Minor Bluegreen Dragon Decoction
Chinese Prescription: Xiao Qing Long Tang
English Translation: Minor Bluegreen Dragon Decoction
Formula Type: Release Exterior Cold
Actions: Releases the exterior, transforms thin mucus, warms the Lungs, & directs rebellious qi downward.
Indications: Fever & chills (chills predominant) without sweating, cough, wheezing, sputum that is copious, white, stringy, & difficult to expectorate, stifling sensation in the chest, generalized sensation of heaviness & body aches, no particular thirst, moist tongue coating, & a floating edema or considerable difficulty in breathing when lying down.
Contraindications: This formula should not be used long term, nor for conditions with heat, coughing of blood, or coughing due to yin deficiency. Use with caution in cases with hypertension. In such cases, prepared Zhi Ma Huang is often substituted for Ma Huang.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
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view: Ma Huang |
Ephedra | 9g |
view: Gui Zhi |
Cinnamon Twigs | 9 |
view: Gan Jiang |
Dried Ginger | 9g |
view: Xi Xin |
Chinese Wild Ginger | 9g |
view: Wu Wei Zi |
Schisandra Fruit | 9g |
view: Bai Shao Yao |
White Peony | 9g |
view: Ban Xia |
Pinellia Rhizome | 9g |
view: Zhi Gan Cao |
Honey-fried Licorice | 9g |
Ma Huang / Ephedra, aerial part of plant | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Slightly Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Exterior Releasing - Warm • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Releases the exterior & disperses cold: for patterns of wind-cold exterior excess (greater yang stage of the six stages) with chills, fever, headache, absence of sweating, & a tight, floating pulse. This herb is very effective in opening the pores & interstices to release exterior disorders.2. Facilitates the movement of Lung qi & controls wheezing: for cough & wheezing due to obstruction of Lung qi by wind & cold. The herb both encourages the Lung qi to flow more easily, & causes it to descend. It is important for either externally contracted or internally generated wheezing. 3. Promotes urination & reduces edema: especially for edema that accompanies an exterior pathogenic influence. |
MeridiansLung, Bladder |
CautionsIf too much of this herb is used, or for too long a period of time, it may cause heavy sweating that weakens the body. Toasting honey reduces this dispersing property. Use of the herb may also raise blood pressure or cause restlessness & tremors. Use with caution in cases of deficiency with sweating or wheezing. Toxicity: Three cases of ephedrine toxicity were reported after ingestion of as little as 15ml of a 1% solution. Symptoms included diaphoresis, temperature elevation (up to 39.2 c), epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting. Atropine was used successfully as an antidote. Especially in conjunction with cardiac glycosides, ephedrine can cause cardiac arrhythmias. |
Gui Zhi / Cinnamon Twig | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Sweet • Temperature: Warm • Category: Exterior Releasing - Warm • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Adjusts the nutritive & protective qi levels: for exterior cold from deficiency patterns where sweating occurs without any improvement in the patient's condition.2. Warms the channels & disperses cold: for wind-cold-damp painful obstruction in joints & limbs, especially the shoulders. Also for gynecological problems, such as dysmenorrhea, caused by cold obstructing the blood. 3. Unblocks the yang & transforms the qi: for edema due to accumulation of cold phlegm or weak movement of the yang qi. 4. Warms & facilitates the flow of yang qi in the chest: for palpitations due to obstruction to the flow of yang qi in the chest. This can be due to either stagnation or deficiency. 5. Warms & facilitates the flow in the blood vessels: for dysmennorrhea with or without abdominal masses. |
MeridiansHeart, Lung, Bladder |
CautionsContraindcated for warm-febrile diseases, yin deficiency with heat signs, & heat in the blood with vomiting. Use with caution during pregnancy or excessive menstruation. |
Gan Jiang / Ginger Root, dried | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Hot • Category: Warm Interior & Expel Cold • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-12g |
Actions1. Warms the middle & expels cold: for warming the Spleen & Stomach both in conditions of excess due to externally contracted cold, as well as cold from deficiency due to insufficiency of the yang qi.2. Rescues devastated yang & expels interior cold: for devastated yang with such signs as a very weak pulse & cold limbs. 3. Warms the Lungs & transforms phlegm: for Lung cold with expectoration of thin, watery, or white sputum. 4. Warms the channels & stops bleeding: for cold from deficiency that may present with hemorrhage of various types, especially uterine bleeding. It is used in treating hemorrhage only if the bleeding is chronic & pale in color, & is accompanied by cold limbs, ashen white face, & a soggy, thin pulse. |
MeridiansHeart, Lung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs, or the reckless movement of hot blood. Use with caution during pregnancy. |
Xi Xin / Ginger, Chinese Wild | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Exterior Releasing - Warm • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1-3g |
Actions1. Releases the exterior & disperses cold: for any exterior cold patterns, especially with the addition of dampness & underlying yang deficiency. This herb is oftern used for externally contracted wind-cold when the dominant symptoms & head & body aches.2. Warms the Lungs & transforms phlegm: for patterns of externally contracted wind-cold with congested fluids, manifested in coughing & copious, watery sputum. 3. Disperse cold & alleviates pain: for pain in various parts of the body, most commonly headache, toothache, or painful obstruction, due to wind &/or cold. 4. Disperses & unblocks the qi of the nasal orifices: for various types of nasal congestion. |
MeridiansLung, Kidney |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of qi deficiency with profuse sweating, headache due to blood deficiency, or cough due to yin deficiency. According to some traditional sources, this herb antagonizes shan zhu yu & huang qi, & counteracts hua shi. Use with caution in patients with renal problems as it can be nephrotoxic. |
