Chinese: 清营汤
Pinyin: Qīng Yíng Tāng
Other names: Clear Nutritive Qi Level Heat. Clear Nutritive Level Heat,
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear nutritive-level Heat
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: TyphoidMeningitisSepticemia and two other conditions
- Clears the Nutritive level Heat
- Relieves Fire Toxin
- Removes Heat
- Nourishes Yin
Contraindications: contraindicated for patients with Dampness pattern which can be diagnosed by a... contraindicated for patients with Dampness pattern which can be diagnosed by a white and slippery tongue coating. see more
Source date: 1798 AD
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 Ying Tang is a 9-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Water Buffalo Horns (Shui Niu Jiao) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 1798 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear nutritive-level Heat. Its main actions are: 1) clears the Nutritive level Heat and 2) relieves Fire Toxin.
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 Ying Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Heat in Pericardium, Heat in Nutritive Qi level or Heat in the Blood. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as encephalitis b, meningitis or typhoid for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the nine ingredients in Qing Ying Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Qing Ying Tang helps treat.
The nine ingredients in Qing Ying Tang
Shui Niu Jiao is a king ingredient in Qing Ying Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. 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 bitter, salty, and cold. It drains Heat from the Nutritive (Ying) level and the Heart so as to relieve Fire Toxin and calms the Mind. It is cold in nature but it does not lead to obstruction, which makes it helpful in treating Exterior Heat invading Interior. It can also cool the Blood and remove Stagnation.
Xuan Shen is a deputy ingredient in Qing Ying Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Ningpo Figwort Roots (Xuan Shen)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: Large intestineLiverStomach
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
In general Xuan Shen's main actions are as follows: "Expels true or Internal Heat and cools the Blood. Tonifies the Yin. Reduces inflammations and drains Fire toxicity. Reduces hard nodules, especially associated with the lymph."
In the context of Qing Ying Tang, it is used because it tonifies Yin and relieves Fire Toxin by directing it downwards.
Di Huang is a deputy ingredient in Qing Ying Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang)
Part used: Prepared dried root tuber
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
In general Di Huang's main actions are as follows: "Expels Heat by Cooling Blood. Tonifies Yin by promoting Fluid production. Soothes the Heart by calming Blazing Fire. Cools and nourishes."
In the context of Qing Ying Tang, it is used because it cools the Blood and tonifies Yin.
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Qing Ying Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Dwarf Lilyturf Roots (Mai Dong)
Part used: Dried root tuber
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartLungStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
In general Mai Dong's main actions are as follows: "Replenishes Yin Essence and promotes secretions. Lubricates and nourishes the Stomach. Soothes the Lung. Nourishes the Heart."
In the context of Qing Ying Tang, it is used because it clears Heat, tonifies Yin and Body Fluids.
Jin Yin Hua is an assistant ingredient in Qing Ying Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Honeysuckle Flowers (Jin Yin Hua)
Jin Yin Hua is fragrant, aromatic and light, like the other assistant ingredient of the formula Forsythia fruit. It clears Heat and removes Toxin by pushing pathogenic Heat outside. The key and deputy herbs of the formula dissipates this Heat from nutritive level (more severe) to the Qi level (less severe). Then Honeysuckle flowers disperses the Heat from Qi level to outside the body.
Lian Qiao is an assistant ingredient in Qing Ying Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Forsythia Fruits (Lian Qiao)
Lian Qiao is fragrant, aromatic and light, like the other assistant ingredient of the formula Honeysuckle flowers. It clears Heat and removes Toxin by pushing pathogenic Heat outside. The key and deputy herbs of the formula dissipates this Heat from nutritive level (more severe) to the Qi level (less severe). Then Forsythia fruit disperses the Heat from Qi level to outside the body.
Dan Zhu Ye is an assistant ingredient in Qing Ying Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. 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 is light and it clears Heat and resolve Toxin like Honeysuckle flowers and Forsythia fruit. On top of that, it also works with Goldthread rhizome to clear Heat from the Heart.
