Chinese: 清热固经汤
Pinyin: Qīng Rè Gù Jīng Tāng
Other names: Clear Heat and Consolidate the Menses Decoction
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Heat from Deficiency
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: MetrorrhagiaThreatened miscarriage
- Clears Empty Heat
- Tonifies the Kidney Yin
- Stops bleeding
- Supplies Body Fluids
Source date: 1988
Source book: Chinese Medicine in Gynecology textbook
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 Re Gu Jing Tang is a 11-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Baikal Skullcap Roots (Huang Qin) and Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1988, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat from Deficiency. Its main actions are: 1) clears Empty Heat and 2) tonifies the Kidney Yin.
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 Re Gu Jing Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Heat in Uterus Blood or Heat in the Blood. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as metrorrhagia or threatened miscarriage for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eleven ingredients in Qing Re Gu Jing Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Qing Re Gu Jing Tang helps treat.
The eleven ingredients in Qing Re Gu Jing Tang
Huang Qin is a king ingredient in Qing Re Gu Jing Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. 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 clears Heat and excretes Fire. It prevents the Yang from rising in the Liver Channel. Together with Cape jasmine fruits, they treat irregular vaginal bleeding due to Liver Fire.
Di Huang is a king ingredient in Qing Re Gu Jing Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang)
Part used: Prepared dried root tuber
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Di Huang cools the Blood by clearing Heat. Together with Donkey-hide gelatin, they treat Heavy period due to Empty-Heat.
Di Gu Pi is a deputy ingredient in Qing Re Gu Jing Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Goji Tree Root Bark (Di Gu Pi)
Part used: Dried root bark
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiverLung
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
In general Di Gu Pi's main actions are as follows: "Clears Yin Deficient Heat;. Clears Lung Heat and stops cough. Cools the Blood when there is reckless movement of Blood. Drains Fire when Kidney Water is unable to control Fire."
In the context of Qing Re Gu Jing Tang, it is used because it cools the Blood so as to stop bleeding by clears Empty-Heat due to Yin Deficiency.
Di yu is a deputy ingredient in Qing Re Gu Jing Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Sanguisorba Roots (Di yu)
Part used: The dried root
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: StomachLarge intestineLiver
Category: Herbs that stop bleeding
In general Di yu's main actions are as follows: "Reduces Heat in the Blood, drains Damp-Heat and stops bleeding. Stops diarrhea. Applied topically it reduces inflammation and aids in wound healing."
In the context of Qing Re Gu Jing Tang, it is used because it Cools the Blood to stop bleeding. It also removes Toxic-Heat.
Gui Ban is a deputy ingredient in Qing Re Gu Jing Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Tortoise Plastrons (Gui Ban)
Part used: Carapace and plastron
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
Gui Ban sweet, salty, and cooling. Therefore it is able to sedate Liver Yang as well as cool Empty-Heat from Yin Deficiency.
Zhi Zi is an assistant ingredient in Qing Re Gu Jing Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. 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 clears Heat and Fire, cools the Blood, eliminates irritability, relieves toxicity and stops bleeding by astringing. Together with Baikal skullcap root, they treat irregular vaginal bleeding due to Liver Fire.
E Jiao is an assistant ingredient in Qing Re Gu Jing Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Donkey-Hide Gelatin (E Jiao)
Part used: Solid glue prepared from the dried or fresh skin of donkeys
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiverLung
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
In general E Jiao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies and nourishes Blood. Stops bleeding. Moistens and lubricates Yin."
In the context of Qing Re Gu Jing Tang, it is used because it tonifies the Blood, nourishes the Blood and stops bleeding.
Ou Jie is an assistant ingredient in Qing Re Gu Jing Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Lotus Roots (Ou Jie)
Part used: Dried rhizome node
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverLungStomach
Category: Herbs that stop bleeding
Ou Jie stops bleeding by astringing the leakage of Blood. It also clears Blood Stagnation and clear Blood Heat.
Mu Li ke is an assistant ingredient in Qing Re Gu Jing Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
9. Oyster Shells (Mu Li ke)
Part used: The shell
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Salty
Meridian affinity: BladderGallbladderKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that anchor and calm the SpiritHerbs that pacify Internal Liver Wind and stop Tremors
Mu Li ke calms the Liver by benefiting the Yin and anchoring Floating Yang. It also prevents leakage of Body Fluids and removes Stagnation.
Gan Cao is an assistant ingredient in Qing Re Gu Jing Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
10. 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 Qing Re Gu Jing Tang, it is used because it harmonizes the actions of all other herbs of the formula.
Zong Lu is an assistant ingredient in Qing Re Gu Jing Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
11. Windmill Palm Bark (Zong Lu)
Part used: Dried petiole
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: Large intestineLiverLung
Category: Herbs that stop bleeding
In general Zong Lu's main actions are as follows: "Stops bleeding"
In the context of Qing Re Gu Jing Tang, it is used because it stops bleeding by astringing Blood leakage.
Conditions and patterns for which Qing Re Gu Jing 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 Qing Re Gu Jing 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:
Metrorrhagia Threatened miscarriage
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Qing Re Gu Jing Tang treats metrorrhagia" for instance. Rather, Qing Re Gu Jing Tang is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind metrorrhagia.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Qing Re Gu Jing Tang.
The Uterus is a so-called "Extraordinary" Organ. Learn more about the Uterus in Chinese Medicine
Heat in Uterus Blood
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Wiry (Xian)
Symptoms: Anger Thirst Anxiety Red face Headaches Dark Urine Constipation Restlessness Heavy periods Feeling of heat Dark colored blood Flooding and leaking Thick menstrual blood Sticky menstrual blood Flooding suddenly before schedule
Qing Re Gu Jing Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Heat in Uterus Blood. This pattern leads to symptoms such as heavy periods, flooding suddenly before schedule, flooding and leaking and dark colored blood. Patients with Heat in Uterus Blood typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or wiry (Xian) pulses.
Long term emotional stress such as anger, frustration and resentment, or a sudden emotional upset can lead to Liver Qi Stagnation. If untreated for a while, it can then develops to Liver Fire or Heat, which agitates the Blood, As a result an excessive amount of Blood leaks out of vessels. If the read more about Heat in Uterus Blood
Blood (Xue) is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Blood in Chinese Medicine
Heat in the Blood
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu)
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Fever Thirst Eczema Anxiety Itching Insomnia Delirium Red face Tinnitus Dry mouth Dizziness Dark Urine Dry stools Dry throat Bloody nose Malar flush Bloody urine Irritability Restlessness Night sweats Constipation Bloody sputum Bloody stools Heavy periods Restlnessness Early periods Cough of blood Abdominal pain Scanty periods Feeling of heat Delirious speech Vomiting of blood Red skin eruptions Dark colored blood Pale color periods Thick menstrual blood Black and tarry stools Thin and watery periods Bitter taste in the mouth Frequent bleeding episodes Trickling blood after period Dark clots in menstrual blood Pre-menstrual breast distention Abdominal distention and fullness Flooding suddenly before schedule Thirst with an inability to swallow Frequent bleeding episodes in stools urine or vomit
Qing Re Gu Jing Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Heat in the Blood. This pattern leads to symptoms such as feeling of heat, red skin eruptions, thirst and frequent bleeding episodes. Patients with Heat in the Blood typically exhibit rapid (Shu) pulses as well as Red tongue.
The most common cause of Heat in the Blood is a Heat Pernicious Influence that has invaded the body and agitates the Blood. This results in accelerated blood flow which manifests itself in a rapid pulse, expanded and damaged Blood vessels and often heavy bleeding. The Blood will be fresh red or... read more about Heat in the Blood
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