Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang
Star养阴清肺汤 (Nourish the Yin and Clear the Lungs Decoction)
Source: Chong Lou Yu Yao (18th century)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang (Nourish the Yin and Clear the Lungs Decoction), from the Chong Lou Yu Yao, is used to nourish Lung-Yin; clear heat; relieve toxicity.
Presentation: 'white throat' from Lung/Kidney-Yin deficiency with epidemic heat-toxin; fever; dry nasal cavities; dry mouth; irritability; hoarse breathing; swollen, sore throat; white curd-like membrane in the throat, hard to scrape off; tongue: red with a dry, yellow coating; pulse: thready and rapid.
Syndrome: Syndrome of internal dryness.
Composition strategy:
- Sweet, cold, moistening herbs nourish Lung and Kidney Yin; toxin-removing and swelling-dissipating herbs address epidemic heat-toxin.
- Small dose of Bo He to expel the exogenous factor.
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 354.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sheng Di Huang
as printed: Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae radix)
|
6g | 24.69% | Jun (Chief) | nourish Yin, clear Lung heat |
|
Mai Men Dong
as printed: Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis radix)
|
3.6g | 14.81% | Jun (Chief) | nourish Yin, clear Lung heat |
|
Xuan Shen
as printed: Xuan Shen (Scrophulariae radix)
|
4.5g | 18.52% | Chen (Deputy) | clear Lung/Kidney heat, reduce fire-toxin, reduce throat swelling |
|
Mu Dan Pi
as printed: Mu Dan Pi (Moutan cortex)
|
2.4g | 9.88% | Chen (Deputy) | cool blood, dissipate constrained fire, reduce fire-toxin |
|
Bai Shao
as printed: Chao Bai Shao Yao (dry-fried Paeoniae radix lactiflora)
|
2.4g | 9.88% | Zuo (Assistant) | stabilize Yin, soften the Liver to protect a weak Lung |
|
Chuan Bei Mu
as printed: Chuan Bei Mu (Fritillariae cirrhosae bulbus)
|
2.4g | 9.88% | Zuo (Assistant) | moisten Lung, stop cough, dissipate phlegm; help reduce throat swelling |
|
Bo He
as printed: Bo He (Menthae herba)
|
1.5g | 6.17% | Zuo (Assistant) | disperse Lung heat, benefit the throat |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae radix)
|
1.5g | 6.17% | Shi (Envoy) | drain fire, remove fire-toxin |
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 (-1.33)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 40%, cool 54%, neutral 6%.
Taste
- pungent 11%
- sweet 37%
- sour 5%
- bitter 41%
- salty 6%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Heart 65%
- Lung 56%
- Kidney 53%
- Liver 51%
- Stomach 40%
- Spleen 31%
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; doses are generally increased 2-3 times today. Chuan bei mu is generally the Fritillaria used.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 673.
Relationships
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Formula family
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
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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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