Chinese: 清宫汤
Pinyin: Qīng Gōng Tāng
Other names: Clear the Palace Decoction
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear nutritive-level Heat
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: MeningitisSepticemiaEncephalitis B and one other condition
- Clears Heat in the Heart
- Nourishes the Yin Fluids
Contraindications: Not suitable for patients with accumulated Dampness with the signs of white and... Not suitable for patients with accumulated Dampness with the signs of white and slippery tongue coating. see more
Source date: 1798 AD
Source book: Systematic Differentiation of Warm Pathogen
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.
Qing Gong Tang is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Ningpo Figwort Roots (Xuan Shen) and Water Buffalo Horns (Shui Niu Jiao) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1798 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear nutritive-level Heat. Its main actions are: 1) clears Heat in the Heart and 2) nourishes the Yin Fluids .
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 meningitis, encephalitis b or septicemia for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the six ingredients in Qing Gong Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Qing Gong Tang helps treat.
The six ingredients in Qing Gong Tang
Xuan Shen is a king ingredient in Qing Gong Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Ningpo Figwort Roots (Xuan Shen)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: Large intestineLiverStomach
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Xuan Shen is bitter in taste and moist in nature. It is able to control and calm the Heart, which is associated with Yang, Fire, and activity. It is especially suited for clearing Heart Fire by means of tonifying its Yin Fluids.
Shui Niu Jiao is a king ingredient in Qing Gong Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Water Buffalo Horns (Shui Niu Jiao)
Part used: The horn, as a powder or as thin scrapes
Nature: Cold
Meridian affinity: StomachHeartLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Shui Niu Jiao is able to control and calm the Heart, which is associated with Yang, Fire, and activity. It is salty, resolves toxicity, and focuses on clearing exuberant Fire from the Heart.
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Qing Gong Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Dwarf Lilyturf Roots (Mai Dong)
Part used: Dried root tuber
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartLungStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
Mai Dong unblocks the collateral vessels of the Heart. It removes Qi Stagnation in the Heart and abdomen and Food Stagnation in the Stomach.
Dan Zhu Ye is an assistant ingredient in Qing Gong Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Lophatherum Herbs (Dan Zhu Ye)
Part used: Dried stem and leaf
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartSmall intestineStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
Dan Zhu Ye clear Heat from the Qi level of the Upper Burner. In this formula, Forsythia fruit resolves Toxic-Heat and removes Stagnation, while Lophatherum herb enters into the Heart and unblocks its orifices by draining Heat via the urine as well as from the Exterior.
Lian Qiao is an assistant ingredient in Qing Gong Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Forsythia Fruits (Lian Qiao)
Lian Qiao clear Heat from the Qi level of the Upper Burner. In this formula, Forsythia fruit resolves Toxic-Heat and removes Stagnation, while Lophatherum herb enters into the Heart and unblocks its orifices by draining Heat via the urine as well as from the Exterior.
Lian Zi Xin is an envoy ingredient in Qing Gong Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
6. Lotus Plumules (Lian Zi Xin)
Part used: Dried seed plumules
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: HeartKidney
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer HeatHerbs that cool the Blood
Lian Zi Xin is bitter and cold. It directs excessive Heart Fire downward into the Kidneys and Kidney Fire upward into the Heart to reestablish the normal
physiological connection between water and fire in the body.
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