Bi Xie Shen Shi Tang: A Classic Formula for Treating Damp-Heat Conditions
Hongji Medical- Jan 24
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Bi Xie Shen Shi Tang comes from Yang Ke Xin De Ji · Bu Yi (Collected Insights on Ulcer Medicine · Supplement), a classic text on Chinese medicine for external conditions like sores and skin diseases.
This important formula is primarily used to treat various conditions caused by damp-heat affecting the lower body. Its unique combination of herbs and proven effectiveness have made it highly valued and widely used by Chinese medicine practitioners.
Formula Explanation of Bi Xie Shen Shi Tang
Bi Xie Shen Shi Tang is made of several herbs, carefully combined according to the Chinese medicine principle of “monarch, minister, assistant, and envoy” to achieve the best treatment results. Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients:
Monarch Herb: Bi Xie. Bi Xie is the main herb, with sweet and neutral properties. It promotes water metabolism, drains dampness, clears heat, and detoxifies. Entering the spleen and bladder channels, it effectively relieves symptoms like difficult urination, swelling, and abdominal bloating caused by dampness in the lower body. Bi Xie also clears damp-heat, easing skin eczema, vaginal discharge, bitter taste in the mouth, and yellow urine.
Supporting Herbs: Yi Yi Ren, Huang Bai. Yi Yi Ren promotes water metabolism, reduces swelling, strengthens the spleen, drains dampness, clears heat, and supports the lungs and yin. It works with Bi Xie to enhance dampness drainage. Huang Bai dries dampness, clears heat, reduces fire, detoxifies, and nourishes yin, further boosting the formula’s heat-clearing and dampness-draining effects.
Assistant Herbs: Chi Fu Ling, Mu Dan Pi. Chi Fu Ling promotes water metabolism, strengthens the spleen, boosts qi, and calms the mind, helping regulate body fluids and soothe the spirit. Mu Dan Pi clears heat, reduces fire, activates blood, clears stasis, cools blood, and supports yin, assisting in removing heat toxins and blood stagnation.
Envoy Herbs: Ze Xie, Hua Shi, Tong Cao. Ze Xie promotes water metabolism, clears heat, supports urination, and strengthens bones, helping expel excess water and heat toxins. Hua Shi clears heat, promotes urination, drains dampness, and relieves summer heat, enhancing the dampness-clearing effect. Tong Cao clears heat, promotes urination, drains dampness, and moistens the lungs, aiding in removing heat and dampness from the lungs.
Effects of Bi Xie Shen Shi Tang
Bi Xie Shen Shi Tang is a traditional Chinese medicine formula mainly used for conditions caused by damp-heat in the lower body.
Its core effect is promoting water metabolism and draining dampness, which helps relieve symptoms like difficult urination, swelling, and abdominal bloating. Bi Xie, the main herb, strongly drains dampness, reducing excess water in the body to ease discomfort.
The formula also clears heat and detoxifies, making it effective for damp-heat symptoms like skin eczema, vaginal discharge, bitter taste in the mouth, and yellow urine. Herbs like Huang Bai and Mu Dan Pi clear heat, reduce fire, and detoxify, relieving skin issues and discharge. Bi Xie itself adds to the heat-clearing effect.
Additionally, Bi Xie Shen Shi Tang strengthens the spleen, clears pus, and nourishes lung yin. Yi Yi Ren and Chi Fu Ling boost spleen function and digestion, while Ze Xie and Hua Shi clear heat and dampness through urination, enhancing overall effectiveness. These combined actions make the formula highly effective for damp-heat conditions.
Pathogenesis Analysis of Bi Xie Shen Shi Tang
Bi Xie Shen Shi Tang targets conditions caused by damp-heat in the lower body and spleen-stomach imbalances.
Damp-Heat in the Lower Body: Damp-heat invading the lower body causes symptoms like cloudy urine and burning urination, often seen in lin syndrome (urinary disorders) with creamy, pus-like urine. Bi Xie clears damp-heat, improving cloudy urine and related symptoms.
Spleen-Stomach Imbalance: The spleen manages water metabolism. When spleen and stomach function is impaired—often due to poor diet or emotional stress—dampness accumulates, disrupting fluid balance. This leads to damp-heat affecting the bladder, causing lin syndrome. Herbs like Huang Bai and Yi Yi Ren clear heat, drain dampness, and strengthen the spleen to restore fluid metabolism.
Qi and Blood Imbalance: Damp-heat blocks channels, disrupting qi and blood flow, worsening symptoms. The formula clears damp-heat and regulates qi to restore balance.
Overall, Bi Xie Shen Shi Tang addresses damp-heat, spleen-stomach issues, and qi-blood imbalances through its heat-clearing, dampness-draining, and spleen-regulating actions.
Modern Applications
In modern medicine, Bi Xie Shen Shi Tang is widely used for conditions caused by damp-heat in the lower body, such as urinary tract infections, skin eczema, and vaginal discharge.
It is also used to support treatment of chronic conditions like chronic nephritis and hepatitis, leveraging its dampness-draining and heat-clearing effects to improve symptoms and overall health.
Precautions
When using Bi Xie Shen Shi Tang, keep the following in mind:
Avoid Long-Term Use: The formula’s strong heat-clearing and dampness-draining effects may strain the body if used for too long, so avoid prolonged use.
Light Diet: While taking the formula, eat a light diet and avoid spicy or irritating foods to prevent worsening damp-heat.
Follow Medical Advice: This information is for reference only; always follow a doctor’s guidance for use. Consult a healthcare provider if you feel unwell.
Conclusion
Bi Xie Shen Shi Tang, a traditional Chinese medicine formula from Yang Ke Xin De Ji · Bu Yi, has a long history and proven effectiveness. Its unique blend of herbs works together to treat damp-heat conditions, promote fluid metabolism, and clear heat and toxins from the body.
In modern medicine, it remains valuable for treating urinary infections, eczema, vaginal discharge, and supporting chronic conditions. However, precautions like avoiding long-term use, maintaining a light diet, and following medical advice are essential.
This article aims to help readers better understand Bi Xie Shen Shi Tang’s origins, composition, uses, effects, and modern applications, contributing to the legacy and development of Chinese medicine.
