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 57%, cool 14%, neutral 23%, warm 6%.
Small but decisive: Hua Shi 5g (cold, 5% of the grams), Mu Tong 6g (cold, 6% of the grams), Dan Zhu Ye 9g (cold, 9% of the grams), Zhi Zi 9g (cold, 9% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 3%
- sweet 54%
- bitter 36%
- bland 7%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Heart 78%
- Liver 66%
- Kidney 29%
- Stomach 28%
- Lung 23%
- Small intestine 14%
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
Source: coarsely grind and take as a draft in 15g doses. Now usually decocted with about one-quarter the listed sheng di huang dose and one- to two-thirds of the others; gan cao or gan cao shao often replaces zhi gan cao.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 603.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Dao Chi San + Liu Yi San + Xiao Ji, Ou Jie, Pu Huang, Dan Zhu Ye, Dang Gui and Zhi Zi
- This formula = Liu Yi San + Dao Chi San + Xiao Ji, Ou Jie, Pu Huang, Dan Zhu Ye, Dang Gui and Zhi Zi
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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