Gua Lou Xie Bai Ban Xia Tang瓜蒌薤白半夏汤
Trichosanthes, Chinese Chive and Pinellia Decoction
Ingredients4 herbs
Indications
Chest painful obstruction in which phlegm-turbidity has grown dense. Chest yang remains blocked as in the parent pattern, but the fluids have congealed to the point that lying down is impossible and the pain penetrates to the back.
Clinical Manifestations
- Chest pain radiating through to the back
- Inability to lie flat because of chest oppression
- Copious sticky sputum with wheezing
- Nausea or retching alongside chest tightness
Health Categories
Modern Applications
Common adjustments
- Fullness knotted below the heart with qi surging upward — add Zhi Shi 枳实, Hou Po 厚朴 and Gui Zhi 桂枝
- Phlegm has turned yellow with heat signs — add Huang Lian 黄连 and Zhu Ru 竹茹, and reduce the warming herbs
- Fixed stabbing pain with blood stasis — add Dan Shen 丹参 and Yan Hu Suo 延胡索
- Marked cold in the chest — add Gui Zhi 桂枝 and Gan Jiang 干姜
Contraindications
Chest pain with inability to lie flat can indicate heart failure or another serious cardiac or respiratory condition, and needs urgent conventional assessment. Only processed Ban Xia may be used; the raw herb is toxic. The classical preparation uses rice wine, so it is unsuitable for anyone avoiding alcohol. Not for dry cough from yin deficiency.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.
Pregnancy
Not appropriate in pregnancy. It contains Ban Xia, traditionally restricted in pregnancy, and is classically decocted in rice wine. Chest pain or breathlessness in pregnancy is a reason for urgent conventional assessment.
Related Formulas
References
Source Jin Gui Yao Lue 《金匮要略》 · Eastern Han
「胸痹不得卧，心痛彻背者，栝蒌薤白半夏汤主之。」
- Classical source (public domain), cited in the source-quote section.
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— pattern analysis cross-checked.
Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.