Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
普济消毒饮 · Pǔ Jì Xiāo Dú Yǐn
A classical formula for epidemic warm-toxin affecting the head and face (Da Tou Wen), with facial swelling, sore throat, fever and difficulty swallowing.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Heat-Clearing Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Wind-Heat
- Primary Function
- Clear heat, resolve toxin, disperse wind-heat from the head and face
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Clear warm-toxin and disperse swelling of the head and face
- Classical Source
- Dong Yuan Shi Xiao Fang (Li Dongyuan tradition)
- Available as Granules
- Yes
Formula Overview
A classical formula for epidemic warm-toxin affecting the head and face (Da Tou Wen), with facial swelling, sore throat, fever and difficulty swallowing.
Therapeutic Principle
Traditionally selected for head and face warm-toxin swelling — combining heat-toxin clearing with wind-dispersing, more localised to the upper body than pure Triple Burner formulas.
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
臣MinisterReinforces the sovereign
牛蒡子Niu Bang Zi9g
Burdock Seed / Arctium Fruit- scatters and vents wind-heat
- and dissipates heat constraint
連翹Lian Qiao9g
Forsythia Fruit- scatters and vents wind-heat
- and dissipates heat constraint
佐AssistantTreats accompanying patterns
薄荷Bo He6g
Mentha / Peppermint- scatters and vents wind-heat
- and dissipates heat constraint
僵蠶Jiang Can6g
Silkworm- extinguishes wind and transforms phlegm
玄參Xuan Shen9g
Scrophularia Root- nourishes yin and clears deficiency fire
馬勃Ma Bo6g
Puffball- clears heat
- resolves toxins
- and disinhibit the throat
板藍根Ban Lan Gen9g
Isatis Root- supports the formula's treatment strategy in this position
桔梗Jie Geng6g
Platycodon Root- diffuses the lung and guides upward
陳皮Chen Pi6g
Tangerine Peel- rectifies qi and scatters obstruction
柴胡Chai Hu6g
Bupleurum Root- scatters and vents wind-heat
- and directs all medicinals in the formula upward to the head and face
升麻Sheng Ma3g
Cimicifuga Rhizome- supports the formula's treatment strategy in this position
使EnvoyGuides and harmonises
Classical Composition
- Scutellariae Radix (Huang Qin) 5 qian (15g)
- Coptidis Rhizoma (Huang Lian) 5 qian (15g)
- Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chen Pi) 2 qian (6g)
- Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Sheng Gan Cao) 2 qian (6g)
- Scrophulariae Radix (Xuan Shen) 2 qian (6g)
- Bupleuri Radix (Chai Hu) 2 qian (6g)
- Platycodonis Radix (Jie Geng) 2 qian (6g)
- Forsythiae Fructus (Lian Qiao) 1 qian (3g)
- Isatidis Radix (Ban Lan Gen) 1 qian (3g)
- Lasiosphaera Calvatia (Ma Bo) 1 qian (3g)
- Arctii Fructus (Niu Bang Zi) 1 qian (3g)
- Menthae Haplocalycis Herba (Bo He) 1 qian (3g)
- Bombyx Batryticatus (Jiang Can) 7 fen (2g)
- Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Sheng Ma) 7 fen (2g)
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Clears heat
- resolves toxins
- scatters wind
- and disperses swelling.
Indications
- This formula is indicated for swollen-head infection (also referred to as massive head scourge).
- The symptoms are redness, swelling, and pain in the head and face, failure to open the eyes, red, swollen, and sore throat, aversion to cold with fever, thirst, a red tongue with a yellow coating, and a forceful rapid pulse.
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- This is a pattern of swollen-head infection, or epidemic swollen-head infection.
- The cause of the infection is the wind-heat and epidemic toxins that have accumulated in the upper jiao and then flame upward to the head and face.
- The wind-heat and epidemic toxins flaming up to the head and face cause the redness, swelling, and pain in the head and face, and the failure to open the eyes.
- Warm toxins accumulate in the throat to cause a red, swollen, and sore throat.
- The intense heat consumes fluids and causes thirst.
- Epidemic toxins need to be cleared and resolved, the wind-heat needs to be scattered and dissipated, and the disease in the upper part of the body needs to be alleviated.
Clinical presentation
- In the early stage the wind-heat attacks the fleshy exterior, and obstructs the wei yang and struggles with the healthy qi to produce an aversion to cold with fever, a red tongue body with a yellow coating, and a forceful rapid pulse.
- These are all signs of intense interior heat.
Treatment strategy
- Therefore, the therapeutic method for this pattern is primarily to clear heat and resolve toxins, and secondarily to scatter and dissipate the wind-heat.
How does this formula compare?
Clinical Perspective
Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin clears head-face warm-toxin. Huang Lian Jie Du Tang drains Triple Burner fire broadly. Xian Fang Huo Ming Yin invigorates Blood and resolves toxin for sores. Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin focuses on toxic boils.
Clinical Differentiation
- Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin is a commonly used formula used to treat swollen-head infection.
- This clinical pattern is marked by redness, swelling, and pain in the head and face, sore throat, aversion to cold with fever, red tongue with a yellow coating, and a forceful, rapid pulse.
Safety notes: This formula is bitter and cold. It is not appropriate for deficiency-cold swellings of the head and face.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actions of Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin?
Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin has the actions of clearing Heat, resolving Toxicity, dispersing Wind-Heat, and reducing swelling. It is the classic formula for Wind-Heat epidemic toxin attacking the Upper Burner and concentrating in the head and face (Da Tou Wen, or “swollen-head epidemic”).
Which modern diseases is Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin suited to?
Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within Wind-Heat epidemic toxin in the Upper Burner, including facial erysipelas, mumps (epidemic parotitis), acute tonsillitis, acute pharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infections with prominent head/face or throat involvement, and cervical lymphadenitis with Heat-toxin signs.
Is Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin suitable for improving red, swollen, painful head and face with sore throat and fever?
For presentations of redness, swelling, and burning pain of the head and face (eyes may be difficult to open), sore and swollen throat, aversion to cold with fever, thirst, a red tongue with white or yellow coating, and a floating rapid forceful pulse — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms Wind-Heat epidemic toxin attacking the Upper Burner — TCM commonly applies Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin as an adjunct. It cannot replace standard medical treatment of infectious conditions.
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Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin: Classic TCM Formula for Epidemic Heat Toxin, Swollen Face & Sore Throat
Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin: Classic TCM Formula for Heat Toxin, Boils, Carbuncles & Skin Infections
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Huang Lian Jie Du Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Fire Toxin, High Fever & Damp-Heat
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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.