Formula Decoction (Tang)

Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin

Cool the Blood and Clear the Lung Drink · 凉血清肺饮

A modern clinical formula that cools the Blood and clears Heat from the Lungs and Stomach to treat stubborn facial skin conditions like acne, rosacea, and seborrheic dermatitis.

Origin 《朱仁康临床经验集》 — Modern (20th century)
Category Heat-clearing formulas Organ Heat-clearing formulas Blood-cooling and hemostatic formulas
Therapeutic focus Skin health Acne Rosacea Inflammation
Composition 9 herbs
Di Huang
King
Di Huang
Mu Dan Pi
Deputy
Mu Dan Pi
Chi Shao
Deputy
Chi Shao
Huang Qin
Assistant
Huang Qin
Sang Bai Pi
Assistant
Sang Bai Pi
Pi Pa Ye
Assistant
Pi Pa Ye
Zhi Mu
Assistant
Zhi Mu
Shi Gao
Assistant
Shi Gao
+1
more
Explore composition

Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms don't appear randomly — they cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony that reveal what's out of balance in the body. Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin is designed to correct these specific patterns.

Why Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin addresses this pattern

This formula directly cools the Blood and clears Heat, which is the main pathomechanism of this pattern. Sheng Di Huang cools Blood, while Mu Dan Pi and Chi Shao invigorate Blood to resolve stasis. The Heat-clearing aspect addresses the underlying Heat that drives Blood stasis, making it suitable for dark red, stubborn facial lesions.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Acne

Dark red, inflamed acne lesions

Rosacea

Facial redness with papules and pustules

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Red, scaly patches on face

Commonly Prescribed For

These conditions can arise from the patterns above. A practitioner would consider Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin when these conditions are specifically caused by those patterns — not for all cases of these conditions.

Arises from: Blood Stagnation with Heat Lung Heat Stomach Fire (Stomach Heat)

TCM Interpretation

In TCM, acne is often caused by Heat in the Lung and Stomach, which steams upward to the face. When the Heat enters the Blood level, it can cause dark red, inflamed, and painful pimples that are slow to heal. Blood stasis may also develop, leading to nodules and cysts.

Why Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin Helps

Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin cools Blood (Sheng Di Huang, Mu Dan Pi, Chi Shao) to resolve Blood Heat and stasis, while clearing Lung Heat (Huang Qin, Sang Bai Pi, Pi Pa Ye) and Stomach Heat (Zhi Mu, Shi Gao) to remove the source of the steaming. This dual action makes it effective for inflammatory acne with a dark red appearance.

What This Formula Does

Every TCM formula has a specific set of actions — here's what Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin does in the body, explained in both everyday and TCM terms

Therapeutic focus

In practical terms, Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin is primarily used to support these areas of health:

Skin health Acne Rosacea Inflammation

TCM Actions

In TCM terminology, these are the specific therapeutic actions that Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin performs to restore balance in the body:

Cools the Blood Clears Lung Heat Clears Stomach Heat Resolves Toxins

How It Addresses the Root Cause

TCM doesn't just suppress symptoms — it aims to resolve the underlying imbalance. Here's how Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin works at the root level.

This formula addresses the pattern of Blood Heat with Lung and Stomach Heat. When Heat accumulates in the Lung and Stomach, it can steam upward, causing facial skin eruptions such as acne, rosacea, and seborrheic dermatitis. The Heat can enter the Blood level, leading to dark red, stubborn lesions that do not heal easily. Blood stasis may also develop from prolonged Heat. The pathomechanism involves both Qi-level Heat (Lung and Stomach) and Blood-level Heat, requiring simultaneous cooling of Blood and clearing of Organ Heat.

Formula Properties

Every formula has an inherent temperature, taste, and affinity for specific organs — these properties determine how it interacts with the body

Overall Temperature

Cold

Taste Profile

Predominantly bitter and sweet — bitter to clear heat, sweet to harmonize and moderate the harsh cooling action.

Target Organs

Lungs Stomach

Channels Entered

Lung Stomach

Ingredients

9 herbs

The herbs that make up Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin, organized by their role in the prescription

King — Main ingredient driving the formula
Deputy — Assists and enhances the King
Assistant — Supports or moderates other herbs
Envoy — Directs the formula to its target
King — Main ingredient driving the formula
Di Huang

Di Huang

Rehmannia root

Dosage 30g
Temperature Cold
Taste Sweet (甘 gān), Bitter (苦 kǔ)
Organ Affinity Heart, Liver, Kidneys

Role in Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin

Cools the Blood and clears Heat, addressing the root of Blood Heat.
View herb details
Deputies — Assists and enhances the King
Mu Dan Pi

Mu Dan Pi

Tree peony root bark

Dosage 9g
Temperature Slightly Cool
Taste Bitter (苦 kǔ), Acrid / Pungent (辛 xīn)
Organ Affinity Heart, Liver, Kidneys

Role in Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin

Cools Blood, resolves stasis, and clears Heat, reinforcing the King herb.
View herb details
Chi Shao

