Chinese: 养阴清肺汤
Pinyin: Yǎng Yīn Qīng Fèi Tāng
Other names: Nourish the Yin and Clear the Lungs Decoction
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that enrich Yin and moisten Dryness
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: DiphtheriaTonsillitisPharyngitis and one other condition
- Nourishes the Yin
- Improves throat
- Resolves toxicity
- Clears the Lungs
Contraindications: Extreme attention needs to be take to treat diphtheria since it is a very... Extreme attention needs to be take to treat diphtheria since it is a very severe disease. see more
Source date: the 18th century
Source book: Jade Key to Layered Stories
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.
Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in the 18th century, it belongs to the category of formulas that enrich Yin and moisten Dryness. Its main actions are: 1) nourishes the Yin and 2) improves throat.
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 Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Lung Yin Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as diphtheria, tonsillitis or pharyngitis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eight ingredients in Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang helps treat.
The eight ingredients in Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang
Di Huang is a king ingredient in Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. 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 is sweet, bitter, and cooling. It enriches the Yin Body Fluids to support the normal Qi while cooling the Blood and resolving toxicity to dispel the pathogenic Qi.
Xuan Shen is a deputy ingredient in Yang Yin Qing Fei 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
Xuan Shen is salty and cooling. It helps the key herb Di Huang (Unprepared Rehmannia) enrich the Yin, directs Heat or Fire downward, resolves toxicity, and improves throat condition. It is routinely used in the treatment of sores due to Yin Deficiency, particularly of the throat area. Together with Mai Dong (Dwarf lilyturf root), it nourishes the upper and lower sources of Body Fluids.
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Yang Yin Qing Fei 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 acts on the Lungs, which connects directly to the throat as a main Qi pathway. Together with Xuan Shen (Ningpo figwort root), it nourishes the upper and lower sources of Body Fluids.
Bai Shao is a deputy ingredient in Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. White Peony Roots (Bai Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Bai Shao preserves and protects the Yin. Chuan Bei Mu (Fritillary bulbs), Mu Dan Pi (Mudan peony bark) and Bai Shao (White peony root) together disperse the swelling in the throat and stops the pain.
Mu Dan Pi is an assistant ingredient in Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Mudan Peony Bark (Mu Dan Pi)
Part used: Root barks
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Mu Dan Pi cools the Blood, reduces swelling, and thereby supports the functions of the key herb. Chuan Bei Mu (Fritillary bulbs), Mu Dan Pi (Mudan peony bark) and Bai Shao (White peony root) together disperse the swelling in the throat and stops the pain.
Chuan Bei Mu is an assistant ingredient in Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Fritillary Bulbs (Chuan Bei Mu)
Part used: Dried bulb
Nature: Cool
Chuan Bei Mu moistens the Lungs, stops coughing, and clears and transforms Phlegm Heat. Chuan Bei Mu (Fritillary bulbs), Mu Dan Pi (Mudan peony bark) and Bai Shao (White peony root) together disperse the swelling in the throat and stops the pain.
Bo He is an assistant ingredient in Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Wild Mint (Bo He)
Bo He is acrid and it provides movement to the Qi and thereby facilitates the unclogging of the throat. It is added to help direct the pathogenic Qi to the Exterior.
Gan Cao is an assistant ingredient in Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Gan Cao resolves toxicity, improves the condition of the throat, and harmonizes the actions of the other herbs in the formula.
Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang is used to treat Lung Yin Deficiency
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 Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Lung Yin Deficiency" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Lung Yin Deficiency here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Diphtheria Tonsillitis Pharyngitis White throat
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang treats diphtheria" for instance. Rather, Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang is used to treat Lung Yin Deficiency, which is sometimes the root cause behind diphtheria.
Now let's look at Lung Yin Deficiency, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang.
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Lung Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Insomnia Red lips Dry cough Dry mouth Tiredness Thin chest Weak voice Dry throat Depression Blood spit Chest pain Malar flush Hoarse voice Night sweats Tickly throat Frequent sighing Aversion to speak Hot palms and soles Shortness of breath Thin body lacking strength Feeling of heat in the afternoon Low-grade fever in the afternoon
Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Lung Yin Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as hoarse voice, tickly throat, aversion to speak and thin chest. Patients with Lung Yin Deficiency typically exhibit rapid (Shu), empty (Xu) or floating (Fu) pulses as well as Normal or red color with no coating.
Exterior Heat and Dryness can invade the Lungs and exhausts the Body Fluids. If it is not dealt with for a long time, it leads to Lung Yin Deficiency. Typical manifestations are dry cough, throat and mouth, aversion to speak as well as Hoarse voice.
Other factors can cause this pattern such as the... read more about Lung Yin Deficiency
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