Dampness-Draining Formulas

清心蓮子飲 · Qīng Xīn Lián Zǐ Yǐn

Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin

A heart-clearing, damp-draining formula for strangury and seminal emission from heart fire and qi deficiency.

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Last reviewed October 2026

Formula CategoryDampness-Draining Formulas

Primary PatternDamp-Heat

Primary FunctionClear the heart, drain damp-heat, tonify qi

Primary Therapeutic PrincipleClear the heart, drain damp-heat, tonify qi

Main HerbsScutellaria / Baikal Skullcap · Ophiopogon Tuber · Wolfberry Root Bark · Plantago Seed · Honey-fried Licorice · Lotus Seed · Poria / Hoelen · Astragalus Root · Ginseng Root

Classical SourceHe Ji Ju Fang (Song dynasty)

Why This Formula?

Selected when lower damp-heat coexists with qi-yin deficiency rather than pure excess damp-heat.

Overview

What Is Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin?

1. Where the Formula Comes From

Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin (清心莲子饮), or Clear-Heart Lotus-Seed Decoction, is a classical formula from the Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (Formulary of the Bureau of People's Welfare Pharmacy), a standardized official formulary of the Song dynasty. It belongs to the category of formulas that tonify qi and yin, clear heart fire, and drain damp-heat — a balanced "clear, supplement, and drain" formula, not a plain cooling tonic or a plain tonic.

The formula targets a mixed state in which qi and yin are deficient as the root, while heart fire flares and damp-heat settles below. Typical signs include a low-grade fever that is calm at night and active by day, "five-center heat" (palms, soles, and chest), dry mouth and throat, restlessness, poor sleep, turbid or frequent urination, and fatigue. It is widely used for chronic urinary conditions, abnormal vaginal discharge and irregular periods, chronic prostatitis and spermatorrhea, and modern sub-health states.

Listed under the "treating various deficiencies" section of the formulary, its original description covers an unusually wide range — chest palpitations and absent-mindedness, erectile difficulty, spermatorrhea, heavy bleeding in women, milky urine, difficult frequent urination, a dark complexion, and dry lips and mouth — a sign of how broad its intended scope was.

2. Urinary Tract: Fixing the Underlying Weakness

This is where the formula is used most, in chronic, recurring urinary disease with the qi-yin deficient pattern:

Chronic pyelonephritis — long-term low fever, lower-back soreness, frequent incomplete urination, fatigue, dry mouth, five-center heat. Antibiotics may keep failing because they only treat the acute heat-damp layer, not the deficient root. This formula clears the residue and rebuilds the defenses, cutting relapses.
Chronic cystitis — frequent, urgent urination without sharp pain, turbid urine, lower-abdominal fullness, fatigue, hot palms; urinalysis shows few white cells and no acute infection. It calms the bladder, clears the turbidity, and avoids antibiotic resistance and side effects over time.
Occult nephritis — long-term protein or blood in the urine with sore back and fatigue; it reduces the protein and blood and supports the kidney's microcirculation.

3. Gynecology: Discharge and Irregular Periods

It helps chronic discharge and cycle problems, especially with deficiency underneath:

Chronic vaginitis or cervicitis — copious yellow or white, smelly discharge plus fatigue, irritability, and hot palms. Topical washes often don't hold, because the root is a weak spleen with damp-heat, not just a local infection. This formula strengthens the spleen, clears the heat-damp, and calms the heart, reducing discharge at its source.
Irregular or heavy periods (periods coming over seven days early, or heavy flow) with irritability, dry mouth, fatigue, and hot palms — the pattern of qi-yin deficiency with heart fire and damp-heat disturbing the blood. It both clears the heat and secures the qi, steadying the cycle and reducing flow more completely than plain hemostatics.
Menopause — irritability, insomnia, hot flashes, and frequent urination; it eases several of these at once, where a plain kidney tonic can't touch the palpitations and urinary frequency.

