Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang犀角地黄汤
Rhinoceros Horn and Rehmannia Decoction
Ingredients4 herbs
Indications
Heat entering the blood levelwith three faces: heat harassing the Heart spirit, heat forcing blood out of its vessels, and static blood formed from what has spilled. All three are treated by cooling the blood rather than by stopping the bleeding directly.
Clinical Manifestations
- Bleeding from heat: nosebleed, coughing or vomiting blood, blood in stool or urine
- Dark purple macules and rashes in a febrile illness
- Fever with delirium and a crimson tongue
- Restless agitation, forgetfulness or manic behaviour with heat in the blood
- Severe skin eruptions with heat toxicity
Health Categories
Modern Applications
Common adjustments
- Vomiting blood — add Ce Bai Ye 侧柏叶 and Bai Mao Gen 白茅根
- Blood in urine — add Xiao Ji and Bai Mao Gen 白茅根
- Macules dense and dark — add Zi Cao 紫草 and Da Qing Ye 大青叶
- Marked qi-level heat as well — combine with a Bai Hu Tang strategy to clear qi and blood together
Contraindications
Not for bleeding from yang deficiency or Spleen failing to hold blood, where the blood is pale and the person is cold — cooling would deepen the problem. Not for Spleen and Stomach deficiency cold with loose stools.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.
Pregnancy
Contraindicated in pregnancy unless a practitioner is treating a genuine blood-level heat emergency and supervising — the formula is very cold and Chi Shao and Mu Dan Pi move the blood.
Related Formulas
References
Source 《小品方》，录自《外台秘要》 · Tang
- Classical source (public domain) — composition per the standard textbook record.
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.