Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin: A Time-Tested Formula for Calming the Mind and Body
Hongji Medical- 10 hours ago
- 4 min read
For over a thousand years, Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin, a formula from the Song Dynasty’s Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang, has been widely used to balance the body and mind. More than just a remedy, it reflects the ancient wisdom of Chinese medicine and a deep understanding of health.
Also known as Lotus Seed Clear Heart Drink, this formula appears in Volume 5 of Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang, the first official Chinese pharmacopeia, which compiles clinically proven formulas.
It was originally used to treat conditions caused by excessive heart heat and qi-yin deficiency, such as irritability, cloudy urine, painful urination, night sweats, and fatigue. The text notes its ability to address issues from emotional stress, overindulgence, or chronic illness, including symptoms like dry mouth, insomnia, and urinary or reproductive problems.
Ancient practitioners praised its ability to “clear the heart, nourish the spirit, strengthen vitality, moisten the gut, and balance qi and blood,” describing it as gentle and balanced.
Formula Explanation of Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin
Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin’s composition follows the Chinese medicine principle of “monarch, minister, assistant, and envoy” for optimal therapeutic effect:
Monarch Herb: Shi Lian Rou (lotus seed flesh). Shi Lian Rou calms the heart, clears heat, and drains dampness, targeting excessive heart heat as the primary herb.
Supporting Herbs: Huang Qin, Di Gu Pi. Huang Qin clears heat and dries dampness, while Di Gu Pi enhances Shi Lian Rou’s heat-clearing effects, strengthening the formula’s ability to reduce heat.
Assistant Herbs: Fu Ling, Che Qian Zi, Ren Shen, Huang Qi, Mai Men Dong. Fu Ling and Che Qian Zi drain damp-heat; Ren Shen and Huang Qi boost qi and vitality; Mai Men Dong clears heart heat and nourishes yin. Together, these herbs clear heat while supporting qi and yin for a comprehensive effect.
Pathogenesis Analysis of Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin
To understand how Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin works, we need to explore its targeted pathogenesis from a Chinese medicine perspective.
Pathogenesis refers to the mechanisms and causes of disease, and understanding it helps ensure precise treatment. The formula addresses three key issues: excessive heart fire, heart-kidney disharmony, and damp-heat in the lower body.
Excessive Heart Fire
Modern lifestyles, with high stress and emotional ups and downs, can ignite heart fire, disturbing the mind and causing irritability, insomnia, and mouth sores. Excessive heart fire also depletes heart yin, throwing off the body’s yin-yang balance. The formula’s heat-clearing herbs calm heart fire, stabilize the mind, and relieve these symptoms.
Heart-Kidney Disharmony
In Chinese medicine, the heart (fire, upper body) and kidneys (water, lower body) work together: heart fire warms kidney water, and kidney water cools heart fire, maintaining balance. When heart fire is too strong or kidney yin is deficient, this balance breaks, leading to palpitations, insomnia, and weak knees or lower back. The formula’s yin-nourishing herbs restore kidney yin, reconnecting heart and kidneys to restore harmony.
Damp-Heat in the Lower Body
Poor diet or environmental factors can cause damp-heat to build up and settle in the lower body, affecting the urinary and reproductive systems. This leads to scanty, painful urination, abnormal vaginal discharge, or urinary discomfort. The formula’s damp-draining herbs clear this damp-heat, while also addressing heart fire that may shift downward, causing urinary pain.
Main Effects of Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin
Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin primarily targets excessive heart fire, qi-yin deficiency, and damp-heat in the lower body. It affects the lung (22%), heart (20%), spleen (14%), kidney (11%), and stomach (11%) channels, showing its role in clearing heart fire while supporting other organs.
Symptoms include seminal emission, penile pain or swelling, painful urination, cloudy urine, vaginal bleeding or discharge, and worsening with fatigue, as well as kidney yin deficiency symptoms like dry mouth, irritability, and low-grade fever. Specific symptoms include:
Rapid pulse
Dry tongue coating, red tongue tip or edges
Painful urination, testicular pain/swelling, penile pain/itching
Dry mouth, thirst, palpitations, mouth sores, insomnia, eyelid redness, dry throat, difficulty swallowing, low-grade fever, irritability, excessive phlegm, bitter taste, diarrhea, urination difficulty, abnormal discharge, or body swelling
The formula’s main effects are to “clear heart fire, boost qi and yin, and resolve cloudy urine,” with the following benefits:
Clearing Heart Fire: Calms irritability and improves sleep.
Boosting Qi and Yin: Restores energy and fluids, strengthening resistance.
Draining Damp and Resolving Cloudy Urine: Clears damp-heat to improve urinary and reproductive health.
Modern Applications
Modern research confirms Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin’s value in treating conditions involving chronic deficiency, lingering pathogens, and damp-heat, such as:
Chronic nephritis, pyelonephritis
Chronic prostatitis, urethral syndrome
Functional uterine bleeding
Neurasthenia, myocarditis
Diabetes with thirst
Amenorrhea, nocturnal emission, edema, palpitations
It is used clinically for seminal emission, cloudy urine, vaginal bleeding/discharge, symptoms triggered by exertion, irritability, fever, and dry mouth.
Precautions
When using Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin, keep the following in mind:
Pattern Differentiation: This formula targets heart fire, qi-yin deficiency, and damp-heat. Consult a Chinese medicine practitioner to confirm suitability.
Comparison with Dao Chi San: Both formulas clear heart heat and promote urination, but Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin is stronger in clearing heart fire and draining dampness, with added qi-boosting effects, making it ideal for heart fire with qi-yin deficiency and damp-heat. Dao Chi San is milder and lacks qi-boosting, used for heart heat or heat shifting to the small intestine.
Cooling Nature: The formula is cooling, so those with cold constitutions should use it cautiously.
Dietary Guidelines: Maintain a light diet, avoiding spicy foods. Seek medical attention if discomfort occurs.
Conclusion
Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin, a classic formula from Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang, remains highly valuable today. By understanding its background, composition, indications, effects, and precautions, we can harness this ancient wisdom to improve health and quality of life, particularly for stress-related and urinary conditions.
