Qing Wei San
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
清胃散 · Qīng Wèi Sàn
A classical formula for Stomach fire blazing upward with toothache, gum swelling and bad breath.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Heat-Clearing Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Stomach Heat
- Primary Function
- Clear Stomach heat, cool blood, relieve fire toxin
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Clear blazing Stomach fire and cool the blood
- Classical Source
- Li Dongyuan school / classical
- Available as Granules
- Yes
Formula Overview
A classical formula for Stomach fire blazing upward with toothache, gum swelling and bad breath.
Therapeutic Principle
Traditionally selected for Stomach fire blazing upward with toothache and gum swelling, rather than Yin-deficiency Stomach heat, latent Spleen heat, or systemic Qi-aspect heat.
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
升麻Sheng Ma6g
Cimicifuga Rhizome- clears heat and resolves toxins
- raises yang qi and dissipates fire
牡丹皮Mu Dan Pi9g
Moutan Bark / Tree Peony Bark- cools the blood
- and nourishes yin remove latent fire from the blood
佐/使Assistant & EnvoyTreats accompanying patterns, harmonises the whole
生地黃Sheng Di Huang12g
Raw Rehmannia Root- nourishes and invigorates the blood
- helps
- disperses swelling and relieves pain
當歸Dang Gui6g
Chinese Angelica Root- nourishes and invigorates the blood
- helps
- disperses swelling and relieves pain
Classical Composition
- Rehmanniae Radix (Sheng Di Huang) 3 fen (6g)
- Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Dang Gui) 3 fen (6g)
- Moutan Cortex (Mu Dan Pi) 0.5 qian (9g)
- Coptidis Rhizoma (Huang Lian) 6 fen (6g)
- Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Sheng Ma) 1 qian (9g)
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Drains stomach fire and cools the blood.
Indications
- This formula is indicated for toothaches caused by stomach fire.
- The symptoms are toothache radiating to the head, aversion to heat and a preference for cold on the teeth, bad breath that is hot, heat in the face, thirst, gingival atrophy bleeding, redness, swelling, and ulcers in the gum, swelling and pain in lips, tongue, and cheeks, a red tongue with a yellow coating, and a slippery, rapid pulse.
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- This is a pattern of heat accumulation in the stomach, heat constraint, blood heat, and heat attacking upward along channels.
- The foot yangming stomach channel goes around the nose, enters the upper teeth, goes along the front of the ears, forehead, and around the lips.
- The hand yangming large intestine channel goes along the cheeks and connects with the lower teeth.
- Since the toothache is caused by heat, the pain is relieved by cold and worse with heat.
- Therefore, the teeth have an aversion to heat and a preference for cold.
- The foot yangming stomach channel goes along the hairline to the forehead, this is why the toothache radiates to the head and why the heat reaches the face.
- Since the stomach is rich in qi and blood, intense stomach fire burns blood vessels, which causes gingival bleeding.
- The characteristic feature of this pattern’s pathogenesis is stomach fire, and blood heat attacking upward along the channels.
Clinical presentation
- Stomach fire and blood heat attack upward along the stomach and large intestine channels, which causes toothaches, swelling and pain in the lips, tongue, and cheeks, bad breath that is hot, thirst, and ulcers in the gum.
- The red tongue with yellow coating and the slippery, rapid pulse are signs of intense stomach fire.
Treatment strategy
- The treatment principle is to clear blazing Stomach fire and cool the blood.
How does this formula compare?
Clinical Perspective
Qing Wei San, Yu Nv Jian, Xie Huang San and Bai Hu Tang all clear heat. Yu Nv Jian clears Stomach heat while nourishing Yin; Xie Huang San clears latent Spleen-Stomach heat for mouth sores; Bai Hu Tang is full Yangming Qi-aspect heat. Qing Wei San clears blazing Stomach fire rising to the gums and teeth.
Clinical Differentiation
- Qing Wei San is a formula used to treat the toothache and gingival atrophy caused by stomach fire and blood heat.
- This clinical pattern is marked by toothache radiating to the head, the teeth with an aversion to heat and preference for cold, bad breath that is hot, red tongue body with a yellow coating, and a slippery, rapid pulse.
Safety notes: Do not use the formula for patients with a toothache caused by wind-cold and deficient kidney fire.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actions of Qing Wei San?
Qing Wei San has the actions of clearing (draining) Stomach Fire and cooling the Blood. It targets blazing Stomach Heat that rises along the Yangming channel to the teeth, gums, mouth, and face.
Which modern diseases is Qing Wei San suited to?
Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within Stomach Fire, including toothache or dental abscess of Heat type, gingivitis or periodontitis with red swollen bleeding gums, stomatitis or recurrent mouth ulcers, foul hot breath, and certain cases of trigeminal neuralgia or facial acne linked to Stomach Fire.
Is Qing Wei San suitable for improving toothache, swollen gums, and bad breath from Stomach Fire?
For presentations of toothache that worsens with heat and improves with cold (possibly radiating to the head), red swollen, bleeding or ulcerated gums, foul hot breath, facial flushing or heat, thirst for cold drinks, a red tongue with yellow coating, and a slippery rapid pulse — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms Stomach Fire blazing upward — TCM commonly applies Qing Wei San as an adjunct. It cannot replace standard dental evaluation and treatment.
Related Products
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Qing Wei San: Classic TCM Formula for Stomach Heat, Toothache, Gum Swelling & Bad Breath
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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.