Chinese: 增液承气汤
Pinyin: Zēng Yè Chéng Qì Tāng
Other names: Increase the Fluids and Order the Qi Decoction
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that simultaneously attack and tonify
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: High feverHemorrhoidsConstipation and two other conditions
- Generates Body Fluids
- Nourishes the Yin
- Unblocks the bowels
- Drains Heat
Contraindications: The formula is only recommended for a pattern that combines Yin Fluids... The formula is only recommended for a pattern that combines Yin Fluids Deficiency with an accumulation of dry stools in the Intestines. Although this formula is gentle in comparison to the strong formulas that clear Heat accumulation, it should nevertheless be used with caution. 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.
Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Ningpo Figwort Roots (Xuan Shen) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 1798 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that simultaneously attack and tonify. Its main actions are: 1) generates Body Fluids and 2) nourishes the 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 Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Yin Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as acute infectious diseases, high fever or constipation for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the five ingredients in Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang helps treat.
The five ingredients in Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang
Xuan Shen is a king ingredient in Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. 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 removes hot and cold accumulations in the abdomen. The combination of Dwarf lilyturf root and Ningpo figwort root helps in nourishing the Yin, generate Body Fluids and promote bowel movement.
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Dwarf Lilyturf Roots (Mai Dong)
Part used: Dried root tuber
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartLungStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
Mai Dong removes Qi Stagnation in the epigastrium caused by overeating. It also helps in digesting food and regulating the Middle Burner. The combination of Dwarf lilyturf root and Ningpo figwort root helps in nourishing the Yin, generate Body Fluids and promote bowel movement.
Di Huang is a deputy ingredient in Zeng Ye Cheng Qi 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
Di Huang promotes defecation and urination. It also eliminates harbored food from the Stomach. It helps the key herbs in nourishing the Yin, generate Body Fluids and promote bowel movement.
Da Huang is an assistant ingredient in Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Rhubarb (Da Huang)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomachLarge intestineLiverPericardium
Category: Purgative herbs that drain downward
In general Da Huang's main actions are as follows: "Drains Excess Heat and eliminates Dampness, especially when in the Bright Yang stage according to the Six Stages Theory. Cools the Blood and stops bleeding. Invigorates Blood, breaks up Stasis and relieves pain. Clears Heat and toxins from Excess. Applied topically for Hot sores and Blood Stasis."
In the context of Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang, it is used because it softens hardness, drains the Heat, and cleans the Stomach and Intestines.
Mang Xiao is an assistant ingredient in Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Mirabilites (Mang Xiao)
Part used: The rock crushed as a powder
Nature: Cold
Meridian affinity: StomachLarge intestine
Category: Purgative herbs that drain downward
In general Mang Xiao's main actions are as follows: "Purges Stagnation in the Intestines caused by Heat and Dryness, Cools Heat and abates swelling"
In the context of Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang, it is used because it softens hardness, drains the Heat, and cleans the Stomach and Intestines.
Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang is used to treat 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 Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Yin Deficiency" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Yin Deficiency here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Acute infectious diseases High fever Constipation Hemorrhoids Renal failure
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang treats acute infectious diseases" for instance. Rather, Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang is used to treat Yin Deficiency, which is sometimes the root cause behind acute infectious diseases.
Now let's look at Yin Deficiency, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang.
'Deficient' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Deficiency / Empty in Chinese Medicine
Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Jumpy Thirst Anxiety Insomnia Weakness Thin body Dizziness Headaches Dry cough Dry stools Poor memory Malar flush Night sweats Irritability Flushed nose Restlessness Five palm heat Nocturnal emissions Sore throat at night Scanty dark urination Dry mouth and throat at night Desire to drink in small sips Low-grade fever in the afternoon Pain relieved by pressure and cold
Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Yin Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as five palm heat, thin body, sore throat at night and thirst. Patients with Yin Deficiency typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or empty (Xu) pulses as well as Red or normal color without coating or with a thin shiny tongue body.
In the case of Yin Deficiency, the body is lacking in its cooling, moistening and nurturing aspects. This leads to Heat and Dryness accompanied by weakness and lack of strength and resistance. The Heat of the Yang gets more obvious because Yin is lacking and it cannot control Yang. Fire gets out of... read more about Yin Deficiency
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