Bái Hú Tāng

(White Tiger Decoction)

Sub-Category:

• Formulas that Clear Heat from the Qi Level

Pattern:

• 6 Stages: Yang Ming Channel Heat
• 4 Levels: Qi Level Heat

Actions:

• Clear Yang-Ming and Qi Level excess heat
• Generates fluids and stops thirst.
• Drains Stomach fire.

Indications:

• High fever, excess thirst, profuse sweating, irritability, dry mouth, and aversion to heat

Possible Tongue Appearance:

• Dry tongue

Possible Pulse Patterns:

• Forceful
• Slippery and Rapid Pulse

Cautions, Contraindications, Herb Drug Interactions:

• Do not use in cases of Stomach and Spleen deficiency with symptoms such as spontaneous sweating, fever, aversion to wind, fatigue, and a floating deficient pulse
• Do not use in cases of true cold and false heat.
• Do not use in exterior conditions.

Preparation Notes:

• Decoction. Cook until rice is done and ingest liquid.

Originally Appeared In:

• On Cold Damage (Shang Han Lun)

Notes:

• This formula is often described as treatng the "4 Bigs", which are big fever, big thirst, big sweat, big pulse.

Combined Channels of all herbs in this formula:

• Lungs, Stomach, Kidneys, Spleen

Substances in this Formula (4 Total):

	Shi Gao (Gypsum) Qty: 30 grams Chan: LU, ST Prop: Sweet, Spicy, Very Cold Latin: Gypsum Fibrosum Cat: Herbs that Drain Fire
	Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome) Qty: 9 grams Chan: LU, ST, KI Prop: Bitter, Cold Latin: Rhizoma Anemarrhenae Aspheloidis Cat: Herbs that Drain Fire
	Zhi Gan Cao (Honey Fried Licorice Root) Qty: 3 grams Chan: All 12 Channels Prop: Sweet, Warm Latin: Radix Glycyrrhizae Cat: Herbs that Tonify Qi
	Geng Mi (Rice) Qty: 9-15 grams Chan: SP, ST Prop: Sweet, Cool Latin: Oryzae Semen Cat: Herbs that Tonify Qi

References

Formulas

• 15. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies (First Edition)
  - Dan Bensky
• 18. Handbook of Chinese Herbal Formulas (First Edition)
  - Him Che. Yeung
• 16. The Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula Study Guide (First Edition)
  - Qiao Yi

Herbs

• 13. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica (Revised Edition)
  - Dan Bensky
• 25. Lancet 2000 January 8;355(9198):134-138 (Article)
  - Fugh-Berman A.
• 17. Handbook of Chinese Herbs (Second Edition)
  - Him Che. Yeung
• 12. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology (First Edition)
  - John K. Chen, Tina T. Chen
• 26. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals (Third Edition)
  - Max Wichtl

Only use Chinese herbs or formulas under the direct care and supervision of a licensed Acupuncturist/Herbalist.
Some of the substances included on this website are no longer used, and are included for historical reference only.