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Xiao Chai Hu Tang: A classic Chinese medicine prescription for resolving Shaoyang syndrome

Writer's picture: Hongji MedicalHongji Medical

Xiao Cha Hu Tang comes from the ancient medical book "Shang Han Za Bing Lun", which is a classic prescription in traditional Chinese medicine. It is mainly used to treat Shaoyang disease. Shaoyang disease refers to the pathological state in which external pathogens invade the Shaoyang meridians, causing gallbladder fire to accumulate in the body, the arteries to stagnate, and the positive and negative qi to fight against each other.


Xiao Cha Hu Tang, as a representative prescription for treating Shaoyang disease, has the effects of harmonizing the inside and the outside, unblocking liver qi, and relieving depression.


Xiao Chaihu Tang
小柴胡湯

Formula composition


Xiao Chaihu Tang is composed of the following seven herbs:

  1. Bupleurum (half a pound, 24g): Soothes the liver and relieves depression, harmonizes the Shaoyang.

  2. Scutellaria baicalensis (3 liang, 9 g): clears away heat, relieves fire, dries dampness and stops dysentery.

  3. Ginseng (3 liang, 9g): replenishes Qi and blood, strengthens the spleen and stomach.

  4. Licorice (3 liang, roasted, 9 g): harmonizes the medicinal properties and relieves side effects.

  5. Pinellia (half a liter, washed, 9g): dries dampness and resolves phlegm, relieves nausea and stops vomiting.

  6. Ginger (3 liang, cut, 9g): Disperses the exterior, warms the middle and stops vomiting.

  7. Jujube (12 pieces, split, 4 pieces): nourishes the spleen and stomach, and alleviates the medicinal properties.


Xiao Chaihu Tang
小柴胡湯

Formula composition explanation


  1. Bupleurum : Bupleurum is the main ingredient of Xiao Chaihu Decoction, which has the effects of soothing the liver and relieving depression, and harmonizing the Shaoyang meridian. Bupleurum can relieve liver qi stagnation, make the liver qi smooth, and the spleen and stomach smooth.

  2. Scutellaria baicalensis : Scutellaria baicalensis is bitter and cold in taste. It enters the lung, gallbladder, and stomach meridians and has the effects of clearing away heat and purging fire, drying dampness and stopping dysentery. Scutellaria baicalensis can clear away heat and purge fire, relieve the dampness and heat stagnation in the gallbladder meridian, and relieve the symptoms of alternating cold and heat.

  3. Ginseng : Ginseng is warm in nature and sweet in taste. It has the effects of replenishing qi and blood, strengthening the spleen and stomach, and calming the mind. Ginseng can replenish positive energy, improve the body's resistance, and resist the invasion of external evils.

  4. Licorice : Licorice is sweet and mild in nature, and has the function of harmonizing the properties of medicines and alleviating side effects. Licorice can harmonize the properties of medicines, prevent the coldness from excessively damaging the spleen and stomach, and reduce the side effects of medicines.

  5. Pinellia : Pinellia is pungent and bitter in taste, slightly warm in nature, and enters the spleen and stomach meridians. It has the effects of drying dampness and resolving phlegm, and relieving nausea and vomiting. Pinellia can effectively relieve the symptoms of bitter fullness in the chest and ribs, nausea and vomiting, bitter mouth and dry throat caused by Shaoyang disease.

  6. Ginger : Ginger is pungent and warm in taste, and has the effects of dispersing and relieving exterior symptoms, warming the middle and stopping vomiting, and harmonizing the middle and relieving adverse reactions. Ginger can help Bupleurum, Scutellaria and other herbs to better relieve the stagnation and heat of the Shaoyang Meridian and harmonize the liver and spleen qi.

  7. Jujube : Jujube is sweet and warm in nature. It enters the spleen and stomach meridians, can nourish the spleen and stomach, alleviate the properties of the medicine, make the medicine mild, and avoid the damage to the spleen and stomach caused by coldness.




Main efficacy


Xiao Cha Hu Tang is mainly used to treat Shaoyang disease . Shaoyang disease is usually caused by external pathogens invading the body, resulting in poor Qi flow in the body, especially affecting the liver and gallbladder functions.


Typical symptoms of this disease include alternating hot and cold, feeling bloated in the chest and under the ribs, loss of appetite, irritability, easy vomiting, bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, and dizziness .


Xiao Cha Hu Tang works by regulating the Qi of Shaoyang and coordinating the functions of the liver and spleen, thereby achieving a therapeutic effect. Specifically, Xiao Chaihu Tang can reduce fever, regulate the activities of the liver and gallbladder, regulate the central nervous system, regulate gastrointestinal motility, and enhance immune function.


Xiao Chaihu Tang
小柴胡湯

Prescription additions and subtractions


According to different symptoms, Xiao Cha Hu Tang can be added or subtracted:

  • Chest discomfort but not nausea : remove the pinellia and ginseng and add cucurbitacin to clear away heat, regulate qi and relax the chest.

