Yue Bi Tang越婢汤

Maidservant from Yue Decoction

Releasing the Exterior 解表剂Release Wind-Heat 辛凉解表

Ingredients5 herbs

HerbDosageWhat it does in this formula

麻Ma Huang麻黄Ephedrae Herba18gOpens the pores and drives water out of the flesh 石Shi Gao石膏Gypsum Fibrosum24gClears the heat in the flesh and restrains Ma Huang's warmth 生Sheng Jiang生姜Zingiberis Rhizoma recens9gAssists dispersal of water at the surface 甘Zhi Gan Cao甘草Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata6gHarmonizes and moderates the acrid-cold pairing 大Da Zao大枣Jujubae Fructus5枚Guards the middle and the fluids against so heavy a dispersal

Indications

Promotes sweating to disperse water at the surfaceClears heat in the flesh and skinReduces sudden generalized swelling

Wind-water oedema: wind strikes the surface, defensive qi cannot regulate the pores, and water spills into the flesh, with heat already present in the skin layer.

Clinical Manifestations

Sudden puffy swelling of the face and eyelids
Generalized oedema with aversion to wind
Acute swelling after a wind attack
Skin conditions with heat, swelling and weeping

TongueThin white coating, or thin yellow

PulseFloating

Health Categories

Skin HealthHeart & CirculationUrinary & Bladder HealthAllergy Relief

Modern Applications

Acute nephritic oedema Angioedema Facial swelling Urticaria Acute eczema

Common adjustments

Cold in the middle with the swelling — add Bai Zhu 白术 — the classical Yue Bi Jia Zhu Tang
Wheezing accompanies the swelling — add Xing Ren 杏仁 and Ting Li Zi 葶苈子
Urination scanty — add Fu Ling 茯苓 and Ze Xie 泽泻

Contraindications

Not for oedema of Spleen or Kidney yang deficiency, where the swelling is cold, slow to appear and worse in the legs — dispersing it would waste the yang further. New or worsening generalized oedema needs medical assessment before herbs, since it may be renal or cardiac in origin.

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

Pregnancy

Contraindicated in pregnancy. It carries a large Ma Huang dose and works by forcing water out through the surface; swelling in pregnancy needs obstetric assessment first and never this formula.

Related Formulas

Ma Huang Xing Ren Gan Cao Shi Gao Tang麻黄杏仁甘草石膏汤

References

Source Jin Gui Yao Lue 《金匮要略》 · Eastern Han

「风水恶风，一身悉肿，脉浮不渴，续自汗出，无大热，越婢汤主之。」
— 《金匮要略》(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）— 附方 note under 麻黄杏仁甘草石膏汤, 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.