Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang

Chinese Herbal Formulas That Harmonizes Shao Yang Disorders

Xiao Chai Hu Tang  -  Minor Bupleurum Decoction

Main Actions for Xiao Chai Hu Tang

This chinese medicine herbal formula harmonizes and releases the lesser yang-stage disorders.  It will balance the liver and spleen.   This formula is designed to treat half exterior and half interior disease where there is a struggle between pathogenic Qi (evil Qi) and ying Qi (normal Qi). 

Indications and Symptoms for Xiao Chai Hu Tang

Alternating fever and chills, dry throat, bitter/sour taste in ones mouth, chest fullness, hypochondria distention, dizziness, irritability, didgety, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite

Tongue – thin coat

Pulse – wiry

Medicinal Ingredients of Xiao Chai Hu Tang

Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri, Hare’s Ear Root, Thorowax Root) – 24g.

Clears lesser yang disorders with fever, chills, bitter taste, irritable

Soothes liver qi stagnation, tonify spleen and stomach

Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis, Baical Skullcap Root, Scutellaria, Scute) -9g.

Clears heat in upper burner and dry’s damp in  stomach, stops bleeding, calms fetus, clears liver yang rising

Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae Tematae, Pinellia Rhizome) – 24g.

Dry’s dampness, warms cold and clears phlegm, harmonize stomach, reduce nodules

Sheng Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Officinalis Recens, Fresh Ginger Rhizome) – 9g.

Release exterior cold, disperse middle jiao cold, disperse cold phlegm in lung, adjust ying and wei level qi for sweating

Ren Shen  (Radix Ginseng, Ginseng Root) - 9g.

Tonify yuan qi, tonify lung qi, tonify spleen qi, generate fluids, aids heart qi

Zhi Gan Cao  (Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis, Licorice Root) - 9g.

Harmonize herbal formulas, moisten lung, tonify spleen/stomach

Da Zao (Fructus Ziziphi Jujubae Chinese Date, Jujube) - 12 pieces

Tonify spleen qi, nourish blood, calm spirit

Preparation Instructions of Xiao Chai Hu Tang

To prepare this natural medicine formula boil 12 cups with all the natural herbs down to 6 cups, strain all herbs from decoction.  Re-boil the 6 cups of decoction down to 3 cups.  This gives 3 doses of 1 cup each.

Additional Points on Xiao Chai Hu Tang

If these symptoms are present, this TCM herbal formula can treat upper respiratory tract infection, influenza, bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, epidemic parotitis, jaundice, malaria, acute viral hepatitis, post partum fever, acute pyelonephritis, cholecystitis, lymphadenitis and neuralgia

Modifications of Xiao Chai Hu Tang

Irritability in chest, no nausea– -ban xia and ren shen + gua lou

Excessive thirst - - ban xia + more ren shen, tian hua fen

Abdominal pain - - huang qin + bai shaoyao

Fullness or hardness in hypochondria – smaller dosage of da zao + mu li

Palpitation and difficult urination - - huang qin + fu ling

No thirst with slight fever - - ren shen + gui zhi

Cough - - ren shen, da zao, sheng jiang + wu wei zi, gan jiang

Xiao Chai Hu Tang is Contraindicated in Cases of Yin and Blood deficiency