Chi Shao

Red peony root

Dosage 9g
Temperature Slightly Cool
Taste Bitter (苦 kǔ), Sour (酸 suān)
Organ Affinity Liver

Role in Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin

Cools Blood, moves Blood, and reduces swelling, assisting in clearing Blood Heat and stasis.
View herb details
Assistants — Supports or moderates other herbs
Huang Qin

Huang Qin

Baical skullcap root

Dosage 9g
Temperature Cold
Taste Bitter (苦 kǔ)
Organ Affinity Lungs, Gallbladder, Spleen, Large Intestine, Small Intestine, Heart, Stomach

Role in Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin

Clears Lung Heat and dries Dampness, supporting the clearing of Lung Heat.
View herb details
Sang Bai Pi

Sang Bai Pi

Mulberry root bark

Dosage 9g
Temperature Cold
Taste Sweet (甘 gān)
Organ Affinity Lungs, Spleen

Role in Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin

Clears Lung Heat and directs Lung Qi downward, addressing the Lung component.
View herb details
Pi Pa Ye

Pi Pa Ye

Loquat leaf

Dosage 9g
Temperature Slightly Cool
Taste Bitter (苦 kǔ)
Organ Affinity Lungs, Stomach

Role in Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin

Clears Lung Heat and descends rebellious Qi, helping to clear facial eruptions.
View herb details
Zhi Mu

Zhi Mu

Anemarrhena rhizome

Dosage 9g
Temperature Cold
Taste Bitter (苦 kǔ), Sweet (甘 gān)
Organ Affinity Lungs, Stomach, Kidneys

Role in Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin

Clears Stomach Heat and generates fluids, addressing the Stomach Heat component.
View herb details
Shi Gao

Shi Gao

Gypsum

Dosage 30g
Temperature Cold
Taste Acrid / Pungent (辛 xīn), Sweet (甘 gān)
Organ Affinity Lungs, Stomach
Preparation Decoct first for 30 minutes before adding other herbs.

Role in Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin

Clears Stomach Heat and drains Fire, strongly clearing Heat from the Stomach.
View herb details
Envoy — Directs the formula to its target
Gan Cao

Gan Cao

Licorice root

Dosage 6g
Temperature Neutral
Taste Sweet (甘 gān)
Organ Affinity Heart, Lungs, Spleen, Stomach

Role in Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin

Clears Heat-toxins, harmonizes the formula, and guides the actions to the affected areas.
View herb details

Why This Combination Works

How the herbs in Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin complement each other

Overall strategy

The formula simultaneously cools Blood and clears Heat from the Lung and Stomach, targeting the dual root of Blood Heat and Organ Heat that causes stubborn facial skin lesions.

King herbs

Sheng Di Huang (raw Rehmannia) is the King herb. It enters the Blood level to cool Blood and clear Heat, addressing the core pathomechanism of Blood Heat. Its large dosage (30g) emphasizes its primary role.

Deputy herbs

Mu Dan Pi and Chi Shao reinforce the King by cooling Blood and invigorating Blood circulation, helping to resolve Blood stasis that arises from prolonged Heat.

Assistant herbs

Huang Qin, Sang Bai Pi, and Pi Pa Ye clear Lung Heat, with Pi Pa Ye also directing Lung Qi downward to help resolve facial eruptions. Zhi Mu and Shi Gao clear Stomach Heat, with Shi Gao being a strong mineral that drains Stomach Fire. These assistants address the Organ Heat component.

Envoy herbs

Sheng Gan Cao (raw Licorice) clears Heat-toxins and harmonizes the actions of all herbs, while also guiding them to the affected area.

Notable synergies

The combination of Sheng Di Huang with Mu Dan Pi and Chi Shao powerfully cools Blood and disperses stasis. Shi Gao and Zhi Mu together strongly clear Stomach Heat and generate fluids, preventing the drying effects of the bitter-cold herbs.

How to Prepare

Traditional preparation instructions for Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin

Decoct Shi Gao first for 30 minutes. Add remaining herbs and simmer for 30-40 minutes. Strain and divide into 2-3 doses per day.

Common Modifications

How practitioners adapt Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin for specific situations

Added
Da Huang

Da Huang 6-9g

Da Qing Ye

Da Qing Ye 9-15g

Da Huang purges Heat and unblocks the bowels, directing Heat downward. Da Qing Ye clears Heat and resolves Toxins, enhancing the formula's ability to eliminate Heat through the stool.

Related Formulas

Formulas often compared to or combined with Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin, with a side-by-side look at how their compositions differ

Similar indication
Cool 6 herbs Draft (Yin)

A classical formula designed to clear excess Heat from the Lungs that manifests on the face as acne, red bumps, or rosacea. It works by cooling the Lungs, clearing Damp-Heat, and supporting the body's Qi to push toxins outward. It is most commonly used for facial skin conditions caused by Lung and Stomach Heat steaming upward to the face.

Therapeutic focus
Skin Health Skin Conditions Respiratory Health Complexion clarity

How it compares

Both formulas treat facial acne and rosacea from Lung Heat. Pi Pa Qing Fei Yin focuses more on Lung Heat with Dampness, while Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin also cools Blood and clears Stomach Heat for more stubborn, dark red lesions.

Composition comparison

Shared (3)
Sang Bai Pi Pi Pa Ye Gan Cao
Only in Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin (6)
Di Huang Mu Dan Pi Chi Shao Huang Qin Zhi Mu Shi Gao
Only in Pi Pa Qing Fei Yin (3)
Huang Lian Huang Bo Ren Shen

Educational content — always consult a qualified healthcare provider or TCM practitioner before using any herbal formula.

Contraindications

Situations where Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin should not be used or requires extra caution

Avoid

Pregnancy — contains herbs that cool and move Blood (e.g. Dan Pi, Chi Shao), which may adversely affect pregnancy.

Avoid

Active bleeding disorders or tendency to bleed — the Blood-cooling and Blood-moving nature may exacerbate bleeding.

Caution

Spleen-Stomach cold deficiency with loose stools, poor appetite, or abdominal pain — the formula's cold nature can further weaken digestion.

Caution

Prolonged use without breaks may damage Stomach Qi; monitor for digestive discomfort.

Special Populations

Important considerations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use

Pregnancy

Contraindicated. The formula contains herbs that cool and invigorate Blood (Dan Pi, Chi Shao) and strongly clear heat (Sheng Di Huang, Shi Gao), which may pose risks during pregnancy. It should not be used by pregnant women.

Breastfeeding

Not recommended during breastfeeding. No specific safety data exists for breast milk transfer, but the formula's cold nature and Blood-cooling herbs may affect milk quality or the infant's digestion. Use only under strict practitioner guidance if absolutely necessary.

Children

Children may use this formula with reduced dosage and close monitoring. For ages 5–12, use approximately half the adult dose (about 6–9 g per herb, total 30–45 g per day). For ages 3–5, use one-third the adult dose (about 4–6 g per herb, total 20–30 g per day). Discontinue if diarrhea, stomach pain, or worsening of symptoms occurs. Not indicated for children with weak digestion or cold constitution.

Drug Interactions

If you are taking pharmaceutical medications, be aware of these potential interactions with Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin

The formula contains herbs with potential pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions:

  • Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis) may inhibit CYP2C9 and CYP3A4, possibly increasing plasma levels of warfarin, rivaroxaban, cyclosporine, and tacrolimus. Monitor INR and drug levels.
  • Dan Pi (Moutan cortex) and Chi Shao (Paeonia rubra) have mild antiplatelet effects; concurrent use with anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs (aspirin, clopidogrel) may increase bleeding risk.
  • Gan Cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) can cause pseudoaldosteronism, leading to hypokalemia, sodium retention, and hypertension. This may antagonize antihypertensives (ACE inhibitors, ARBs, thiazides) and potentiate digoxin toxicity. It may also elevate blood glucose, reducing efficacy of antidiabetic agents.
  • Concomitant use with NSAIDs may increase gastrointestinal irritation and ulcer risk due to additive COX inhibition.

These interactions are largely theoretical based on isolated herb pharmacology; no direct formula–drug interaction studies exist. Close monitoring is advised when combining with prescription medications.

Usage Guidance

Practical advice for getting the most out of Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin

Best time to take

Take after meals, usually twice daily, to reduce potential stomach irritation from the cold herbs.

Typical duration

Typically taken for 2 weeks as one course, which may be repeated for 3–4 courses depending on response. Reassess after each course.

Dietary advice

During treatment, avoid spicy, greasy, fried, and overly sweet foods, as well as alcohol and smoking, which can generate internal heat and dampness. Limit raw, cold, and chilled foods that may injure the Spleen. Favor light, easily digestible meals with plenty of cooked vegetables and bland congees to support the formula's clearing action.

Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin originates from 《朱仁康临床经验集》 — Modern (20th century)

Classical Texts

Key passages from the classical Chinese medical texts that first described Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin and its clinical use

“清肺胃经热。主治肺胃积热上蒸于肺而成肺风粉刺、酒刺、痤疮、酒渣鼻。”
—《朱仁康临床经验集》

Translation: “Clears heat from the Lung and Stomach channels. Treats Lung and Stomach accumulated heat steaming upward to the Lungs, causing wind acne, pimples, acne, and rosacea.”

Historical Context

How Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin evolved over the centuries — its origins, lineage, and place in the broader tradition of Chinese medicine

凉血清肺饮 (Cool Blood & Clear Lung Drink) was created by the renowned modern TCM dermatologist Zhu Renkang (朱仁康, 1908–1990) and recorded in his clinical experience collection 《朱仁康临床经验集》. Zhu was a leading figure in integrating classical dermatology with modern practice. The formula specifically targets facial inflammatory skin conditions rooted in Lung and Stomach heat, a pattern he frequently observed in acne and rosacea. Several modified versions have since appeared in later manuals, such as 《实用中医偏方》 and 《部队常见病中西医诊疗手册》, extending its use to seborrheic dermatitis and nodulocystic acne.