Chinese: 葱豉汤
Pinyin: Cōng Shì Tāng
Other names: Scallion and Prepared Soybean Decoction
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear early-stage Exterior disorders
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: InfluenzaCommon coldUpper respiratory tract infections
- Unblocks the Yang Qi (Defensive Qi) in the Exterior
- Induces sweating
Source date: 3rd Centry
Source book: Emergency Formulas to Keep Up One's Sleeve
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.
Cong Chi Tang is a 2-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Scallions (Cong Bai) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 3rd Centry, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear early-stage Exterior disorders. Its main actions are: 1) unblocks the Yang Qi (Defensive Qi) in the Exterior and 2) induces sweating .
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.
In this case Cong Chi Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as upper respiratory tract infections, common cold or influenza for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the two ingredients in Cong Chi Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Cong Chi Tang helps treat.
The two ingredients in Cong Chi Tang
Cong Bai is a king ingredient in Cong Chi Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Scallions (Cong Bai)
Cong Bai Relieves the Exterior through sweating. It is a warm and acrid herb which unblocks the Yang Qi (Protective Qi) flow in the Exterior and induces sweating.
Dan Dou Chi is a deputy ingredient in Cong Chi Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Fermented Soybeans (Dan Dou Chi)
Part used: Fermented preparation obtain from the ripe bean
Nature: Cool
Dan Dou Chi releases externally-contracted pernicious influences from the Exterior and keeps Yang Qi in the Interior.
Conditions and patterns for which Cong Chi Tang may be prescribed
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Cong Chi Tang is used by TCM practitioners to treat two different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Upper respiratory tract infections Common cold Influenza
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Cong Chi Tang treats upper respiratory tract infections" for instance. Rather, Cong Chi Tang is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind upper respiratory tract infections.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Cong Chi Tang.
'Cold' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Cold pattern in Chinese Medicine
Wind-Cold
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Floating (Fu)
Symptoms: Fever Chills Sneezing Coughing No sweat Headaches No thirst Runny nose Body aches Sore throat Blocked nose Itchy throat Aversion to cold White watery mucus Occipital headaches Occipital stiffness
Cong Chi Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Wind-Cold. This pattern leads to symptoms such as aversion to cold, fever, sneezing and coughing. Patients with Wind-Cold typically exhibit tight (Jin) or floating (Fu) pulses.
This pattern is similar to Wind-Heat, but the Wind is combined with Cold rather than Heat. The shared symptoms are aversion to cold, sneezing, coughing, runny nose (with different mucus color), fever, occipital stiffness and ache. The different symptoms are the white watery mucus, no thirst, no... read more about Wind-Cold
'Heat' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Heat pattern in Chinese Medicine
Wind-Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Floating (Fu)
Symptoms: Fever Chills Thirst Sneezing Coughing Sweating Headaches Runny nose Sore throat Yellow mucus Fear of wind Blocked nose Itchy throat Swollen tonsils Aversion to cold Occipital stiffness Occipital headaches
Cong Chi Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Wind-Heat. This pattern leads to symptoms such as aversion to cold, fever, sneezing and coughing. Patients with Wind-Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or floating (Fu) pulses.
Within the Four-Levels theory, Wind-Heat is the first level of invasion of External Pathogens, when it still resides in the body's Exterior.
This pattern is similar to Wind-Cold, but the Wind is together with Heat rather than Cold. The common symptoms are aversion to cold, sneezing, coughing, runny... read more about Wind-Heat
Formulas similar to Cong Chi Tang
Huo Ren Cong Shi Tang is 50% similar to Cong Chi Tang
Zhi Zi Chi Tang is 50% similar to Cong Chi Tang
Cong Bai Qi Wei Yin is 33% similar to Cong Chi Tang
Xuan Fu Hua Tang is 33% similar to Cong Chi Tang
Gua Di San is 33% similar to Cong Chi Tang
Jia Jian Wei Rui Tang is 25% similar to Cong Chi Tang