4. Andrology: Function and Urinary Symptoms

It's used for chronic prostatitis, spermatorrhea, and erectile difficulty in the deficient-excess patient:

Chronic prostatitis — bearing-down discomfort, frequent incomplete urination, drip after voiding, with fatigue, irritability, and a sore weak back. Plain heat-clearing or antibiotics can worsen the fatigue; this formula builds the qi and yin while clearing the damp-heat and strengthening resistance.
Frequent spermatorrhea with five-center heat, palpitations, insomnia, and back soreness — a heart-kidney disharmony. Plain kidney-astringents miss the point because flaring heart fire disturbs the "gate"; this formula links heart and kidney, clears the fire, and supports the kidney to cut the frequency at the root.
Functional erectile difficulty with irritability, fatigue, hot palms, and weak lower back — not simple yang deficiency. Aggressive yang-boosters can feed the heart fire and backfire; this formula restores the heart-spleen-kidney balance and the normal flow of qi and blood, avoiding those side effects.

5. Sub-Health: Common Modern Discomfort

Many everyday complaints fit the pattern:

Chronic insomnia (trouble falling asleep, dream-disturbed, easy waking) with irritability, dry mouth, hot palms, and fatigue — heart-kidney disharmony with qi-yin deficiency. Simple sedatives only soothe briefly; this formula settles the root so sleep returns.
Chronic fatigue with irritability, dry mouth, and turbid urine — the qi-yin deficiency of late nights and overthinking, with dampness in reserve. Pure qi tonics feed the damp-heat, pure draining drugs wear the body down; this "level supplement, level drain" handles both, restoring energy.

How It Works

Herb Composition (Sovereign / Minister / Assistant / Envoy)

1. The Leads: Lian Zi and Fu Ling

Two herbs share the lead role, together covering tonifying the deficiency, calming the spirit, and draining dampness:

Lian Zi (Lotus Seed) — sweet and astringent, neutral; builds the spleen and heart yin, secures the kidney and essence, stops discharge, and clears heart fire. It "links the heart and kidney" — the classic move that both calms the heart and protects the kidney.
Fu Ling (Poria) — sweet and bland, neutral; drains dampness out through urine, strengthens the spleen so dampness isn't re-made, and steadies the spirit.

Together they "supplement without leaving dampness, and drain without hurting the body" — the formula's core stance.

2. The Ministers: Huang Qi, Dang Shen, and Mai Dong

Three herbs reinforce the leads and address the qi-yin deficiency and the heart fire:

Huang Qi (Astragalus) — builds the spleen and lung qi; a weak spleen makes dampness, and weak lung qi can't move the fluids out. It also pushes Lian Zi's tonic effect, and it's only mildly warm, so it doesn't feed the fire.
Dang Shen (Codonopsis) — a gentler qi builder than Huang Qi, focused on the spleen; it strengthens digestion and avoids qi stagnation.
Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Root) — clears heart fire and nourishes heart, lung, and stomach yin, easing the dry mouth and five-center heat, and it reins in the mild warmth of Huang Qi and Dang Shen.

3. The Assistants: Che Qian Zi, Di Gu Pi, and Zhi Gan Cao

Three herbs handle the remaining damp-heat and false heat, and blend the formula:

Che Qian Zi (Plantain Seed) — gently drains lower-region damp-heat through the urine, easing frequent or turbid urination and heaviness without harming the qi.
Di Gu Pi (Lycium Root Bark) — clears "false heat": the low-grade, evening, five-center heat of yin deficiency, without the harsh cold that injures the stomach.
Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-Processed Licorice Root) — harmonizes the whole blend, supports Huang Qi and Dang Shen, and steadies the spirit alongside Lian Zi and Fu Ling.

