Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
柴葛解肌湯 · Chái Gé Jiě Jī Tāng
A classical formula for exterior wind-cold transforming into heat, with high fever, headache and muscle ache.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Exterior-Releasing Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Wind-Heat
- Primary Function
- Release exterior, clear heat, relieve muscle layer fever
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Release pathogen from the muscle layer and clear interior heat
- Classical Source
- Classical TCM formulary
- Available as Granules
- Yes
Formula Overview
A classical formula for exterior wind-cold transforming into heat, with high fever, headache and muscle ache.
Therapeutic Principle
Traditionally selected when exterior Wind-Cold has transformed into heat with high fever and muscle ache, rather than pure Wind-Cold, pure Shaoyang, or Shaoyang-Yangming concurrent disease.
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
柴胡Chai Hu9g
Bupleurum Root- vents the exterior to reduce heat soothes qi movement to guide pathogenic qi outwards
葛根Ge Gen12g
Kudzu Root- vents exterior heat from the muscle layer clears interior heat obstruction
臣MinisterReinforces the sovereign
石膏Shi Gao15g
Gypsum- clear and drain interior heat
黃芩Huang Qin9g
Scutellaria / Baikal Skullcap- vents and resolves pathogenic qi from the shaoyang
佐AssistantTreats accompanying patterns
羌活Qiang Huo6g
Notopterygium Root- vent the exterior with acrid scattering property relieve all kinds of pain
白芷Bai Zhi6g
Angelica Dahurica Root- clears and vents pathogenic heat from the yangming
白芍Bai Shao6g
White Peony Root- nourishes blood
- softens the liver and relieves spasmodic pain
桔梗Jie Geng6g
Platycodon Root- unblocks and diffuses lung qi to help release the exterior
使EnvoyGuides and harmonises
Classical Composition
- Bupleuri Radix (Chai Hu) 6g
- Puerariae Lobatae Radix (Gan Ge) 9g
- Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gan Cao) 3g
- Scutellariae Radix (Huang Qin) 6g
- Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix (Qiang Huo) 3g
- Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (Bai Zhi) 3g
- Paeoniae Radix Alba (Shao Yao) 6g
- Platycodonis Radix (Jie Geng) 3g
- Gypsum Fibrosum (Shi Gao) 3g
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Releases the flesh and clears heat.
Indications
- Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang is indicated for externally contracted wind-cold that has become constrained and transforms into a heat pattern.
- The signs and symptoms include gradually reducing aversion to cold and increasing body heat, absence of sweat, headache, eye pain, dryness of the nose, vexation, insomnia, dry throat, impaired hearing, orbit pain, a thin yellow tongue coating, and a superficial, slightly surging pulse.
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- This pattern is the result of unresolved wind-cold constrained within taiyang that has transformed into heat.
- It then transmits to yangming, spreads further to shaoyang, and eventually affects all three yang channels.
- Aversion to cold, absence of sweat, and headache are due to unresolved wind-cold constrained in the taiyang.
- The pathogen, after penetrating into the interior, heats up and attacks the yangming and shaoyang.
- It causes eye pain, nose dryness, orbit pain, dry throat, and impaired hearing.
- These symptoms are related to how the two channels transverse: Yangming originates from both sides of the nose, goes up to the root of nose, passes through the orbits, and travels down.
- Shaoyang winds its way behind the ears, enters, comes out in front of them, passes through the cheeks and reaches the infra-orbital area.
- The appropriate treatment is to release the flesh with acrid-cool medicinals and clear interior heat.
Clinical presentation
- In addition, the superficial and slightly surging pulse is evidence of the exterior pathogen and excessive interior heat.
Treatment strategy
- The treatment principle is to release pathogen from the muscle layer and clear interior heat.
How does this formula compare?
Clinical Perspective
Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang, Ge Gen Tang, Da Chai Hu Tang and Xiao Chai Hu Tang release exterior or harmonize. Ge Gen Tang releases exterior and stiff neck from Wind-Cold; Xiao Chai Hu Tang harmonizes Shaoyang; Da Chai Hu Tang combines Shaoyang with Yangming drain. Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang releases the muscle layer and clears heat for exterior cold transforming into heat with high fever and muscle ache.
Clinical Differentiation
- Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang is commonly applied to treat the pattern of unresolved taiyang wind-cold that has entered the interior and transformed into heat attacking the yangming in its early stages or when all three yang channels are affected.
- This clinical pattern is marked by high fever, mild aversion to cold, headache and orbit pain.
Safety notes: This formula is inappropriate for patterns where an exterior taiyang pathogen has penetrated into the interior, because it may guide the pathogen deeper. It is also not appropriate for patterns of internal heat from yangming bowel excess, i.e., dry, constipated, and blocked stool.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actions of Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang?
Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang has the actions of releasing the muscle layer and clearing interior Heat. It is used when an exterior Wind-Cold is already transforming into Heat: fever is rising, chills are fading, and Yangming signs are beginning to appear.
Which modern diseases is Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang suited to?
Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within exterior Cold transforming into Heat, including viral upper respiratory infection with increasing fever and decreasing chills, influenza of this transitional pattern, and some early sinus or eye-pain colds once Heat has entered the muscle layer.
Is Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang suitable for a cold whose fever is climbing while the chills are easing?
For presentations of increasing fever, decreasing aversion to cold, headache, eye pain or dry nose, insomnia or irritability, a thin yellow coating, and a floating slightly flooding pulse — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms Taiyang moving into Yangming — TCM commonly applies Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang as an adjunct. High fever with stiff neck rigidity or severe headache needs medical evaluation.
Related Products
Hoi Tin Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang (Bupleurum and Kudzu Muscle-Dispersing Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules
Nong's Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang (Bupleurum and Kudzu Muscle-Dispersing Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules
Related Articles
Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Exterior Wind-Cold Transforming into Heat
Ge Gen Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Wind-Cold with Stiff Neck & Upper Back
Xiao Chai Hu Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Shao Yang Disorder, Alternating Fever & Chills
Da Chai Hu Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Combined Shaoyang & Yangming Disorder
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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.