  • Thirst : Remove the Pinellia and add Radix Trichosanthis to quench thirst and promote salivation.

  • Abdominal pain : remove Scutellaria baicalensis and add Paeonia lactiflora to soften the liver and relieve acute pain.

  • Hard lumps in the abdomen : remove the dates and add oysters to soften and disperse the lumps.

  • Palpitations in the lower part of the heart and difficulty urinating : remove the Scutellaria baicalensis and add Poria cocos to promote diuresis and calm the mind.

  • No thirst, but slight fever : remove the ginseng and add cinnamon twig to relieve the symptoms.

  • Cough : Remove ginseng, jujube, and ginger, and add schisandra chinensis and dried ginger to warm the lungs and relieve cough.



Modern pharmacology research


Xiao Cha Hu Tang can also be used to treat the following modern diseases:

  • Colds and influenza : Xiao Chaihu Decoction has an antipyretic effect and can effectively relieve cold and flu symptoms.

  • Chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis : Xiao Chaihu Decoction has a liver-protecting effect and can reduce liver damage.

  • Acute and chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis : Xiao Chaihu Decoction can promote bile secretion and relieve the symptoms of cholecystitis and cholelithiasis.

  • Acute pancreatitis, pleurisy, otitis media : Xiao Chaihu Decoction has anti-inflammatory effects and can relieve the symptoms of these inflammatory diseases.

  • Puerperal fever, acute mastitis, orchitis : Xiao Chaihu Decoction has antibacterial effects and can effectively treat these infectious diseases.

  • Bile reflux gastritis, gastric ulcer : Xiao Chaihu Decoction can harmonize the liver and stomach, and relieve the symptoms of bile reflux gastritis and gastric ulcer.


Although Xiao Chai Hu Tang is a traditional Chinese medicine, modern scientific research has found that it has multiple pharmacological effects. First, it has a good antipyretic effect. The three ingredients, bupleurum, scutellaria and ginger, can help the body cool down. Bupleurum can directly reduce fever, scutellaria can relieve fever, and ginger dissipates heat by promoting sweating1.


Secondly, Xiao Chaihu Tang has a protective effect on the liver. Studies have shown that the three ingredients of Bupleurum, Pinellia and Scutellaria can fight liver damage, especially for viral hepatitis. They can help the liver resist viral invasion, thereby protecting the health of the liver2.


Finally, Xiao Chaihu Tang also has a variety of other beneficial pharmacological effects. It can regulate the immune system, stimulate the function of T cells, and improve the production of antibodies.


In addition, it has anti-pathogen, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. Scutellaria has antibacterial effects, while Bupleurum can inhibit influenza virus, tuberculosis and phytoproteus. Xiao Chaihu Tang can also promote the function of pituitary and adrenal cortex hormones and enhance the secretion of glucocorticoids, thereby indirectly exerting anti-inflammatory effects. More interestingly, Xiao Chaihu Tang also shows anti-tumor potential and has an inhibitory effect on many cancer cell lines.




Diet therapy combined with adjunctive therapy


When using Xiao Cha Hu Tang, you can use some dietary therapy to assist in the treatment:

  1. Ginger and jujube tea : Boil ginger and jujube in water, which has the effect of warming the middle and dispelling cold, and nourishing the spleen and stomach. It is suitable for patients with alternating cold and heat and weak spleen and stomach.

  2. Barley porridge : Barley has the effect of strengthening the spleen and removing dampness, and is suitable for patients with internal dampness and heat.

  3. Lotus seed and lily soup : Lotus seeds and lilies have the effects of nourishing the heart and calming the mind, moistening the lungs and relieving cough. It is suitable for patients with nausea, vomiting, bitter mouth and dry throat.

  4. Mung bean soup : Mung bean has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying, and is suitable for patients with hot constitution.


Precautions and side effects

Long-term use of Xiao Chaihu Tang may cause headaches, dizziness, gum bleeding, pneumonia and other side effects. People with liver yang hyperactivity, high blood pressure, and yin deficiency with hematemesis should use it with caution. Chaihu ascends and disperses, while Huangqin and Banxia are dry in nature, so they are contraindicated for people with yin deficiency and blood deficiency.


Conclusion

As a classic prescription for resolving Shaoyang in traditional Chinese medicine, Xiao Chaihu Tang has a wide range of applications and significant therapeutic effects. Through a detailed introduction to its composition, efficacy, addition and subtraction methods, and modern pharmacological research, it can be seen that Xiao Chaihu Tang plays an important role in traditional Chinese medicine treatment.


References

  1. International Journal of Medical Sciences

  2. Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform

  3. Frontiers

  4. Nature

  5. Baidu Academic

  6. BioMed Central

  7. Baidu Library

  8. Cochrane Library

  9. Baidu Academic

  10. ScienceDirect.com

  11. Frontiers

  12. Sage Journals

  13. Wiley Online Library

  14. PLOS

  15. Cell Press

  16. National Institutes of Health (NIH)

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