Chinese: 柴葛解肌汤
Pinyin: Chái Gé Jiě Jī Tāng
Other names: Bupleurum and Kudzu Decoction to Release the Muscle Layer
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Wind-Heat
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: InfluenzaGingivitisCommon cold and one other condition
- Releases pathogenic evils from the muscle layer
- Clears Interior Heat
Contraindications: This formula is not suitable for simple Exterior Wind-Heat disorders.
Source date: 1445 AD
Source book: Six Texts on Cold Damage
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang is a 11-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Bupleurum Roots (Chai Hu) and Kudzu Roots (Ge Gen) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1445 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Wind-Heat. Its main actions are: 1) releases pathogenic evils from the muscle layer and 2) clears Interior Heat .
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as common cold, influenza or gingivitis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eleven ingredients in Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang helps treat.
The eleven ingredients in Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang
Chai Hu is a king ingredient in Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Bupleurum Roots (Chai Hu)
Chai Hu is cool, acrid. It releases the Pernicious Influencer from the muscle layer while concurrently clearing Heat.
Ge Gen is a king ingredient in Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Kudzu Roots (Ge Gen)
Ge Gen is cool, acrid. It releases the Pernicious Influencer from the muscle layer while concurrently clearing Heat.
Qiang Huo is a deputy ingredient in Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Notopterygium Roots (Qiang Huo)
Qiang Huo , together with Angelica root, helps the key herbs to release the Exterior and alleviate pain. Both herbs enter into the Greater Yang and Yang Brightness Channels and thereby assist in focusing the formula on this territory.
Bai Zhi is a deputy ingredient in Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Angelica Roots (Bai Zhi)
Bai Zhi , together with Notopterygium root, helps the key herbs to release the Exterior and alleviate pain. Both herbs enter into the Greater Yang and Yang Brightness Channels and thereby assist in focusing the formula on this territory.
Huang Qin is a deputy ingredient in Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Baikal Skullcap Roots (Huang Qin)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLungSmall intestineSpleen
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Huang Qin's main actions are as follows: "Expels Heat and Dampness. Clears Upper Burner Heat, especially of the Lung. Clears Heat and stops reckless movement of Blood. Clears pathogenic Heat which is upsetting the fetus. Cools the Liver, reducing Liver Yang rising syndrome."
In the context of Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang, it is used because it clears Heat from the Lungs and Upper Burner.
Shi Gao is a deputy ingredient in Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
6. Gypsum (Shi Gao)
Part used: The mineral itself
Nature: Cold
Meridian affinity: LungStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
Shi Gao clears Heat from the Yang Brightness Channel. Its dosage is fairly modest as the Pernicious Influencer has just entered the Yang Brightness Channel.
Jie Geng is an assistant ingredient in Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Platycodon Roots (Jie Geng)
In general Jie Geng's main actions are as follows: "Opens the Lungs and smoothes the flow of Lung Qi. Expels Phlegm and pus from the Lungs and throat, can be used for either Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat according to the other herbs in the formula. Directs the actions of other herbs to the Upper Warmer."
In the context of Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang, it is used because it facilitates the Lung Qi circulation and helps scatter the Pernicious Influencer from the Exterior.
Bai Shao is an assistant ingredient in Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. White Peony Roots (Bai Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Bai Shao is sour and cold. It preserves the Yin by preventing the Exterior-releasing herbs from causing excessive sweating.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
9. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Gan Cao harmonizes the actions of the other herbs. Together with Platycodon root, it also helps clear Heat from the Upper Burner, especially from the throat.
Sheng Jiang is an envoy ingredient in Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
10. Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang)
In general Sheng Jiang's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Warms and circulates Qi in the Middle Burner. Calms a restless fetus and treats morning sickness. Treats seafood poisoning."
In the context of Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang, it is used because it regulates the Protective and Nutritive Qi to facilitate the release of the Pernicious Influences.
Da Zao is an envoy ingredient in Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
11. Jujube Dates (Da Zao)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Da Zao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach Qi. Tonifies the Blood. Calms the Shen (spirit). Moderates the actions of other herbs in formula."
In the context of Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang, it is used because it regulates the Protective and Nutritive Qi to facilitate the release of the Pernicious Influences.
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