Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang (Nourish the Yin and Clear the Lungs Decoction)

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Indications

Western Uses:

• What is Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang used for in modern practice?

  In modern practice Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang is referenced for chronic or recurrent sore, dry throat conditions fitting a yin-deficiency-with-heat pattern — contexts such as chronic pharyngitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, and persistent dry cough with throat dryness. Historically it was a primary Chinese-medicine formula for diphtheria before antibiotics; that use is a matter of historical record, not a contemporary treatment claim.

  These biomedical correlates are offered as a reference to the formula’s traditional use, not as a claim that it treats any disease. Modern laboratory research on the formula is preclinical (see research). Any use for a diagnosed throat or respiratory condition belongs with a qualified practitioner and appropriate medical care.

  Source: traditional-use correlates summarized from Bensky & Barolet, Formulas & Strategies, and contemporary TCM clinical references; reference only, not a treatment claim.

Originally Appeared In:

• Jade Key to Many Towers (Chong Lou Yu Yao)

Notes:

• How is Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang related to Zeng Ye Tang, and how does it differ from Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang and Bai He Gu Jin Tang?

  Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang is built on Zeng Ye Tang (Sheng Di Huang, Xuan Shen, Mai Men Dong) — it adds Bai Shao, Mu Dan Pi, Chuan Bei Mu, Bo He, and Gan Cao to cool the blood, transform phlegm, disperse pathogens, and direct the formula’s action to the throat.

  • vs Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang: that formula treats external warm-dryness invading the Lungs with combined qi-and-yin damage (wheezing, marked thirst, a large deficient pulse) and includes Ren Shen; Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang instead targets throat inflammation and toxin with yin deficiency, without a qi-tonifying component.
  • vs Bai He Gu Jin Tang: that formula addresses deeper, more chronic Lung-and-Kidney yin deficiency with deficiency-fire signs such as blood-streaked sputum; Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang is weighted more toward acute throat toxin and swelling.

  Common modifications: add Lian Qiao for more pronounced heat/toxin (often removing Bai Shao); add Shu Di Huang for deeper constitutional yin deficiency; add Tian Men Dong and Fu Ling for pronounced dryness and constipation; add Gua Lou and Sang Bai Pi for sticky phlegm and cough; add Bai Mao Gen and Ce Bai Ye for blood-streaked sputum.

  Source: Bensky & Barolet, Formulas & Strategies (formula relationships and modifications).

Clinical Studies & Research:

• Is there modern research on Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang?

  Yes, but it is limited and preclinical — no randomized clinical trials of the base formula were located; the available work is laboratory and animal research. One study identified quercetin as a key active component of Yang-Yin-Qing-Fei-Tang and found it induced apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer cells in vitro and reduced tumor volume in a mouse xenograft model without affecting body weight, via upregulation of p53, Bax, and Fas and an increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. A separate study examined a related, modified ten-herb formula — “Yangyin Qingfei Decoction Plus,” the classic eight herbs plus Jin Yin Hua and Lian Qiao — for its metabolic effects in a mouse model of severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia; because it adds two herbs, it is not direct evidence for the base formula.

  • Non-small cell lung cancer (preclinical): quercetin from Yang-Yin-Qing-Fei-Tang induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells and reduced xenograft tumor volume in mice (PMID 31179723).
  • Mycoplasma pneumonia, modified formula (preclinical): a ten-herb “Plus” variant (base eight herbs + Jin Yin Hua + Lian Qiao) altered lung-tissue metabolites in a mouse pneumonia model (PMID 38694915).

  Sources: PubMed 31179723 (Am J Chin Med. 2019;47(4):879-893); PubMed 38694915 (Front Pharmacol. 2024;15:1376812). Research context, not a therapeutic claim; direct clinical trial evidence for this formula is lacking.