Skip to content
Neijing
pldeesfr

Knowledge baseFormulas

Liu Wei Tang六味湯

Six Ingredients Decoction

Also known asSix Ingredient Decoction

Medicinals
7

Composition

  • Jie GengRx. Platycodi3–12 g

    Opens the Lungs, spreads Lung Qi, expels Phlegm, benefits the throat, expels pus and opens and raises Lung Qi, directing the effects of other herbs to the upper body.

    • Sheng Gan Cao
    disseminates Lung Qi, expels Phlegm, resolves toxicity, and expels pus for productive cough with hoarseness, pain and swelling of the throat due to Wind-Heat.
  • Gan CaoRx. Glycyrrhizae1.5–14 g

    Clears Heat, relieves Fire toxicity, moistens the Lungs, resolves Phlegm and stops cough.

    for pain and swelling of the throat.
  • Fang FengRx. Saposhnikoviae3–10 g

    Releases the exterior and expels External Wind and Cold.

    for Wind-Cold or Exterior patterns in any season.
    for dermatological disorders with rash, irritability and itching.
  • Jing JieFlos Schizonepeta3–10 g

    Releases the exterior, expels Wind, vents rashes and relieves itching.

    releases the exterior to induce sweating, disperses Wind in the head, vents rashes and alleviates itching.
    for acute cough associated with External disorders.
    for pruritic itching.
  • Jiang CanBombyx Batryticatus3–10 g

    Dispels Wind, disperses Wind-Heat and stops itching and pain.

    • Jie Geng, Bo He
    Fang Feng,* for hoarseness and painful, red throat due to Wind-Heat.
    for eczema or rash due to Wind.
  • Bo HeHb. Menthae3–6 g

    Disperses Wind-Heat and cools and clears the head and eyes, vents rashes and benefits the throat.

    for Wind-Heat.
    for painful, swollen throat.
  • Chan TuiPeriostracum Cicadae3–10 g

    Disperses Wind, clears Heat, vents rashes and relieves itching.

    for incomplete expression of measles and Wind, rash, or itchy, red eyes and pterygium.

Actions

  • Frees the Lungs
  • Applies warmth against Cold
  • Distributes Lung Qi
  • Discharges Phlegm
  • Supports throat function
  • Drives out Wind
  • Scatters Wind-Heat
  • Eases itching and pain

Patterns treated

Wind-Heat pattern

Manifestations

  • Cough that produces no phlegm
  • Throat that is sore, reddened and swollen
  • Mild thirst, craving cold drinks
  • Nasal congestion or discharge
  • Feverishness accompanied by scant sweating
  • Mild chills
  • Dislike of Wind exposure
  • Possibly labored breathing with nostril flaring
  • Head pain
Tongue body
Redness confined to the tip
Coating
A thin coat that is either yellow or white
Pulse
Floating and quick

Indications

  • Sudden-onset laryngitis stemming from Wind-Cold
  • Throat soreness caused by Wind-Cold
  • Ordinary head cold
  • Hoarse voice
  • Head pain
  • Skin eruptions
  • Sudden-onset pharyngitis stemming from Wind-Cold
  • The flu
  • Voice failure

Modifications