Qing Luo Yin Jia Gan Jie Tian Xing Ren Mai Dong Tang清络饮加甘桔甜杏仁麦冬汤

Clear the Collaterals Beverage plus Licorice, Platycodon, Sweet Apricot Kernel and Ophiopogon

Dispelling Summer-Heat 祛暑剂Clear Summer-Heat 清暑热

Ingredients11 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

鲜Xian Jin Yin Hua鲜金银花Lonicerae Japonicae Flos6 g君 ChiefVents summer-heat out of the Lung qi level 西Xi Gua Cui Yi西瓜翠衣Citrulli Exocarpium6 g君 ChiefClears summer-heat and restores fluids 桔Jie Geng桔梗Platycodonis Radix6 g臣 DeputyOpens and lifts Lung qi, eases the throat

甜Tian Xing Ren甜杏仁Armeniacae Semen Dulce6 g臣 DeputyDirects Lung qi downward and moistens, stopping a dry cough

鲜Xian Bian Dou Hua鲜扁豆花Lablab Flos6 g臣 DeputyResolves summer-heat and settles the middle 丝Si Gua Pi丝瓜皮Luffae Exocarpium6 g臣 DeputyFrees the Lung collaterals so heat disperses 麦Mai Men Dong麦门冬Ophiopogonis Radix9 g佐 AssistantMoistens the Lung and restores the fluids heat has consumed 知Zhi Mu知母Anemarrhenae Rhizoma9 g佐 AssistantClears Lung and Stomach heat while protecting fluids 鲜Xian He Ye Bian鲜荷叶边Nelumbinis Folium (margin)6 g佐 AssistantScatters summer-heat and raises the clear yang

鲜Xian Zhu Ye Xin鲜竹叶心Bambusae Folium (tender tips)6 g佐 AssistantClears Heart heat and relieves restlessness

甘Gan Cao甘草Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma3 g使 EnvoyEases the throat, moderates and harmonizes the other ingredients

Indications

Clears summer-heat from the LungRestores the Lung's ascending and descendingMoistens dryness and stops a dry cough

Summer-heat in the Lung qi level that has begun to dry the fluids. The heat is still shallow, but it has disordered the Lung's descent, producing a bare, unproductive cough.

Clinical Manifestations

Dry summer cough with no phlegm
A clear, high-pitched cough after a heat spell
Dry throat and hoarse voice in hot weather
Residual heat with a tickling cough
Post-viral dry cough in the summer months

TongueRed with a thin dry coating

PulseRapid

Health Categories

Respiratory HealthEnergy & FatigueCold & Flu Relief

Modern Applications

Dry cough Post-viral cough Pharyngitis Bronchial irritation Heat exhaustion

Common adjustments

Throat sore as well as dry — add Niu Bang Zi 牛蒡子 or Lian Qiao 连翘
Fluids clearly depleted, tongue dry and peeled — add Sha Shen Bei Sha Shen and Lu Gen 芦根
Cough with sticky phlegm appearing — add Gua Lou Pi 瓜蒌皮; the formula is otherwise for a dry cough only

Contraindications

Not for a wet, productive or rattling cough — the moistening ingredients would hold phlegm in place. Not for cough with chills and an unopened exterior, and not a substitute for assessment when cough is accompanied by breathlessness, chest pain or blood.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Generally compatible in pregnancy — the ingredients are light and moistening; practitioner judgment applies, and a persistent cough in pregnancy should be assessed medically.

References

Source Wen Bing Tiao Bian 《温病条辨》 · Qing

「手太阴暑温，但咳无痰，咳声清高者，清络饮加甘草、桔梗、甜杏仁、麦冬、知母主之。」
— 《温病条辨》(classical source, public domain)

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.