Chinese: 荆芥连翘汤
Pinyin: Jīng Jiè Lián Qiáo Tāng
Other names: Schizonepeta and Forsythia Decoction
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Wind-Heat
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: AcneEczemaRhinitis and thirteen other conditions
- Dispels Wind
- Clears toxic-Heat
- Disperses Stagnation
Contraindications: This formula can only be used short-term as some of its herbs can drain and... This formula can only be used short-term as some of its herbs can drain and disperse Qi. For patients with Deficiency patterns, the formula needs to be changed to avoid harming Qi and Blood. see more
Source date: 1773 AD
Source book: Wondrous Lantern for Peering into the Origin and Development of Miscellaneous Diseases
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.
Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang is a 12-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Japanese Catnip (Jing Jie) and Forsythia Fruits (Lian Qiao) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1773 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Wind-Heat. Its main actions are: 1) dispels Wind and 2) clears toxic-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.
In this case Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Wind-Heat. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as rhinitis, tonsillitis or facial acne for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the twelve ingredients in Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang helps treat.
The twelve ingredients in Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang
Jing Jie is a king ingredient in Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Japanese Catnip (Jing Jie)
Part used: Aerial portion and flowers, or the spikes only (in which case it is called Jing Jie Sui)
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Pungent
In general Jing Jie's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold or Heat depending on the other herbs used. Releases the Exterior for measles. Stops bleeding. Abates swellings."
In the context of Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang, it is used because it releases pathogens from the Exterior and dispel Wind.
Lian Qiao is a king ingredient in Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Forsythia Fruits (Lian Qiao)
Lian Qiao releases pathogens from the Exterior and dispel Wind with Japanese catnip. It also resolves toxic-Heat by dispersing toxin accumulation.
Bai Shao is a deputy ingredient in Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. White Peony Roots (Bai Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
In general Bai Shao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Blood and preserves the Yin. Nourishes the Liver and assists in the smooth flow of Qi. Regulates the meridians and eases the pain."
In the context of Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang, it is used because it helps the formula in treating the Heat disorders that center around the Lesser Yang Channels.
Chai Hu is a deputy ingredient in Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Bupleurum Roots (Chai Hu)
In general Chai Hu's main actions are as follows: "Harmonizes exterior and interior. Smoothes the Liver and upraises the Yang."
In the context of Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang, it is used because it helps the formula in treating the Heat disorders that center around the Lesser Yang Channels.
Huang Qin is a deputy ingredient in Jing Jie Lian Qiao 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 Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang, it is used because it helps the key herbs in clearing Toxic-Heat.
Chuan Xiong is an assistant ingredient in Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Szechuan Lovage Roots (Chuan Xiong)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: GallbladderLiverPericardium
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
In general Chuan Xiong's main actions are as follows: "Regulates and moves the Blood. Relieves Wind-Cold and pain. Circulates the Qi in the Upper Burner, relieving headaches."
In the context of Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang, it is used because it moves and nourishes the Blood. It is used to treat Blood Stagnation.
Dang Gui is an assistant ingredient in Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Dong Quai (Dang Gui)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
In general Dang Gui's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation."
In the context of Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang, it is used because it moves and nourishes the Blood with Szechuan lovage root. It is used to treat Blood Stagnation.
Bai Zhi is an assistant ingredient in Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Angelica Roots (Bai Zhi)
In general Bai Zhi's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Exterior and disperses Wind. Disperses Wind and Cold from the Yang Brightness channels. Relieves Wind-Damp Cold painful obstruction. Dries Dampness and pus and reduces swelling. Opens the nasal passages."
In the context of Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang, it is used because it disperses accumulations and also thrusts out pus.
Jie Geng is an assistant ingredient in Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
9. 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 Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang, it is used because it disperses accumulations and thrust out pus along with Angelica root and Bitter orange.
Zhi Ke is an assistant ingredient in Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
10. Bitter Oranges (Zhi Ke)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
Zhi Ke disperses accumulations and thrust out the pus along with Angelica root and Platycodon root, the other two assistant herbs.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
11. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Gan Cao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs."
In the context of Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang, it is used because it harmonizes the effects of the other ingredients present in the formula.
12. Cape Jasmine Fruits (Zhi Zi)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLungSanjiao
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
Zhi Zi helps the key herbs in clearing Toxic-Heat with the Baikal Skullcap Root. Their effects are on the body's surface.
Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang is used to treat Wind-Heat
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 Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Wind-Heat" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Wind-Heat here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Rhinitis Tonsillitis Facial acne Otitis media Allergic rhinitis Conjunctivitis Herpes simplex Dermatitis Tuberculosis Eczema Sinusitis Acne Alopecia Herpes zoster Urticaria Constipation
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang treats rhinitis" for instance. Rather, Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang is used to treat Wind-Heat, which is sometimes the root cause behind rhinitis.
Now let's look at Wind-Heat, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang.
'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
Jing Jie Lian Qiao 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
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