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Xin Jia Huang Long Tang新加黄龙汤

Newly Augmented Yellow Dragon Decoction

Purging Downward 泻下剂Purge with Tonification 攻补兼施

Ingredients10 herbs

细Xi Sheng Di细生地15gCools and restores the fluids the fever consumed
生Sheng Gan Cao生甘草6gHarmonises a formula pulling in two directions at once
人Ren Shen人参另煎4.5gRestores the qi so the patient can tolerate and 'carry' the purge
生Da Huang生大黄9gDrains the bound heat in a reduced, restrained dose
芒Mang Xiao芒硝3gSoftens the impaction without a heavy purge玄Xuan Shen玄参15gEnriches yin and drains the residual heat
麦Mai Men Dong麦冬连心15gMoistens the Stomach and intestines and generates fluids
当Dang Gui当归4.5gNourishes blood and moistens the bowel
海Hai Shen海参洗2条A rich marine tonic that supplements essence and moistens dryness
姜Jiang Zhi姜汁6匙Keeps the stomach from rejecting a heavy, cold prescription

Indications

Drains heat and unblocks the bowelEnriches yin and augments qiRestores fluids so the stool can move

Heat bound in the interior with both qi and yin depleted. Wu Ju-tong singles out the case where a purge was needed and delayed: the accumulation is still there, but the patient can no longer 'carry' the medicine.

Clinical Manifestations

  • Bowel excess in a warm disease where fluids and qi are both exhausted
  • Constipation with a hard abdomen, cracked lips and a scorched tongue
  • Failure to respond to a plain purge because the patient is too depleted
  • Late-stage febrile illness with extreme fatigue and dry mouth and throat
TongueScorched yellow or scorched black, dry and cracked
PulseThin, rapid and weak

Health Categories

Digestive HealthEnergy & FatigueCold & Flu Relief

Modern Applications

Fecal impactionDehydrationLate-stage febrile illnessDebilityConstipation

Common adjustments

  • Qi collapse dominant — increase the separately decocted Ren Shen 人参
  • Accumulation light with dryness dominant — Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang 增液承气汤 is the leaner choice
  • Medicine rejected by the stomach — the ginger juice in the formula is there for exactly this — give it in small sips

Contraindications

Not for a straightforward bowel excess in a strong patient, where a plain purge works faster and cleaner. The rich fluid-restoring herbs are cloying and unsuitable where dampness or phlegm predominate. Hai Shen is a shellfish-adjacent marine product — check for seafood allergy before using it.

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

Pregnancy

Contraindicated in pregnancy. Even in this softened form the formula still contains Da Huang and Mang Xiao, and purging is avoided during pregnancy. A pregnant patient this depleted needs emergency assessment rather than a purgative prescription.

Related Formulas

References

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

「应下失下，正虚不能运药，不运药者死，新加黄龙汤主之。」
— 《温病条辨》(classical source, public domain)
  1. 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）— chapter placement, 功用 and 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.