Yi Huang Tang易黄汤

Change Yellow Decoction

Stabilizing and Astringing 固涩剂Stem Flooding and Stop Discharge 固崩止带

Ingredients5 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

山Shan Yao山药炒Dioscoreae Rhizoma30g君 ChiefSupplements Spleen and Kidney and secures the Ren vessel 芡Qian Shi芡实炒Euryales Semen30g君 ChiefSecures the Kidney, checks discharge and drains damp 黄Huang Bai黄柏盐水炒Phellodendri Cortex6g佐 AssistantDrains damp-heat from the lower burner without excess coldness 车Che Qian Zi车前子酒炒Plantaginis Semen3g佐 AssistantLeads damp-heat out through the urine 白Bai Guo白果碎Ginkgo Semen12g臣 DeputyAstringes and checks discharge directly — mildly toxic, dose-limited

Indications

Secures the Kidney and stops dischargeClears heat and drains damp from the lower burner

Damp-heat discharge on a deficient Kidney: the Ren vessel carries damp-heat while the Kidney below is weak, so the discharge is yellow and rank yet the patient is not robust. Clearing alone leaves it recurring; securing alone leaves the heat.

Clinical Manifestations

Yellow, thick discharge with an odour
Discharge with itching or local irritation
Recurrent discharge in a patient with a sore weak lower back
Discharge with slightly dark, scanty urine

TongueRed with a yellow greasy coating

PulseSoggy and slightly rapid

Health Categories

Women's HealthUrinary & Bladder Health

Modern Applications

Leukorrhea Vaginitis Cervicitis Urinary tract irritation Pelvic inflammatory disease

Common adjustments

Damp-heat marked with strong odour and itching — add Ku Shen 苦参 and Chun Gen Pi 椿根皮
Spleen deficiency with tiredness and loose stools — combine with Wan Dai Tang 完带汤, or add Bai Zhu 白术
Kidney deficiency pronounced with sore back — add Tu Si Zi 菟丝子 and Xu Duan 续断

Contraindications

Not for thin, cold, odourless discharge from plain Spleen or Kidney deficiency — the bitter cold herbs would deepen that pattern. Green, frothy, blood-streaked or foul discharge, or discharge with fever or pelvic pain, needs a medical diagnosis rather than a formula. Bai Guo (ginkgo seed) is mildly toxic in quantity and must be cooked and kept to the prescribed dose; it is not for children.

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

Pregnancy

Used with caution in pregnancy and only on practitioner advice — Bai Guo is mildly toxic and Huang Bai is bitter and cold; discharge in pregnancy should be assessed obstetrically first.

References

Source Fu Qing Zhu Nv Ke 《傅青主女科》 · Qing

「夫黄带乃任脉之湿热也。」
— 《傅青主女科》(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.