Symptoms Traditionally Associated

Clinical Presentation in TCM

1. The Root Problem: Deficiency Mixed With Excess

The core pattern is qi and yin deficiency as the root, with heart fire and damp-heat as the branch — a very common but often-missed modern condition. It has two sides:

The root — deficiency of qi and yin. Late nights, overthinking, irregular meals, and overwork drain the heart qi and the spleen-lung qi, and wear down the fluids. Qi deficiency brings a racing heart, poor sleep, poor digestion, fatigue, and easy colds; yin deficiency lets heart fire flare (five-center heat, dry mouth), and the lost fluids worsen the qi deficiency — a cycle.
The branch — heart fire and damp-heat. When yin can't check the heart's "fire" nature, the fire flares: mouth sores, irritability, a bitter taste. And when the spleen is weak, water stagnates and slowly turns to damp-heat, which settles below — turbid urine, frequent urination, abnormal discharge, heavy legs.

Because both sides exist at once, plain tonics "lock the door and keep the bandit in" (feeding the damp-heat), and plain draining drugs wear the body down. Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin is built exactly for this conflict.

2. What It Does

Its effect is not one thing but three working together — tonify qi and yin, clear heart fire, and drain damp-heat:

Tonify qi and yin (the root): Huang Qi, Dang Shen, and Lian Zi rebuild the spleen-lung qi; Mai Dong, Lian Zi, and Di Gu Pi restore the heart and kidney yin. Getting qi and yin back in balance is what makes the draining safe.
Clear heart fire: Mai Dong and Lian Zi calm the flare directly, easing irritability, insomnia, and mouth sores; and Lian Zi's "linking of heart and kidney" lets fire descend and water rise, cutting the fire at its source rather than just dousing it with bitter-cold drugs.
Drain the damp-heat (the branch): Fu Ling and Che Qian Zi move the damp-heat out through urine while the spleen-strengthening herbs stop it re-forming — a gentle drain that suits long courses.

3. Who It's For

The formula spans internal, gynecological, andrological, and pediatric complaints that share this pattern:

Internal medicine: sub-health states (chronic insomnia, fatigue, five-center heat, dry mouth, turbid urine), chronic urinary infection (frequent, urgent, incomplete urination with fatigue and hot palms), and chronic nephritis with long-term protein or blood in the urine.
Gynecology: chronic vaginitis or cervicitis with copious yellow or foul discharge plus fatigue and hot palms; irregular or heavy periods with irritability and a dry mouth.
Andrology: erectile difficulty, premature ejaculation, or frequent spermatorrhea with fatigue and five-center heat; chronic prostatitis with bearing-down discomfort and frequent urination.
Pediatrics: "summer heat" in children — prolonged low fever, dry mouth, frequent urination, and fatigue from a hot season, well matched by this gentle formula.

Formula Analysis

The Mechanism in Classical Theory

1. The Logic of the Ruler, Minister, Assistant, and Messenger

The formula is a coordinated system, each layer handling part of the picture:

Rulers (Lian Zi + Fu Ling) go at the deepest issue — heart-kidney disharmony with dampness in the middle. Lian Zi supplements and calms; Fu Ling drains and strengthens the spleen. Together they set a "supplement without stagnating, drain without injuring" base.
Ministers (Huang Qi, Dang Shen, Mai Dong) reinforce the rulers: Huang Qi and Dang Shen deepen the qi support, Mai Dong deepens the yin-nourishing and fire-clearing while balancing the warmth of the qi herbs.
Assistants (Che Qian Zi, Di Gu Pi, Zhi Gan Cao) clear the leftover branch: Che Qian Zi pushes the damp-heat out, Di Gu Pi clears the false heat, and the licorice harmonizes everything.

2. The Balance of Supplementing and Clearing

Formulas for "deficiency with excess" often tilt too far one way. Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin's strength is a genuine balance:

The supplementing side is gentle — Lian Zi, Huang Qi, and Dang Shen are mild "level" tonics, not heavy ones, and they're organized around the spleen, so the body clears dampness from the root rather than storing it up.
The clearing side is gentle too — Che Qian Zi and Di Gu Pi are "slow clear, slow drain," used in smaller amounts than the tonics. They take out the branch without spending the qi; once the heat and dampness settle, the focus shifts back to the deficiency. This is the principle "treat the branch in urgency, treat the root in calm."