Huang Lian is an assistant ingredient in Qing Ying Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Goldthread Rhizomes (Huang Lian)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLiverSpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Huang Lian's main actions are as follows: "Expels Damp-Heat especially in the Lower Burner. Eliminates Fire toxicity especially when there is associated Dampness. Acts as a sedative by eliminating Heart Fire. Eliminates Stomach Fire. Expel parasites"
In the context of Qing Ying Tang, it is used because it is cold and bitter and it clears and removes Heat from the Heart.
Dan Shen is an assistant ingredient in Qing Ying Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
9. Red Sage Roots (Dan Shen)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Bitter
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
Dan Shen invigorates Blood and prevents Blood Stagnation, which can happen for 2 reasons: First of all, this formula's ingredients are cold with cooling action, which can slow down Blood flow. Secondly, Body Fluids is injured if there are Heat in the Blood.
Conditions and patterns for which Qing Ying 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 Ying Tang is used by TCM practitioners to treat four 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:
Encephalitis B Meningitis Typhoid Septicemia Thrombocytopenic purpura
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Qing Ying Tang treats encephalitis b" for instance. Rather, Qing Ying Tang is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind encephalitis b.
Now let's look at the four patterns commonly treated with Qing Ying Tang.
The Pericardium is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Pericardium in Chinese Medicine
Heat in Pericardium
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Fine (Xi)
Symptoms: Coma Aphasia Macules Delirium Hot body Convulsions Fever at night Mental confusion Incoherent speech Cold hands and feet
Qing Ying Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Heat in Pericardium. This pattern leads to symptoms such as fever at night, delirium, mental confusion and incoherent speech. Patients with Heat in Pericardium typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or fine (Xi) pulses.
According to the Four Levels theory, pathogenic Heat can penetrate four levels of depth in the human body: Wei (卫，the defensive Qi level), Qi (气）, Ying (营，Nutritive Qi) and the deepest level Blood. The deeper Heat penetrates within the levels, the more severe the condition.
As for the pattern of... read more about Heat in Pericardium
Qi is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Qi in Chinese Medicine
Heat in Nutritive Qi level
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Fine (Xi)
Symptoms: Aphasia Macules Insomnia Delirium Restlnessness Fever at night Incoherent speech Dry mouth with no desire to drink
Qing Ying Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Heat in Nutritive Qi level. This pattern leads to symptoms such as fever at night, dry mouth with no desire to drink, restlnessness and insomnia. Patients with Heat in Nutritive Qi level typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or fine (Xi) pulses.
This is one of the two patterns of the Nutritive Qi level, the third level of the Four Levels theory.
At this level, the Heat is deeper within the body and has begun to injure the Yin and obstruct the Mind, causing delirium, incoherent speech or aphasia (the loss of ability to understand or express... read more about Heat in Nutritive Qi level
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 Ying 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
'Heat' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Heat pattern in Chinese Medicine
Toxic-Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Pus Fever Boils Sores Eczema Thirst Pustule Coughing Erythema Swellings Carbuncles Dark Urine Sore throat Mouth ulcers Constipation Abdominal pain Swollen tonsils Feeling of heat Lower back pain Perineum swollen Prostate swollen Testicle swollen Red skin eruptions Shortness of breath Yellow vaginal discharge Smelly Vaginal discharge Sticky vaginal discharge Bloody vaginal discharge Five colour vaginal discharge
Qing Ying Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Toxic-Heat. This pattern leads to symptoms such as fever, swellings, pus and boils. Patients with Toxic-Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) pulses as well as Red tongue with yellow coating.
There are two types of Toxic-Heat. One type is called Toxic-Heat Stagnation, which mainly happens in Channels or other surfaces like skins, throat, lymph or mouth. The symptoms include pain, redness and swollen in throat as well as skin pustule and rush. Acne during teenage time is mainly due to... read more about Toxic-Heat
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