Harmonizing formulas
Xiao chai hu tang
Minor Bupleurum Decoction
- Chinese name
- 小柴胡汤
- Group
- Harmonizing formulas
- English name
- Minor Bupleurum
- Basic formula
- ✓
Treats the 'shao yang' channel (gallbladder and triple burner) and harmonizes liver and spleen, inside and outside, excess and deficiency, heat and cold.
Indications
For complaints that began as an acute cold, moved to an intermediate stage and linger: alternating fever and chills, an oppressed, full feeling in the chest, a bitter taste, dizziness, poor appetite, fatigue and nausea. For lingering colds, cough, bronchitis and asthma, and because of its broad action also for cholecystitis and hepatitis, jaundice and irregular menstruation. The book also mentions malaria and HIV/AIDS.
Ingredients
| Ingredients | Amount |
|---|---|
| Chai hu (bupleurum) | 12–15 g |
| Huang qin (Baikal skullcap) | 9–12 g |
| Ban xia, prepared (pinellia) | 9–12 g |
| Fresh ginger (sheng jiang) | 3–6 g |
| Ginseng (ren shen) | 6–9 g |
| Licorice root (gan cao) | 3–6 g |
| Jujube (da zao) | 3–5 stuks |
- Tongue
- thin white coating
- Pulse
- wiry
Variations
- For resistance: add huang qi, schisandra and privet fruit.
- For malaria, the book describes adding dichroa root and tsaoko.
- For yin deficiency: add softshell turtle shell and qing hao.
- For a bloated, painful abdomen: add yan hu suo, nutgrass rhizome and immature bitter orange.