Xuan Bi Tang
Star宣痹汤 (Disband Painful Obstruction Decoction)
Source: Wen Bing Tiao Bian (1798)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Xuan Bi Tang (Disband Painful Obstruction Decoction), from the Wen Bing Tiao Bian, is used to clear heat and transform dampness; reduce pain; treat damp-heat Bi syndrome.
Presentation: high fever, chills; dark complexion; painful and swollen joints; tongue: gray or yellow sticky coating; pulse: soft and rapid.
Syndrome: Damp-heat syndrome.
Composition strategy:
- Pungent, bitter and cold herbs treat Bi syndrome
- Herbs regulate the San Jiao to remove damp-heat from meridians, muscles and joints
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 219.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Han Fang Ji
as printed: Han Fang Ji (Stephaniae tetrandrae radix)
|
15g | 14.29% | Jun (Chief) | clear heat, transform dampness, benefit joints, stop pain |
|
Xing Ren
as printed: Xing Ren (Armeniacae semen)
|
15g | 14.29% | Chen (Deputy) | disperse Lung-Qi, regulate water passage |
|
Hua Shi
as printed: Hua Shi (Talcum)
|
15g | 14.29% | Chen (Deputy) | clear heat, leach out dampness in Lower-Jiao |
|
Lian Qiao
as printed: Lian Qiao (Forsythiae fructus)
|
9g | 8.57% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Zhi Zi
as printed: Zhi Zi (Gardeniae fructus)
|
9g | 8.57% | Zuo (Assistant) | drain damp-heat from San Jiao |
|
Yi Yi Ren
as printed: Yi Yi Ren (Coicis semen)
|
15g | 14.29% | Zuo (Assistant) | transform damp-heat in Middle-Jiao and meridians |
|
Ban Xia
as printed: Ban Xia (Pinelliae rhizoma)
|
9g | 8.57% | Zuo (Assistant) | open Qi obstruction, eliminate dampness |
|
Can Sha
as printed: Can Sha (Bombycis mori excrementum)
|
9g | 8.57% | Zuo (Assistant) | open Qi obstruction, eliminate dampness |
|
Chi Xiao Dou
as printed: Chi Xiao Dou (Phaseoli semen)
|
9g | 8.57% | Zuo (Assistant) | eliminate damp-heat in meridians, muscles, joints |
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 slightly cool (-0.66)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 37%, cool 23%, neutral 9%, warm 31%.
Pairs warm and cool. 31% of the weighed grams are warm or hot and 60% cool or cold — the net is their average, not the whole story.
Small but decisive: 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 20%
- sweet 23%
- sour 4%
- bitter 39%
- bland 14%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 69%
- Stomach 46%
- Spleen 46%
- Large intestine 29%
- Kidney 29%
- Heart 26%
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; han fang ji is usually used and the Phaseoli dose is often increased 2-3 times.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 762.
Relationships
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Formula Network
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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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