Qing Xin Li Ge Tang: A Classic Remedy for Throat Pain and Heat Relief
Hongji Medical- 10 hours ago
- 3 min read
In changing weather and busy lifestyles, people are prone to catching wind-heat, which, combined with poor diet, can build up internal heat and toxins. This often leads to sore throat, thick phlegm, and discomfort.
Qing Xin Li Ge Tang, a traditional Chinese herbal formula, is designed to clear wind-heat, soothe the throat, and detoxify, effectively relieving these symptoms.
Qing Xin Li Ge Tang comes from Volume 61 of Qixiao Liangfang (Remarkably Effective Formulas), a significant Ming Dynasty medical text that compiles clinically proven formulas.
It was originally used to treat heat accumulation in the heart, spleen, lungs, and stomach, causing sore throat, swollen cheeks, and tongue pain.
Formula Explanation of Qing Xin Li Ge Tang
Qing Xin Li Ge Tang has a complex but well-balanced composition, reflecting the Chinese medicine principle of “monarch, minister, assistant, and envoy”:
Monarch Herbs: Huang Qin, Huang Lian. Huang Qin clears heat, dries dampness, and detoxifies; Huang Lian clears heat, dries dampness, detoxifies, stops bleeding, heals sores, and relieves diarrhea. Together, they directly clear heart and stomach heat, addressing the root of internal toxins.
Supporting Herbs: Zhi Zi, Lian Qiao, Niu Bang Zi. Zhi Zi stops bleeding, clears heat, detoxifies, cools blood, and promotes urination; Lian Qiao clears heat, disperses wind-heat, detoxifies, reduces swelling, and stops vomiting; Niu Bang Zi disperses wind-heat, promotes sweating, clears lung heat, soothes the throat, and reduces swelling. These herbs enhance the monarch herbs’ heat-clearing and detoxifying effects.
Assistant Herbs: Fang Feng, Jing Jie, Bo He, Jie Geng, Xuan Shen, Da Huang, Mang Xiao. These herbs work together to clear heat and toxins while also dispersing wind, relieving surface symptoms, soothing the throat, and reducing swelling, addressing various aspects of the condition for comprehensive relief.
Envoy Herb: Gan Cao. Gan Cao harmonizes the formula, ensuring all herbs work together smoothly.
Pathogenesis Analysis of Qing Xin Li Ge Tang
To understand how Qing Xin Li Ge Tang works, we need to examine its targeted pathogenesis from a Chinese medicine perspective. It addresses three key issues: external wind-heat invasion, internal heat accumulation, and throat obstruction.
External Wind-Heat Invasion
Wind-heat pathogens enter the body, affecting the surface and causing fever, aversion to wind, and headaches. This creates a surface condition as the body’s defensive qi fights the pathogen. Herbs like Fang Feng, Jing Jie, and Bo He disperse wind-heat, clear surface symptoms, and restore normal surface function.
Internal Heat Accumulation
If wind-heat isn’t cleared promptly, it can penetrate deeper, accumulating in the heart, spleen, lungs, and stomach. This internal heat causes dry mouth, constipation, and irritability. Huang Qin, Huang Lian, Zhi Zi, and Lian Qiao clear this heat and detoxify, relieving internal heat symptoms.
Throat Obstruction
Heat accumulation in the heart, spleen, lungs, and stomach can rise, causing sore throat and thick phlegm. Herbs like Jie Geng and Niu Bang Zi open the lungs, soothe the throat, clear phlegm, and reduce swelling. Heat-clearing herbs also help reduce throat inflammation, aiding recovery.
Main Effects of Qing Xin Li Ge Tang
Qing Xin Li Ge Tang treats heat accumulation in the heart, spleen, lungs, and stomach, leading to sore throat, swollen cheeks, and tongue pain. It excels at clearing heat, soothing the throat, and relieving surface symptoms. It is commonly used for sore throat, thick phlegm, and breathing difficulties.
The formula offers the following key effects:
Dispersing Wind and Surface Symptoms: Clears wind-heat to relieve surface symptoms.
Clearing Heat and Detoxifying: Removes internal heat and toxins.
Soothing the Throat and Reducing Swelling: Eases throat pain and swelling.
Modern Applications
Qing Xin Li Ge Tang remains valuable in modern medicine, though its pharmacological mechanisms are still being studied. Based on clinical experience, it supports treatment of:
Acute Tonsillitis: Clears heat and reduces inflammation for sore throat and fever.
Acute Pharyngitis: Moistens dryness and relieves throat pain.
Upper Respiratory Infections: Disperses wind, clears heat, and reduces cough and phlegm.
Precautions
When using Qing Xin Li Ge Tang, keep the following in mind:
Pattern Differentiation: Chinese medicine emphasizes pattern-based treatment. Consult a practitioner to confirm suitability for wind-heat with internal heat and excess patterns.
Caution for Weak Spleen-Stomach: Its purging effect requires caution in those with weak spleen or stomach function.
Dietary Guidelines: Maintain a light diet, avoiding spicy or irritating foods during treatment.
Conclusion
Qing Xin Li Ge Tang, a classic formula from Qixiao Liangfang, remains valuable today. By understanding its background, composition, indications, effects, and precautions, we can use this ancient wisdom to improve health and quality of life, especially for throat pain and heat-related conditions.
