Xiao Xian Xiong Tang, Minor Sinking into the Chest Decoction, is Gua Lou, Huang Lian and Jiang Ban Xia. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that clear Heat and transform Phlegm, and records it as opening the chest and dissipating what has clumped there.

Herb

Amount

gua lou

24 g

huang lian

3 g

jiang ban xia

9 g

Actions and indications

Clears Heat and transforms Phlegm

Minor chest bind: Phlegm and Heat clumping below the Heart and in the chest
Cough with thick, sticky yellow sputum that is hard to bring up
Bitter taste and constipation

Opens the chest and dissipates clumping

Focal fullness of the chest and epigastrium, soft to the touch but painful when pressed, with or without lumps; stifled feeling in the chest
Tongue coat yellow and greasy; pulse slippery and floating, or slippery and rapid

Modern uses

Acute bronchitis
Upper respiratory tract infection
Pneumonia
Asthma
Bronchiectasis
COPD
Cough
Pleurisy, including with effusion
Spontaneous pneumothorax
Silicosis
Pulmonary tuberculosis
Smoke inhalation
Pulmonary heart disease
Coronary heart disease
Congestive heart failure
Acute pericarditis
Costochondritis
Intercostal neuralgia
Psychogenic chest pain
Cerebrovascular disease
Gastritis, including erosive and bile reflux gastritis
Reflux esophagitis
Acid reflux
Hiatus hernia
Peptic ulcer
Pyloric obstruction
Dyspepsia and indigestion
Dysphagia
Constipation
Acute infectious gastroenteritis
Hepatitis
Cholecystitis
Cholelithiasis
Acute and chronic pancreatitis
Biliary ascariasis
Psychosis
Insomnia
Acne
Blepharitis

Modifications

Vomiting: + zhu ru, + sheng jiang

Very sticky sputum that will not come up: + chuan bei mu, + dan nan xing

Marked distention and pain: + yu jin, + zhi shi

Vague gnawing hunger: + zhi shi, + zhi zi

Bad cough and high fever, wheezing or not (combined with Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang)

Myocardial infarction: + tao ren, + wu ling zhi, + pu huang

Hepatitis (combined with Yin Chen Hao Tang or Da Chai Hu Tang)

Pain between the ribs or in the flanks: + yu jin, + chai hu

Phlegm-Fire: + gan cao, + sheng jiang

Alternating chills and fever: + chai hu, + huang qin

Recurring fever with flank pain (combined with Chai Hu Xian Xiong Tang)

Coronary heart disease from food stagnation (combined with modified Dan Shen Yin): − huang lian

Show all 47 modifications

Acne (combined with Liu Jun Zi Tang): + huang qin
Food-stagnation coronary heart disease with bloating and constipation (combined with modified Dan Shen Yin): + hou po, + lai fu zi, − huang lian
Food-stagnation coronary heart disease with epigastric stuffiness and no appetite (combined with modified Dan Shen Yin): + shan zha, + mai ya, + lai fu zi, − huang lian
Food-stagnation coronary heart disease with stabbing chest pain (combined with modified Dan Shen Yin): + xiang fu, + tu bie chong, + e zhu, + ji nei jin, + san qi, − huang lian
Bronchitis (combined with Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang)
Silicosis (combined with the formula Gua Lou Xie Bai Ban Xia Tang)
Pulmonary heart disease: + zhi shi, + ze xie, + zhi gan cao
Constipation in pulmonary heart disease: + zhi shi, + ze xie, + zhi gan cao, + da huang
Burning yellow urine in pulmonary heart disease: + zhi shi, + ze xie, + zhi gan cao, + hua shi
Erosive gastritis: + hai piao xiao, + xian he cao
Erosive gastritis with blood in the stool: + hai piao xiao, + xian he cao, + di yu
Erosive gastritis with vomiting of blood: + hai piao xiao, + xian he cao, + dai zhe shi
Erosive gastritis with reflux: + hai piao xiao, + xian he cao, + duan mu li
Erosive gastritis, very painful: + hai piao xiao, + xian he cao, + qīng mù xiāng, + bai shao, + yan hu suo
Erosive gastritis with shallow ulcers: + hai piao xiao, + xian he cao, + pu gong ying, + yu xing cao
Reflux esophagitis (combined with Xiao Chai Hu Tang)
Reflux esophagitis with a full, bloated chest and epigastrium (combined with Xiao Chai Hu Tang): + zhi ke, + tan xiang, + hou po
Reflux esophagitis with sour reflux (combined with Xiao Chai Hu Tang): + hai piao xiao, + duan wa leng zi
Reflux esophagitis with nausea and vomiting (combined with Xiao Chai Hu Tang): + chao bai shao, + sha ren
Reflux esophagitis with trouble swallowing (combined with Xiao Chai Hu Tang): + jie geng, + dai zhe shi
Reflux esophagitis, constipated, with dry mouth and throat (combined with Xiao Chai Hu Tang): + mai men dong, + sha shen, + shi hu
Coronary heart disease from Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart (combined with Gun Tan Wan): + dan shen, + yu jin, + zhu ru
Phlegm-Fire coronary heart disease with severe pain (combined with Gun Tan Wan): + dan shen, + yu jin, + zhu ru, + dan nan xing, + zhe bei mu, + zhi shi
Phlegm-Fire coronary heart disease with confusion (combined with Gun Tan Wan): + dan shen, + yu jin, + zhu ru, + yuan zhi, + shi chang pu
Phlegm-Fire coronary heart disease with confusion or unconsciousness (combined with Gun Tan Wan): + dan shen, + yu jin, + zhu ru, + zhi bao dan
Phlegm-Fire coronary heart disease with shortness of breath (combined with Gun Tan Wan): + dan shen, + yu jin, + zhu ru, + sang bai pi, + ting li zi
Acute bronchitis (combined with Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang)
Heat or Fire in the Heart with chest pain, insomnia, anxiety and tongue ulcers: + sheng di huang, + dan zhu ye, + gan cao, + mu tong
Chest pain with constipation: + da huang, + zhi shi, + hou po
Chest pain with dryness where Heat has damaged fluids: + xuan shen, + mai men dong, + sheng di huang
Chest pain showing Blood stasis: + mu dan pi, + chi shao, + pu huang, + yu jin, + zhi shi
Epigastric pain: + chai hu, + huang qin, + zhi shi, + bai shao, + xiang fu, + yu jin, + yan hu suo
Dysphagia: + chuan bei mu, + yu jin, + zhi ke, + zhi zi
To open the chest and regulate its Qi more strongly: + zhi ke, + jie geng
More marked Damp, to strengthen Phlegm transformation (either herb): + chen pi, + fu ling

Cautions

contraindication Cold Phlegm (thin, white sputum that is easy to cough up; cold, non-tender chest or epigastrium)

caution Marked Spleen and Stomach deficiency or Cold: Huang Lian's bitter cold can further weaken digestion, with loose stools or poor appetite; avoid or modify

caution Too mild for a severe, deep bind with stone-hard pain present even without pressure

pregnancy Ban Xia is included, so use in pregnancy only with professional guidance

Pinyin

xiao xian xiong tang

English Name

Minor Sinking Into the Chest Decoction

xiao xian xiong tang

About xiao xian xiong tang

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Clears Heat and transforms Phlegm

Opens the chest and dissipates clumping

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification