Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
清心蓮子飲 · Qīng Xīn Lián Zǐ Yǐn
A heart-clearing, damp-draining formula for strangury and seminal emission from heart fire and qi deficiency.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Dampness-Draining Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Damp-Heat
- Primary Function
- Clear the heart, drain damp-heat, tonify qi
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Clear the heart, drain damp-heat, tonify qi
- Classical Source
- He Ji Ju Fang (Song dynasty)
- Available as Granules
- —
Formula Overview
A heart-clearing, damp-draining formula for strangury and seminal emission from heart fire and qi deficiency.
Therapeutic Principle
Selected when lower damp-heat coexists with qi-yin deficiency rather than pure excess damp-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
佐AssistantTreats accompanying patterns
地骨皮Di Gu Pi3g
Wolfberry Root Bark- clears deficiency heat
車前子Che Qian Zi3g
Plantago Seed- drains damp-heat
黃芪Huang Qi4.5g
Astragalus Root- tonifies qi
人參Ren Shen4.5g
Ginseng Root- tonifies qi
茯苓Fu Ling4.5g
Poria / Hoelen- fortifies the spleen and drains dampness
使EnvoyGuides and harmonises
Classical Composition
- Scutellariae Radix (Huang Qin) 3g
- Ophiopogonis Radix (Mai Men Dong) 3g
- Lycii Cortex (Di Gu Pi) 3g
- Plantaginis Semen (Che Qian Zi) 3g
- Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata (Zhi Gan Cao) 3g
- Nelumbinis Semen (Shi Lian Rou) 4.5g
- Poria (Fu Ling) 4.5g
- Astragali Radix (Huang Qi) 4.5g
- Ginseng Radix (Ren Shen) 4.5g. From He Ji Ju Fang.
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Clears the heart
- drains damp-heat
- and tonifies qi.
Indications
- Heart fire with qi-yin deficiency and lower damp-heat.
- Strangury, turbid urine, seminal emission, dry mouth, fatigue.
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- Heart fire moves downward while qi and yin are deficient.
- Damp-heat settles in the lower burner.
Clinical presentation
- Strangury, turbid urine, seminal emission, dry mouth, fatigue, red tongue, thin rapid pulse.
Treatment strategy
- Clear the heart, drain damp-heat, tonify qi and nourish yin.
How does this formula compare?
Clinical Perspective
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.
Clinical Differentiation
- Used for lower damp-heat with qi-yin deficiency.
- Key points: strangury or emission with fatigue and dry mouth.
- Distinct from pure damp-heat formulas that do not tonify.
Safety notes: Not appropriate for pure excess damp-heat without deficiency, or for cold patterns.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
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.
Related Articles
Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin: Clearing Heart Fire and Supplementing Qi
Ba Zheng San: Classic TCM Formula for Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner, Painful Urination & Lin Syndrome
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Liver-Gallbladder Damp-Heat, Irritability & Hypochondriac Pain
Dao Chi San: Classic TCM Formula for Heart Fire, Mouth Sores, Irritability & Painful Urination
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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.