Qing Fei Tang: A Gentle Formula for Clearing Lung Heat
Hongji Medical- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
As its name suggests, Qing Fei Tang is designed to clear heat from the lungs. Though it comes from The Complete Book of Folk Secret Formulas rather than a classic medical text, its clever composition and mild nature make it a favorite among Chinese medicine practitioners. It is widely used today for its effectiveness.
The Complete Book of Folk Secret Formulas collects many time-tested remedies from folk traditions. While the creator of Qing Fei Tang is unknown, its ingredients clearly draw on traditional Chinese medicine principles, tailored to treat lung heat, cough, and excessive phlegm.
Formula Explanation of Qing Fei Tang
Qing Fei Tang combines multiple herbs, carefully balanced according to the Chinese medicine principle of “monarch, minister, assistant, and envoy”:
Monarch Herbs: Huang Qin, Sang Bai Pi, Zhi Zi
Huang Qin: Bitter and cold, it clears heat, dries dampness, and detoxifies, serving as a key herb for clearing lung heat.
Sang Bai Pi: Sweet and cold, it clears lung heat, stops cough, and calms wheezing, especially effective for hidden lung heat.
Zhi Zi: Bitter and cold, it clears heat, reduces fever, cools blood, and detoxifies, targeting lung heat pathogens.
Supporting Herbs: Jie Geng, Bei Mu, Xing Ren, Zhu Ru
Jie Geng: Bitter, pungent, and neutral, it opens the lungs, clears phlegm, and guides the formula to the lungs.
Bei Mu: Bitter, sweet, and slightly cold, it clears heat, moistens the lungs, and stops cough, excelling at dissolving phlegm.
Xing Ren: Bitter and warm, it calms breathing and clears phlegm, used here to support phlegm clearance.
Zhu Ru: Sweet and slightly cold, it clears heat, dissolves phlegm, and calms irritability or nausea.
Assistant Herbs: Tian Dong, Mai Dong
Tian Dong: Sweet, bitter, and cold, it nourishes yin, moistens dryness, and generates fluids, ideal for lung yin support.
Mai Dong: Sweet, slightly bitter, and slightly cold, it nourishes lung yin, clears heart heat, and relieves dry cough.
Envoy Herbs: Chen Pi, Fu Ling, Dang Gui, Wu Wei Zi, Sheng Jiang, Da Zao, Gan Cao
Chen Pi: Pungent and warm, it regulates qi, strengthens the spleen, and dries dampness to address phlegm’s root cause.
Fu Ling: Sweet, bland, and neutral, it strengthens the spleen and drains dampness to reduce fluid buildup.
Dang Gui: Sweet, pungent, and warm, it nourishes and activates blood, moistens dryness, and supports breathing issues.
Wu Wei Zi: Sour and warm, it consolidates, boosts qi, generates fluids, and stops cough by nourishing yin.
Sheng Jiang: Pungent and warm, it promotes sweating, warms the stomach, and harmonizes the formula’s effects.
Da Zao: Sweet and warm, it boosts qi, nourishes blood, and harmonizes the spleen and stomach.
Gan Cao: Sweet and neutral, it harmonizes the formula, eases urgency, and enhances the herbs’ effects.
This formula clears heat and phlegm while nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, also supporting the spleen and stomach for a well-rounded effect.
Pathogenesis Analysis of Qing Fei Tang
Qing Fei Tang targets lung heat that depletes yin fluids, impairs lung qi circulation, and disrupts the lungs’ descending function. Factors like external pathogens, poor diet, or emotional stress can cause lung heat, which over time burns lung yin, leading to yin deficiency and internal dryness.
Lung heat thickens fluids into sticky, yellow phlegm that’s hard to cough up. Heat also blocks qi flow, worsening cough and wheezing. Yin deficiency leaves the lungs undernourished, causing dry mouth, sore throat, or even blood-tinged phlegm.
Prolonged lung heat can affect other organs, like causing heart fire or spleen dampness, further complicating the condition. Qing Fei Tang clears heat and phlegm, nourishes yin, and balances organ functions to treat both symptoms and root causes.
Main Effects of Qing Fei Tang: Clear Lung Heat, Nourish Yin, Stop Cough
Qing Fei Tang’s primary effects are clearing lung heat, dissolving phlegm, nourishing yin, and stopping cough. It is suitable for:
Cough with Excessive Phlegm: Yellow, thick, sticky phlegm that’s hard to cough up.
Dry Mouth and Throat: Caused by lung heat depleting fluids, leading to thirst.
Red Tongue with Yellow Coating: Red tongue and greasy yellow coating, indicating lung heat.
Thin, Rapid Pulse: Suggests internal heat and yin deficiency.
It is used for:
Bronchitis: Acute or chronic, with cough, phlegm, wheezing, and thick yellow phlegm.
Bronchiectasis: Cough, phlegm, or blood-tinged sputum with thick yellow phlegm.
Pneumonia: Recovery phase with lingering cough, phlegm, and dry mouth/throat but improved strength.
Modern Applications
In modern medicine, Qing Fei Tang extends beyond traditional respiratory conditions and can be adapted for other uses:
Allergic Rhinitis: For lung heat-related cases, adding Xin Yi or Cang Er Zi enhances nasal clearance and wind dispersion.
Chronic Pharyngitis: For lung yin deficiency, adding Xuan Shen or Yu Zhu boosts yin nourishment and moistening.
Acne: For lung heat-related acne, adding Huang Lian or Ban Lan Gen strengthens heat-clearing and detoxifying effects.
Pharmacological studies show Qing Fei Tang has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, cough-suppressing, and phlegm-clearing effects, helping reduce airway inflammation, clear sputum, and ease cough.
Precautions
When using Qing Fei Tang, keep the following in mind:
Pattern Differentiation: It is for lung heat cough. Consult a Chinese medicine practitioner for proper diagnosis.
Constitution Considerations: Its cooling nature requires caution in those with cold constitutions or weak spleen-stomach function to avoid digestive harm.
Dietary Restrictions: Avoid spicy, greasy, or overly nourishing foods during treatment to support the formula’s effects.
Adverse Reactions: Some may experience mild diarrhea or bloating. Stop use and consult a practitioner if symptoms are severe.
Conclusion
Qing Fei Tang is a trusted Chinese medicine formula for lung heat cough, offering heat-clearing, phlegm-dissolving, and yin-nourishing benefits. Its modern applications continue to grow, providing a valuable option for respiratory and related conditions. However, it should be used under a practitioner’s guidance, with attention to individual constitution and dietary precautions, to ensure safe and effective results.
