Chinese: 清气化痰丸
Pinyin: Qīng Qì Huà Tán Wán
Other names: Clear the Qi and Transform Phlegm Pill
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Heat and transform Phlegm
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: PneumoniaBronchiectasisChronic bronchitis
- Clears Heat
- Transforms Phlegm
- Directs Rebellious Qi downwards
- Stops coughing
Source date: 1584 AD
Source book: Investigations of Medical Formulas
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 Qi Hua Tan Wan is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Arisaema With Bile (Dan Nan Xing) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 1584 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat and transform Phlegm. Its main actions are: 1) clears Heat and 2) transforms Phlegm.
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 Qi Hua Tan Wan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Lung Heat, Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs or Phlegm-Heat. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as pneumonia, chronic bronchitis or bronchiectasis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eight ingredients in Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan, we review the patterns and conditions that Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan helps treat.
The eight ingredients in Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan
Dan Nan Xing is a king ingredient in Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Arisaema With Bile (Dan Nan Xing)
In general Dan Nan Xing's main actions are as follows: "To clear Heat and resolve Phlegm, dispel Wind and stop convulsions"
In the context of Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan, it is used because it is a powerful substance for treating blockages caused by a combination of Fire and Phlegm.
Huang Qin is a deputy ingredient in Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. 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
Huang Qin works together with Snake gourd seeds (Gua Lou Ren), the other assistant of this formula, to drain Lung Fire while transforming and clearing Phlegm-Heat. They markedly reinforce the actions of the key ingredient (Arisaema with bile).
Gua Lou Ren is a deputy ingredient in Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Snake Gourd Seeds (Gua Lou Ren)
Part used: The seeds, dried
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: StomachLarge intestineLung
In general Gua Lou Ren's main actions are as follows: "Cools and nourishes the Lungs. Regulates the Qi in the chest. Used externally, it assists the healing of Phlegm-Heat induced sores and abscesses. Moistens the Intestines."
Zhi Shi is an assistant ingredient in Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Immature Bitter Oranges (Zhi Shi)
Part used: Dried unripe fruit
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomachLarge intestine
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
Zhi Shi work together with Tangerine peel (Chen Pi), another assistant herb here, to regulate the Qi, dispelling the focal distention and dissipating the clumps of Phlegm.
Chen Pi is an assistant ingredient in Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi)
In general Chen Pi's main actions are as follows: "Warms the Spleen and regulates the Middle Burner Qi. Dries Dampness and disperses Phlegm from the Lungs and Middle Burner. Reduces the potential for Stagnation caused by tonifying herbs."
Fu Ling is an assistant ingredient in Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Part used: Dried sclerotium
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Fu Ling works together with Crow-dipper rhizome (Ban Xia) and Apricot seeds (Xing Ren), two other assistants in this formula, to facilitate the flow of Qi in the Lungs.
Ban Xia is an assistant ingredient in Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia)
Part used: Dried rhizome and tuber
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Ban Xia strongly assists the key ingredient (Arisaema with bile) in expelling the Phlegm that has already formed.
Xing Ren is an assistant ingredient in Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Apricot Seeds (Xing Ren)
Part used: Dried ripe seeds
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: Large intestineLung
Category: Herbs that relieve coughing and wheezing
In general Xing Ren's main actions are as follows: "Stops cough and wheezing caused by either Heat or Cold. Lubricates the Intestines and relieves constipation."
Conditions and patterns for which Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan 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 Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan is used by TCM practitioners to treat three 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:
Pneumonia Chronic bronchitis Bronchiectasis
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan treats pneumonia" for instance. Rather, Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind pneumonia.
Now let's look at the three patterns commonly treated with Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan.
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Lung Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
Symptoms: Acne Thirst Sweating High fever Feeling of heat Shortness of breath Cough with thin yellow sputum
Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Lung Heat. This pattern leads to symptoms such as feeling of heat, thirst, high fever and cough with thin yellow sputum. Patients with Lung Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or slippery (Hua) pulses.
Lung Heat can be acute or chronic.
When acute, it is one of the five patterns of the Qi level, the second level of the Four Levels theory. In that case, it is caused by external invasion of the Lungs by Wind-Heat. The patients usually suffer from flaring of nostrils because the Lungs open to the... read more about Lung Heat
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Yellow coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
Symptoms: Acne Fever Clump Thirst Asthma Phlegm Anxiety Coughing Wheezing Insomnia Dizziness Chest pain Constipation Chest fullness Feeling of heat Epigastric pain Phlegm in throat Shortness of breath Clumping in the chest Bitter taste in the mouth Epigastric focal distention Focal distention of the chest Stifling sensation in the chest Coughing of copious thick yellow sputum Feeling of heaviness of the head and body
Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs. This pattern leads to symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and stifling sensation in the chest. Patients with Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or slippery (Hua) pulses as well as Red swollen tongue with a sticky yellow coating.
This pattern is similar to Damp-Phlegm in the Lungs, but with additional Heat features, such as feeling of heat, thirst and profuse sticky yellow or green sputum. The typical manifestations of Phlegm are the coughing, short of breath, Phlegm in the throat and chest oppression. The Phlegm can also... read more about Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
Body Fluids (Jin Ye) is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Body Fluids in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm-Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
Tongue shape: Swollen
Symptoms: Nausea Red face Dry mouth Depression Restlnessness Chest fullness Mucus in stools Focal distention Feeling of oppression of the chest Coughing of copious thick yellow sputum A feeling of oppression in the epigastrium Coughing and wheezing with copious thick and yellow sputum
Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Phlegm-Heat. This pattern leads to symptoms such as a feeling of oppression in the epigastrium, mucus in stools, depression and red face. Patients with Phlegm-Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or slippery (Hua) pulses as well as Red swollen tongue with yellow sticky coating.
Phlegm-Heat is a pattern that typically occurs when Dampness or Body Fluids combine with pathogenic Heat. In this case the Heat either invades from the Exterior or is generated by emotional disorders, long-term illness, poor diet or other internal disharmonies.
The Heart is associated with Fire,... read more about Phlegm-Heat
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