Shi Liu Wei Liu Qi Yin: Strengthening Vitality and Relieving Swelling
Hongji Medical- May 17
- 4 min read
In Chinese medicine, treating complex diseases often involves “supporting the body’s vitality while expelling pathogens.” This means boosting the body’s resistance and clearing harmful factors. Shi Liu Wei Liu Qi Yin is a classic formula that embodies this approach. With its diverse ingredients and comprehensive effects, it is widely used to treat swelling and pain caused by imbalanced qi and blood or external pathogenic invasions.
Shi Liu Wei Liu Qi Yin comes from the Ming Dynasty physician Wang Ji’s book Yuji Weiyi (Subtle Meanings of the Jade Machine), a widely respected empirical formula. Yuji Weiyi is a significant medical text that compiles Wang Ji’s clinical experiences and unique insights.
Historically, this formula was used to treat conditions like liver qi stagnation, blood stasis, or invasions of wind, cold, and dampness, leading to qi and blood disharmony, resulting in painless, unchanged-color swellings.
Formula Explanation of Shi Liu Wei Liu Qi Yin
Shi Liu Wei Liu Qi Yin has a complex composition, reflecting the Chinese medicine principle of “monarch, minister, assistant, and envoy”:
Monarch Herbs: Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, Bai Shao. Dang Gui promotes blood flow, regulates menstruation, and nourishes blood; Chuan Xiong activates blood, moves qi, and relieves pain; Bai Shao nourishes blood, softens the liver, and eases pain. Together, they promote blood flow, resolve stasis, nourish blood, and relieve pain, addressing qi and blood disharmony.
Supporting Herbs: Mu Xiang, Zhi Qiao, Hou Po. Mu Xiang moves qi, relieves pain, and supports digestion; Zhi Qiao regulates qi, opens the chest, and clears phlegm; Hou Po moves qi, reduces bloating, and stops diarrhea.
Assistant Herbs: Ren Shen, Huang Qi, Gan Cao, Zi Su Ye, Gui Zhi, Fang Feng, Bai Zhi, Bing Lang, Jie Geng.
Envoy Herb: None specifically designated; the herbs work together to support vitality, expel pathogens, move qi, and activate blood.
Pathogenesis Analysis of Shi Liu Wei Liu Qi Yin
Shi Liu Wei Liu Qi Yin addresses a complex pathogenesis involving deficient vitality combined with qi stagnation, blood stasis, and external pathogenic invasions, ultimately causing swelling and pain.
Deficient Vitality and Internal Pathogens
Low vitality is the root of this condition. Vitality defends against external pathogens and maintains yin-yang balance. When vitality is weak, the body’s resistance drops, making it prone to external invasions or internal issues like poor qi and blood flow, leading to phlegm and stasis.
Qi Stagnation, Blood Stasis, and Blocked Channels
Emotional stress or poor diet can cause liver qi stagnation, disrupting qi flow. Since qi guides blood, stagnant qi leads to blood stasis, causing localized swelling and pain. Channels, which carry qi and blood, become blocked by stasis, worsening the condition and creating a vicious cycle.
External Pathogenic Invasions Worsening the Condition
External pathogens like wind, cold, and dampness invade the body, combining with internal qi, blood, phlegm, or stasis, aggravating the condition. Wind causes shifting pain; cold leads to hard, intense pain; dampness causes heavy, lingering swelling.
Main Effects of Shi Liu Wei Liu Qi Yin
Shi Liu Wei Liu Qi Yin is primarily used to treat swellings and pain caused by qi and blood disharmony or external pathogenic invasions. These include liver qi stagnation-related swellings, various sores, lymphatic tuberculosis, and thyroid tumors.
It also supports treatment of early breast cancer, scrofula, emotionally triggered swellings, and lingering toxins post-rash. Generally, it is suitable for swelling and pain with weak vitality due to qi and blood stasis or external invasions.
The formula offers the following key effects:
Strengthening Vitality: Boosts qi and blood, enhancing the body’s resistance.
Promoting Blood Flow and Resolving Stasis: Improves circulation, reduces stasis, and relieves swelling and pain.
Moving Qi and Relieving Pain: Smooths qi flow, easing bloating and pain from stagnation.
Expelling Surface Pathogens: Clears wind, cold, and dampness from the body’s surface.
Modern Applications
Modern research shows that Shi Liu Wei Liu Qi Yin’s ingredients support immunity, circulation, and inflammation reduction, suggesting potential modern uses:
Breast Conditions: Helps with fibrocystic breast disease, mastitis, and early breast cancer by reducing swelling and pain.
Lymphatic Disorders: Supports neck lymph node enlargement and lymphatic tuberculosis by reducing inflammation and swellings.
Skin Conditions: Treats unexplained swellings, abscesses, or sores by clearing heat, detoxifying, and relieving pain.
Joint Disorders: Aids in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or other joint swelling and pain.
Precautions
When using Shi Liu Wei Liu Qi Yin, keep the following in mind:
Pattern Differentiation: Chinese medicine emphasizes pattern-based treatment. Consult a Chinese medicine practitioner to confirm suitability.
Caution for Pregnant Women or Heavy Menstruation: The formula’s blood-activating properties require caution in pregnancy or excessive menstrual bleeding.
Caution in Wind-Cold Common Cold: Its wind-dispersing properties may not suit wind-cold common cold cases.
Use Under Guidance: Due to its complex composition and potent effects, it should not be taken without medical advice.
Conclusion
Shi Liu Wei Liu Qi Yin is a brilliantly crafted, versatile formula historically used for swelling and pain, with modern research confirming its broad pharmacological benefits. Its ability to strengthen vitality, clear pathogens, and restore balance highlights the depth of Chinese medicine’s approach to complex conditions.