3. Coordinating the Heart, Spleen, and Kidney

A second notable feature is that it adjusts three organs at once:

Heart is the "fire organ," and fire must be checked by kidney water. When the water runs low, the fire flares — irritability, insomnia.
Spleen is the "acquired foundation" that produces the qi and blood that feed both kidney water and heart yin.

Lian Zi enters heart, spleen, and kidney at once; Fu Ling, Huang Qi, and Dang Shen build the spleen; Mai Dong and Di Gu Pi replenish kidney water to check the fire. Because the organs are brought back into balance with each other, the sources of fire and dampness are addressed — the strength of "treat the root of disease," and a reason the formula has lasted a thousand years.

How This Formula Compares

Clinical Comparison Table

Compare	Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin	Ba Zheng San	Dao Chi San	Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Primary Function	Clear the heart, drain damp-heat, tonify qi	Clear heat, drain damp, promote urination, unblock lin	Clear Heart fire, promote urination	Clear Liver Fire, drain Damp-Heat
Formula Category	Dampness-Draining Formulas	Heat-Clearing Formulas	Heat-Clearing Formulas	Heat-Clearing Formulas
Typical TCM Pattern	Damp-Heat	Damp-Heat	Heart Fire	Liver Fire
Main Conditions	Frequent Urination, Dry Mouth & Throat, Fatigue & Low Energy	Frequent Urination, Abdominal Pain, Dry Mouth & Throat, Constipation	Frequent Urination, Dry Mouth & Throat, Anxiety Restlessness, Insomnia	Bitter Taste in Mouth, Liver Qi Stagnation, Damp-Heat Constitution
Main Herbs	Scutellaria / Baikal Skullcap · Ophiopogon Tuber · Wolfberry Root Bark · Plantago Seed · Honey-fried Licorice · Lotus Seed · Poria / Hoelen · Astragalus Root · Ginseng Root	Plantago Seed · Dianthus · Knotweed · Talcum · Gardenia Fruit · Licorice Root · Akebia Stem · Rhubarb Root and Rhizome	Raw Rehmannia Root · Akebia Stem · Lophatherum / Bamboo Leaf · Licorice Root	Gentian Root · Scutellaria / Baikal Skullcap · Gardenia Fruit · Alisma Rhizome · Akebia Stem · Plantago Seed · Chinese Angelica Root · Raw Rehmannia Root · Bupleurum Root · Licorice Root
Classical Source	He Ji Ju Fang (Song dynasty)	Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (Song dynasty)	Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue (Qian Yi, Song dynasty)	Yi Fang Ji Jie (Analytic Collection of Medical Formulas, Wang Ang, Qing dynasty)

How to tell them apart

Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin, Ba Zheng San and Dao Chi San address lower heat. Ba Zheng San clears damp-heat strongly. Dao Chi San clears heart fire into the small intestine. This formula clears heart fire while tonifying qi and yin.

For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.

Clinical Modifications

Clinical Modifications for Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin

1. If Heart Fire Is Strong

For marked mouth sores, irritability, a bitter taste, and a red tongue tip: raise Mai Dong to about 12–15 g (from a base of 10 g) and add a small amount of Huang Lian (about 3 g) — Coptis is the core heart-fire herb, and a small dose clears fast without harming the qi. If the tongue tip is very red, add Zhu Ye (about 6 g) to guide the fire down and out with the urine. Keep Huang Lian small (generally under 3 g) to protect the stomach, especially in weak digestion.

2. If Damp-Heat Is Strong

For marked turbid urine, frequent urination, a yellow greasy tongue coating, and heavy legs: raise Che Qian Zi to about 12–15 g (decocted in a cloth bag) and add Yi Yi Ren (15 g), which drains dampness and is gentle for long use. If foul discharge or bearing-down is obvious, add Huang Bai (6 g) to clear the lower-region heat-damp. If stools are sticky and uncomfortable, add Cang Zhu (6 g) to dry the dampness — but note it's warm-dry, so avoid pairing it with too many warm herbs.