Wu Wei Zi / Schisandra Fruit - "5 flavored seed" | |||
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Taste: Sour • Temperature: Warm • Category: Stabilize & Bind • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1.5-9g, 1.5-3g (chronic cough), 6-9g (tonic) |
Actions1. Contains the leakage of Lung qi & stops coughing: for chronic cough & wheezing due to Lung deficiency or patterns of Lung & Kidney deficiency. This herb inhibits the leakage of Lung qi above, enriching the Kidney yin below, & also stops coughing. As such it is an important & effective herb for chronic cough.2. Tonifies the Kidneys, binds up essence, & stops diarrhea: for nocturnal emission, spermatorrhea, vaginal discharge, & urinary frequency due to Kidney deficiency. Also used for daybreak diarrhea due to Spleen & Kidey deficiency. 3. Inhibits sweating & generates fluids: for excessive sweating, especially when accompanied by thirst or dry throat. Depending on the other ingredients in the formula, it can be used for spontaneous sweating, night sweats, or even wasting & thirsting disorders. 4. Quiets the spirit & calms the heart: for irritability, palpitations, dream-disturbed sleep, nsomnia due to injury to the blood & yin of the Heart & Kidneys. 5. Recently used for allergic skin disorders & to improve liver function in patients with hepatitis. |
MeridiansHeart, Kidney, Lung |
CautionsContraindicated when an exterior condition is not cleared, when there is heat from excess in the interior, or in the early stages of coughs or rashes. This herb may occasionally cause heartburn. Toxicity: Symptoms of overdose include restlessness, insomnia, or dyspnea. |
Bai Shao Yao / Peony (White) | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Sour • Temperature: Cool • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Blood | |||
Dosage6-15g, very large doses up to 30 g |
Actions1. Nourishes the blood & regulates the menses: for blood deficiency with such symptoms as menstrual dysfunction, vaginal discharge, & uterine bleeding. This is a very commonly used herb for treating women's disorders.2. Calms & curbs the Liver yang & alleviates pain: for such symptoms as flank, chest, or abdominal pain from either constrained Liver qi or disharmony between the Liver & Spleen. In general, this herb is used to "soften & comfort" the Liver, stop painful spasms in the abdomen, stop cramping pain or spasms in the hands & feet, & alleviate abdominal pain associated with dysentric disorders. It is also used for headache & dizziness due to ascendant Liver yang. 3. Preserves the yin & adjusts the nutritive & protective levels: for vaginal discharge & spermatorrhea, as well as exterior wind-cold from deficiency patterns with continuous sweating that does not resolve the problem. It is also used for yin deficiency where the yang floats to the surface causing spontaneous sweating or night sweats. |
MeridiansLiver, Spleen |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of diarrhea due to cold from deficiency, & in patients with weak yang & cold from deficiency. May antagonize shi hu & mang xiao, may counteract with bie jia & xiao ji, & may be incompatible with li lu. |
Ban Xia / Pinellia (Prepared) | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Transform Phlegm & Stop Coughing • Sub Category: Warm & Transform Phlegm Cold | |||
Dosage4.5-12g |
Actions1. Dries dampness, transforms phlegm, & causes rebellious qi to descend: for cough with copious sputum, as in conditions of phlegm-cold in the Lungs. Especially effective in transforming phlegm due to dampness of the Spleen.2. Harmonizes the Stomach & stops vomiting: for lingering phlegm-dampness in the Stomach that rebels upward, causing nausea & vomiting. 3. Dissipates nodules & reduces distention: for nodules, pressure, distention, or pain due to phlegm lingering in the chest, phlegm nodules in the neck (such as those of goiter & scrofula), or obstructions caused by phlegm anywhere in the body. Also for focal distention in the chest & epigastrium. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in all cases of bleeding, cough due to yin deficiency, or depleted fluids. Use with caution in all cases with heat. May be incompatible with wu tou. Toxic: overdosage symptoms include feeling of burning & numbness in the throat, lips, queasy stomach & nausea, & a feeling of pressure in the chest. For recovery, administer raw ginger orally. |
Zhi Gan Cao / Licorice Root, honey-baked | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage2-12g |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: commonly used for Spleen deficiency with shortness of breath, lassitude, & loose stools. Also for qi or blood deficiency patterns with an irregular or intermittent pulse & /or palpitations.2. Moistens the Lungs & stops coughing: for coughing & wheezing. Because of its neutral properties, it can be used for either heat or cold in the Lungs. 3. Clears heat & relieves fire toxicity: used raw for carbuncles, sores, or sore throat due to fire toxin. For this purpose, it can be taken internally or applied topically. 4. Moderates spasms & alleviates pain: for painful spasms of the abdomen or legs. 5. Moderates & harmonizes the characteristics of other herbs: by virtue of its sweet, neutral, & moderating properties, this herb moderates hot & cold herbs, & mitigates the violent properties of other herbs. Since it is said to enter all 12 primary channels, it can lead & conduct other herbs into the channels. 6. Used as an antidote for a variety of toxic substances, both internally & topically. 7. The raw root clears heat & relieves toxicity, the honey-fried tonifies the middle & moderates spasms. |
MeridiansAll 12 channels (principally the Heart, Lung, Spleen, & Stomach) |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of excess dampness, nausea, or vomiting. May be in compatible with jing da ji, yuan hua, gan sui, & hai zao, & may antagonize yuan zhi. The toxicity of gan cao is very low, but if taken long-term it may cause hypertension &/or edema. Glycyrrhetinic acid has been reported to cause a reduction in the activity of the thyroid & a reducation in the basal metabolic rate. |