Chinese: 清络饮
Pinyin: Qīng Luò Yǐn
Other names: Clear the Collaterals Drink, Clearing the Connecting Channels Decoction
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that dispel Summer-Heat and clear Heat
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: HeatstrokeHyperthermiaRheumatic fever
- Resolves Summer-Heat
- Clears the Lungs
Source date: 1798
Source book: Systematic Differentiation of Warm Pathogen 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.
Qing Luo Yin is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Honeysuckle Flowers (Jin Yin Hua) and Lotus Leaves (He Ye) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1798, it belongs to the category of formulas that dispel Summer-Heat and clear Heat. Its main actions are: 1) resolves Summer-Heat and 2) clears the Lungs.
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 Qing Luo Yin is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Summer-Heat. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as hyperthermia, heatstroke or rheumatic fever for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the six ingredients in Qing Luo Yin, we review the patterns and conditions that Qing Luo Yin helps treat.
The six ingredients in Qing Luo Yin
Jin Yin Hua is a king ingredient in Qing Luo Yin. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Honeysuckle Flowers (Jin Yin Hua)
In general Jin Yin Hua's main actions are as follows: "Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Dispels Wind-Heat derived from an External pathogen. Expels Damp-Heat from the Lower Burner. Relieves Carbuncles."
In the context of Qing Luo Yin, it is used because it relieves Summer-Heat as well as clears Wind, Heat and Dampness, from the collaterals.
He Ye is a king ingredient in Qing Luo Yin. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Lotus Leaves (He Ye)
Part used: Dried leaf
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
He Ye clears and cools Summer-Heat, facilitates the ascent of clear Yang, and is an important herb for treating head symptoms like dizziness, headache, and fuzziness due to Dampness obstructing the sensory orifices.
Bian Dou Hua is a deputy ingredient in Qing Luo Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Hyacinth Bean Flowers (Bian Dou Hua)
Part used: The flowers, dried
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Bian Dou Hua's main actions are as follows: "Relieves Heat and Dampness. Invigorate the Spleen."
In the context of Qing Luo Yin, it is used because it clears and disperses Summer-Heat while strengthening the Spleen and harmonizing the Stomach.
Xi Gua is a deputy ingredient in Qing Luo Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Watermelons (Xi Gua)
Part used: The fruit
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: BladderStomachHeart
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
In general Xi Gua's main actions are as follows: "Treats Summer-Heat and thirst. Brings on urination."
In the context of Qing Luo Yin, it is used because it relieves Summer-Heat, stops thirst, and generates fluids.
Si Gua Luo is an assistant ingredient in Qing Luo Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Sponge Gourds (Si Gua Luo)
Part used: Dried vascular bundles of ripe fruit
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: LiverLungStomach
Category: Herbs that stabilize and bind
In general Si Gua Luo's main actions are as follows: "Removes obstructions in the Collaterals, promotes blood circulation and cools Blood, clears heat and detoxifies. Facilitate lactation."
In the context of Qing Luo Yin, it is used because it clears and vents the collaterals of the Lungs.
Dan Zhu Ye is an assistant ingredient in Qing Luo Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. 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
In general Dan Zhu Ye's main actions are as follows: "Clears Heat and aids thirst. Aids urination and drains Damp-Heat."
In the context of Qing Luo Yin, it is used because it clears the Heart and promotes the smooth functioning of the water pathways.
Qing Luo Yin is used to treat Summer-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 Qing Luo Yin is mostly used to treat the pattern "Summer-Heat" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Summer-Heat here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Hyperthermia Heatstroke Rheumatic fever
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Qing Luo Yin treats hyperthermia" for instance. Rather, Qing Luo Yin is used to treat Summer-Heat, which is sometimes the root cause behind hyperthermia.
Now let's look at Summer-Heat, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Qing Luo Yin.
'Heat' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Heat pattern in Chinese Medicine
Summer-Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Soggy (Ru)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Symptoms: Fever Thirst Sweating Diarrhea Vomiting Headaches Irritability Aversion to cold Urinary difficulty Feeling of heaviness Uncomfortable sensation in the epigastrium
Qing Luo Yin is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Summer-Heat. This pattern leads to symptoms such as fever, aversion to cold, sweating and headaches. Patients with Summer-Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or soggy (Ru) pulses as well as Red in the front or sides with a white sticky coating.
Summer Heat is one of the four patterns of the Defensive Qi level, the first level of invasion in the Four Level theory.
It corresponds to the invasion of "External Evil" Summer-Heat. As the name indicates, it predominantly tends to occur during the summer.
As a pattern situated at the Defensive Qi... read more about Summer-Heat
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