Zeng Ye Tang
Star增液汤 (Increase the Fluids Decoction)
Source: Wen Bing Tiao Bian — Wu Ju-Tong (Qing, 1798)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Zeng Ye Tang (Increase the Fluids Decoction), from the Wen Bing Tiao Bian (Systematic Differentiation of Warm Disease) by Wu Ju-Tong.
Actions: Nourishes yin and clears heat; Moistens dryness and facilitates defecation.
Presentation: Yangming fu (hollow organs) syndrome with yin and body fluid damage: constipation, dry throat, thirst, and a deep, forceless pulse.
Cautions:
- Only for constipation from heat and dryness severely damaging yin and fluids; it has no direct purgative effect and should not be used indiscriminately for constipation.
Toxicology: IV LD50 84.1 g/kg in mice; 10% preparation IV daily for 30 days in rabbits caused no significant changes.
Pharmacological effects reported:
- Fluid-sparing: reduced fluid/electrolyte loss from senna-induced diarrhea in mice
- Anti-inflammatory: IV preparation 25-30 mL/kg for 2-3 days in mice and rats
- Antipyretic: lowered temperature in febrile rabbits
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 1054.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Xuan Shen
as printed: Xuan Shen (Radix Scrophulariae) 30g
|
30g | 38.46% | Jun (Chief) | salty, bitter, cold: softens hardness, moistens dryness, clears heat |
|
Mai Men Dong
as printed: Mai Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis) 24g
|
24g | 30.77% | Chen (Deputy) | nourishes yin and body fluids |
|
Sheng Di Huang
as printed: Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae) 24g
|
24g | 30.77% | Chen (Deputy) | nourishes yin and moistens dryness |
Dui Yao — Core Herb Pairs
The classical two-herb combinations at the heart of this formula, as recorded on the herbs' own pages — each pair has an action neither herb has alone.
Clearing heat and nourishing yin is combined with moistening the lung and stomach, together increasing fluids to moisten dryness.
Cooling the blood and nourishing yin are combined with generating fluids, moistening dryness caused by heat damaging yin.
Constipation from depleted fluids in warm disease, dry mouth.
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 cold (-1.62)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 62%, cool 39%.
Taste
- sweet 44%
- bitter 44%
- salty 13%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 69%
- Stomach 69%
- Kidney 69%
- Heart 62%
- Spleen 31%
- Liver 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
Cook with 8 cups of water down to 3 cups. For dry mouth take the whole decoction at once; repeat if no bowel movement. Adjust dose to the severity of constipation.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- Qing Ying Tang = this formula + Shui Niu Jiao, Dan Shen, Dan Zhu Ye, Huang Lian, Jin Yin Hua and Lian Qiao
- Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan = this formula + Sheng Mai San + Tian Men Dong, Bai Zi Ren, Dan Shen, Dang Gui, Fu Ling, Suan Zao Ren, Yuan Zhi and Jie Geng
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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