Bai He Gu Jin Tang
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
百合固金汤 · Bǎi Hé Gù Jīn Tāng
Classic formula for Lung and Kidney Yin deficiency with dryness and possible blood-streaked sputum. Used for chronic dry cough, night sweats and residual dryness after heat diseases.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Yin-Tonifying Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Yin Deficiency
- Primary Function
- Nourish Lung-Kidney Yin, moisten Lungs, stop cough
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Nourish Lung and Kidney Yin, moisten the Lungs and stop cough
- Classical Source
- Shen Zhai Yi Shu (Ming dynasty) / traditional
- Available as Granules
- Yes
Formula Overview
Classic formula for Lung and Kidney Yin deficiency with dryness and possible blood-streaked sputum. Used for chronic dry cough, night sweats and residual dryness after heat diseases.
Therapeutic Principle
Traditionally selected for chronic Lung-Kidney Yin deficiency with a persistent dry cough, scanty or blood-streaked sputum and night sweats — a deeper, more sustained tonification than Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang, and nourishing where Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang still clears active warm-dryness.
Composition: Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, Envoy
Every herb in the formula, grouped by the job it does in the classical hierarchy.
君SovereignTreats the main pattern
百合Bai He12g
Lily Bulb- sweet
- bitter and mildly cold
- nourishes yin and clears heat
- moistens the lung to relieve cough
生地黃Sheng Di Huang12g
Raw Rehmannia Root- used together to enrich yin and nourish blood
- clears heat and cools blood
熟地黃Shu Di Huang12g
Prepared Rehmannia Root- nourishes blood and essence
臣MinisterReinforces the sovereign
麥門冬Mai Men Dong10g
Ophiopogon Tuber- supports the formula's treatment strategy in this position
玄參Xuan Shen10g
Scrophularia Root- salty and cold
- helps sheng di and shu di to nourish yin
- drains fire and improves the condition of the throat
佐AssistantTreats accompanying patterns
貝母Bei Mu6g
Fritillaria Bulb- clears heat and moistens the lung
- dissolves phlegm and relieves cough
桔梗Jie Geng6g
Platycodon Root- diffuses the lung and improves the condition of the throat
- dissolves phlegm and dissipated masses carries medicinals upward
當歸Dang Gui6g
Chinese Angelica Root- treats cough with counterflow qi ascent
白芍Bai Shao6g
White Peony Root- combines with dang gui to nourish and harmonize blood
Classical Composition
- Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Shu Di Huang) 3 qian (9g)
- Rehmanniae Radix (Sheng Di) 3 qian (9g)
- Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Dang Gui) 3 qian (9g)
- Paeoniae Radix Alba (Bai Shao) 1 qian (6g)
- Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gan Cao) 1 qian (3g)
- Platycodonis Radix (Jie Geng) 8 fen (6g)
- Scrophulariae Radix (Xuan Shen) 1.5 qian (3g)
- Fritillariae Bulbus (Bei Mu) 1.5 qian (6g)
- Ophiopogonis Radix (Mai Dong) 1.5 qian (9g)
- Lilii Bulbus (Bai He) 1.5 qian (12g)
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Enriches and nourishes the lung and kidney
- relieves cough and dissolves phlegm.
Indications
- Bai He Gu Jin Tang is indicated for a pattern of lung-kidney yin deficiency with deficiency fire flaming upward.
- The symptoms are coughing, labored breathing, blood in the sputum, dry and sore throat, dizziness and blurred vision, afternoon tidal fever.
Tongue & pulseThe tongue is red with scanty coating, and the pulse is thready and rapid.
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- This pattern results from yin deficiency of the lung and kidney.
- The lung is the mother of the kidney so lung deficiency often affects the kidney to cause yin deficiency of both the lung and kidney due to protracted disease.
- Yin deficiency leads to internal heat and deficiency fire flaming upward, causing the failure of the lung to purify and descend, and produce coughing and labored breathing.
- Deficiency fire scorches body fluids and causes a dry, sore throat and an afternoon tidal fever.
- Vessels are scorched which causes blood in the sputum.
- The purpose is to treat the root and branch simultaneously.
Treatment strategy
- Suitable therapeutic methods include nourishing the yin-blood of the lung and kidney combined with clearing heat, dissolving phlegm and relieving cough.
How does this formula compare?
Clinical Perspective
Bai He Gu Jin Tang strongly nourishes Lung-Kidney Yin. Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang is milder for Lung-Stomach Yin. Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang clears warm-dryness with some nourishing. Sang Xing Tang is for early exterior warm-dryness.
Clinical Differentiation
- This formula is commonly used to treat lung-kidney yin deficiency with deficiency fire flaming upward to cause coughing with blood in the sputum.
- This clinical pattern is marked by cough, labored breathing, dry and sore throat, red tongue with scanty coating, thready and rapid pulse.
Safety notes: This formula is enriching and somewhat cloying. It is not appropriate for phlegm-damp cough or for spleen-stomach deficiency-cold.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actions of Bai He Gu Jin Tang?
Bai He Gu Jin Tang has the actions of nourishing the Yin of the Lung and Kidney, moistening the Lung, transforming phlegm, and stopping cough. It also clears deficiency Heat and helps cool the Blood to address blood-streaked sputum.
Which modern diseases is Bai He Gu Jin Tang suited to?
Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within Lung and Kidney Yin deficiency with deficiency Fire, including chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis with blood-streaked sputum, chronic pharyngitis or laryngitis, pulmonary tuberculosis (as an adjunct), and post-viral or chronic dry cough.
Is Bai He Gu Jin Tang suitable for improving dry cough with blood-streaked sputum?
For presentations of dry cough (possibly with sticky or blood-streaked sputum), dry or sore throat, afternoon tidal fever, night sweats, hot palms and soles, a red tongue with little coating, and a thin rapid pulse — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms Lung and Kidney Yin deficiency with rising deficiency Fire — TCM commonly applies Bai He Gu Jin Tang as an adjunct. It cannot replace standard medical treatment.
Related Products
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Bai He Gu Jin Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Lung & Kidney Yin Deficiency with Dryness
Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Warm-Dryness Damaging the Lungs, Dry Cough & Qi-Yin Injury
Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Lung & Stomach Yin Deficiency & Dryness
Sang Xing Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Dryness, Dry Cough & Lung Dryness
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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.