Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang清燥救肺汤

Eliminate Dryness and Rescue the Lung Decoction

Treating Dryness 治燥剂Gently Disperse External Dryness 轻宣外燥

Ingredients9 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

桑Sang Ye桑叶经霜者，去枝、梗，净叶Mori Folium9g君 ChiefLightly clears dryness-heat from the Lung without further drying it 石Shi Gao石膏煅Gypsum Fibrosum8g臣 DeputyClears the heat behind the dryness, in a dose small enough not to chill the middle 甘Gan Cao甘草Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma3g佐使 Assistant–EnvoyAugments qi, moistens the Lung and harmonizes cold with rich 人Ren Shen人参Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma2g佐 AssistantAugments the qi worn down by coughing, so fluids can be produced again

胡胡麻仁炒，研3g佐 Assistant

真真阿胶3g佐 Assistant

麦Mai Men Dong麦门冬去心Ophiopogonis Radix4g臣 DeputyMoistens the Lung and restores the fluids dryness has taken 杏杏仁泡，去皮尖，炒黄2g佐 Assistant 枇Pi Pa Ye枇杷叶一片，刷去毛，蜜涂，炙黄Eriobotryae Folium3g佐 AssistantHoney-roasted, it clears the Lung and turns rebellious qi downward

Indications

Clears dryness-heat and moistens the LungAugments qi and nourishes yinDirects Lung qi downward to stop cough

Warm dryness injuring the Lung with damage to both qi and yin. Dryness has consumed the fluids the Lung needs to descend, and the effort of coughing has worn down the qi, so a single strategy of clearing or of moistening is not enough — the formula does three things at once.

Clinical Manifestations

Dry cough with no sputum or scanty sticky sputum
Dry nose, throat and lips
Hoarseness or loss of voice
Autumn-dryness cough with headache and fever
Persistent dry cough after a febrile illness
Chest discomfort with breathlessness and thirst

TongueDry red tongue with little coating

PulseDeficient, large and rapid

Health Categories

Respiratory Health

Modern Applications

Dry cough Bronchitis Laryngitis Hoarseness Post-pneumonia cough Dry mucous membranes

Common adjustments

Phlegm now present and hard to raise — add Chuan Bei Mu 川贝母 and Gua Lou 瓜蒌
Blood-streaked sputum — add Bai Mao Gen 白茅根 and Xian He Cao 仙鹤草
Heat marked, with high fever and heavy thirst — increase the Shi Gao 石膏 and add Zhi Mu 知母
Yin depletion prominent, tongue peeled — add Bei Sha Shen 北沙参 and Yu Zhu 玉竹

Contraindications

This is for warm dryness, not cool dryness, which presents with chills and a thin white coating and needs warming instead. It is also wrong for damp-phlegm cough with abundant sputum. Shi Gao and the rich moistening herbs make it unsuitable for Spleen-deficient cold patterns with loose stools and poor appetite.

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

Pregnancy

Generally compatible under practitioner supervision — the formula is moistening rather than purgative, and E Jiao is often used in pregnancy. Shi Gao is markedly cold, so it should be prescribed rather than self-selected, and reduced or omitted where there is no clear heat.

References

Source Yi Men Fa Lü 《医门法律》 · Qing

「诸气膹郁之属于肺者，属于肺之燥也；诸痿喘呕之属于上者，亦属于肺之燥也。」
— 《医门法律·秋燥论》(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.