English Name: Six Ingredients Decoction.
Category: Exterior Releasing.
Functions: Opens the Lungs and spreads Lung Qi, disperses Wind-Heat, benefits the throat and expells phlegm.
Indications: Liu Wei Tang is clinically indicated for externally contracted Wind-Heat syndrome manifesting with:
- Dry cough
- Sore, red and swollen throat
- Headache
- Aversion to wind
- Fever with slight sweating
- Chills
- Mild thirst
Tongue and Pulse: The tongue presents with a red tip and thin yellow or white coating. The pulse is superficial and rapid.
Ingredients:
- Jie Geng [Radix Platycodi] – 3 to 12g
- Fang Feng [Radix Saposhnikoviae] – 3 to 10g
- Jing Jie [Flos Schizonepeta] – 3 to 10g
- Jiang Can [Bombyx Batryticatus]* – 3 to 10g
- Bo He [Herba Menthae] – 3 to 6g
- Gan Cao [Radix Glycyrrhizae] – 2 to 10g
* Jiang Can is derived from the body of the Silkworm. As part of modern practice it is not used in Liu Wei Tang. It is included here only as a reference to its classical use. It modern clinical practice it may be substitued with plant based herbs such as Gou Teng [Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis] or Tian Ma [Rhizoma Gastrodiae].
Cautions and Contra-Indications: None.