3. If Qi Deficiency Is Strong

For marked fatigue, shortness of breath, easy colds, and poor appetite: raise Huang Qi and Dang Shen to about 12–15 g each and add Bai Zhu (10 g) to build the spleen and dry dampness. For mild organ prolapse from qi collapse, add Sheng Ma (3 g) and Chai Hu (6 g) to raise the sinking yang — but keep these small, as large doses can cause dizziness and tinnitus, especially with high blood pressure.

4. If Yin Deficiency Is Strong

For marked five-center heat, night sweats, dry mouth and tongue, and a red tongue with little coating: raise Di Gu Pi to about 12–15 g and add Nv Zhen Zi (10 g) and Mo Han Lian (10 g) — the pair called Er Zhi Wan, which nourishes liver-kidney yin and eases the flushing and sweats. If the mouth is very dry, add Yu Zhu (10 g) to moisten without worsening dampness. Di Gu Pi is cool, so a cold-spleen person should keep the dose modest and watch for loose stools.

Modern Research

What the Science Suggests

1. Protecting the Urinary System

Laboratory work points to real protection for the kidneys and bladder:

Fu Ling polysaccharides support immunity and reduce protein in the urine, helping chronic nephritis.
Huang Qi saponins widen the kidney vessels, improve blood flow and microcirculation, and help repair damaged kidney cells.
Che Qian Zi glycosides increase urine flow, helping flush toxins and dampness while suppressing urinary inflammation.

In animal studies on chronic cystitis, the formula lowered inflammatory markers in the bladder, reduced voiding frequency, and helped repair the bladder lining — comparable to routine antibiotics but without their resistance and side effects, supporting its long-term use.

2. Regulating Immunity

Research also focuses on immune regulation for the qi-yin deficient, lowered-resistance state:

Huang Qi polysaccharides boost cellular and humoral immunity, reducing colds and infections.
Dang Shen polysaccharides enhance macrophage activity and nonspecific immunity.
Lian Zi alkaloids calm the spirit and steady the autonomic nervous system, easing the fatigue and insomnia of imbalance.

Clinical reports on often-cold, fatigued sub-health people found that 2–4 weeks of the formula raised immunoglobulin levels, cut the number of colds, and eased fatigue — best read not as "boosting immunity" but as restoring the body's immune balance.

3. Endocrine and Nervous Regulation

The formula also appears to steady the endocrine and nervous systems in heart-kidney disharmony with yin-deficiency heat:

Mai Dong saponins help regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, easing the flushing and night sweats of yin-deficiency heat.
Di Gu Pi lowers the false-heat low fever and steadies the autonomic system, easing insomnia and palpitations.
Lian Zi alkaloids calm and reduce anxiety.

In menopause studies, the formula improved hot flashes, insomnia, and urinary frequency on par with routine hormone therapy but without hormone side effects — through regulating the neuroendocrine system.

4. Reproductive-System Effects

Initial work also looks at the reproductive system, mainly chronic prostatitis and gynecologic inflammation. In chronic prostatitis, the formula lowered prostatic inflammatory markers, reduced congestion and swelling, eased bearing-down and urinary frequency, and supported normal prostatic secretion.

Safety

Safety Considerations

1. Cold, Weak Digestion

The formula, though balanced, still has cooling, draining action. A person with a cold spleen and stomach — frequent stomach chill, craving hot drinks, loose stools, poor appetite, diarrhea when the belly gets cold — may find Che Qian Zi and Di Gu Pi worsen the cold, bringing diarrhea and stomach upset. If it's truly needed, a practitioner can reduce the cooling herbs, add Sheng Jiang (3 slices) and Da Zao (5 pieces) to warm the stomach, and take it about an hour after meals.

2. Don't Use Alone for Pure Excess Damp-Heat

For acute, purely excess damp-heat — high fever, severe burning urinary pain, foul sticky stools, a thick yellow greasy coating — the tonics here would "lock the door," trapping the heat-damp and lengthening the illness. These cases need a stronger clearing formula such as Ba Zheng San first; once the acute phase settles, if deficiency remains, Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin can follow.

3. Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Che Qian Zi has a mild diuretic and cool action, and the other herbs can pass to a fetus or infant, so pregnant and nursing women should not self-dose. Especially in early pregnancy, prefer rest and lifestyle measures, and only use the formula under a practitioner who has confirmed it's appropriate.

4. Food and Drink During Treatment

While on it, avoid spicy food (feeds the heart fire), greasy food (feeds the dampness), and cold food and drinks (chill the spleen and block absorption). Avoid strong tea (its tannins can lower absorption) and coffee (feeds the fire and can worsen insomnia). Light, spleen-friendly foods — Shan Yao, Yi Yi Ren, winter melon, lotus-seed porridge — support the treatment.

FAQ

Questions About Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin

Q1: What is Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin? Are Dao Chi San and Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan the same?

Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin (清心莲子饮) is a classic formula from the Taiping Huimin Heji Ju Fang, centered on clearing the Heart, promoting urination, tonifying qi and nourishing yin for deficiency fire lin turbidity, cloudy white urine and five-heart vexing heat. Dao Chi San clears the Heart and promotes urination, leaning to Heart fire transmitting to the Small Intestine. Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan nourishes the Kidney and descends fire, leaning to Kidney yin deficiency with fire. The three cannot be interchanged by equal weight. Write Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin. Use caution in damp-heat excess fire and Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold.

Q2: What is the composition and traditional use of Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin?

Classic composition: Huang Qin, Mai Dong, Di Gu Pi, Che Qian Zi, Gan Cao (honey-fried) each half liang; Shi Lian Rou, Fu Ling, Huang Qi (honey-fried), Ren Shen each seven and a half liang. It acts to clear the Heart, promote urination, tonify qi and nourish yin. It is used for accumulated vexation in the Heart, cloudy white urine, nocturnal emission, five-heart vexing heat, dry mouth and tongue, etc. Shi Lian Rou clears the Heart; Huang Qin clears Heart fire; Mai Dong and Di Gu Pi nourish yin and clear vacuity heat; Ren Shen and Huang Qi tonify qi; Fu Ling and Che Qian Zi promote urination; Gan Cao harmonizes the center.

Q3: How do you choose raw versus prepared? Can Dao Chi San replace it?

Huang Qi is honey-fried; Gan Cao is honey-fried. Dao Chi San leans to clearing the Heart and promoting urination without heavy qi-tonifying and yin-nourishing; it cannot replace the formula by equal weight. Commercial products follow regulated compounding; do not self-modify.

Q4: What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as a Heart-clearing urination tea?

Ancient use was three qian with ten grains of Mai Dong decocted, taken on an empty stomach before meals. Modern use adjusts proportions; common as decoction or patent medicine, with dose named by a practitioner. It is not a four-season “Heart-clearing lotus seed tea.” Damp-heat excess fire only injures further. Deficiency fire lin turbidity needs a practitioner to name a short course; it does not replace assessment.

Q5: What are the contraindications? Can it be used in pregnancy?

Use caution in damp-heat excess fire and Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold. Pregnancy requires practitioner assessment. Stop if loose stool or cold epigastric pain appears. High fever or severe painful hematuria need immediate medical care.

Q6: Can Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin clear the Heart, promote urination, tonify qi and nourish yin?

It can help deficiency fire lin turbidity, cloudy white urine and five-heart vexing heat. It clears the Heart, promotes urination, tonifies qi and nourishes yin—not a specific for every cloudy urine or every vexing heat.

Q7: Can Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin be drunk daily as a Heart-clearing, urination or yin-nourishing tea?

Deficiency fire lin turbidity may enter a short formula; damp-heat excess fire only injures further. “Lotus seed must clear the Heart” does not replace urologic assessment. Clearing the Heart, promoting urination, tonifying qi and nourishing yin should be named by a practitioner with form and dose.

Q8: How do you choose among Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin, Dao Chi San, Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan, Long Dan Xie Gan Tang and Liu Wei Di Huang Wan?

Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin clears the Heart, promotes urination while tonifying qi and nourishing yin, containing Shi Lian Rou, Huang Qin, Mai Dong, Ren Shen, Huang Qi, Fu Ling, Che Qian Zi and others. Dao Chi San clears the Heart and promotes urination, leaning to Heart fire transmitting downward. Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan nourishes the Kidney and descends fire, leaning to Kidney yin deficiency with fire. Long Dan Xie Gan Tang clears the Liver, drains fire and drains dampness, leaning to Liver-Gallbladder damp-heat. Liu Wei Di Huang Wan nourishes the Kidney and fills essence, leaning to pure yin deficiency. Deficiency fire lin turbidity favors Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin; Heart fire favors Dao Chi; Kidney fire favors Zhi Bai; Liver-Gallbladder damp-heat favors Long Dan; pure yin deficiency favors Liu Wei. They may be referenced after pattern differentiation; damp-heat excess fire forbids large Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin.

Q9: How is Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin commonly modified? What is the representative use?

The original already contains clearing the Heart, promoting urination, tonifying qi and nourishing yin. Fever may add Chai Hu and Bo He. Write Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin; do not replace the qi-tonifying and yin-nourishing action with an equal weight of Dao Chi San.

Q10: How do you choose and store Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin?

Choose regulated Chinese patent medicines or classically compounded decoctions/granules that list the composition. Moldy, damp, or abnormal-smelling lots are discarded. Store cool and dry. Buy “Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin”; do not replace clearing the Heart, promoting urination, tonifying qi and nourishing yin with an equal weight of Dao Chi San or Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan.

FAQ

General Questions

How do I choose the right formula?

TCM formulas are traditionally selected according to individual pattern differentiation rather than by symptom alone. If you're not sure which formula fits your presentation, take our AI Assessment below for a personalized starting point, then confirm with a qualified TCM practitioner.

What are concentrated herbal granules?

Concentrated herbal granules are made by decocting raw herbs, then extracting and concentrating the resulting liquid into a fine granule or powder form. This preserves the same active compounds as a traditional decoction while making the herbs far easier to store, measure, and prepare.

How should I take these products?

Dissolve the recommended amount of granules in hot water, stir until fully dissolved, and drink while warm — following the dosage and frequency advised by your TCM practitioner or as stated on the product packaging.

Are concentrated herbal granules equivalent to traditional decoctions?

Concentrated granules are produced from the same herbs and processed to retain their active compounds, so they are traditionally regarded as a convenient alternative to decoctions rather than a different remedy. Some practitioners note subtle differences in strength or absorption between the two forms, so your TCM practitioner may adjust dosage accordingly.

Are your products authentic?

Yes. HJMEDICAL sources its concentrated granules exclusively from established, reputable manufacturers such as Nong's and Hoi Tin, both long-standing names in the TCM granules industry, with GMP compliance stated directly on their packaging.

Are HJMEDICAL products manufactured under GMP standards?

HJMEDICAL sources its concentrated granules from established, reputable manufacturers such as Nong's and Hoi Tin, both long-standing names in the TCM granules industry. GMP compliance for these products is stated directly on their packaging.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes — we ship worldwide! Every order goes out via Hong Kong Post, and your exact shipping cost and estimated delivery time for your address are calculated and shown right at checkout, so there are never any surprises. We also offer free shipping once your order reaches our free-shipping threshold, so it's easy to stock up on your favorite formulas and save.

Can I take more than one formula at the same time?

Some formulas are traditionally combined, while others overlap or counteract each other. We recommend checking with a qualified TCM practitioner before combining formulas, especially if you are already taking other medication.

Are these products suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Some TCM formulas are not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Please consult a qualified TCM practitioner or your doctor before use if you are pregnant, trying to conceive, or nursing.

Do these products replace medical treatment?

No. These products are traditional herbal supplements intended to support wellbeing according to TCM principles — they are not a replacement for professional medical diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a qualified TCM practitioner or licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or combining any treatment, especially if you have a chronic condition.

Medical Disclaimer

For general TCM education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified TCM practitioner or licensed healthcare provider before use, especially if pregnant, nursing, on medication, or managing a chronic condition.

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