The Shang Han Lun formula for exterior cold with interior thin-mucus (wai han nei yin). Composed of ma huang, gui zhi, xi xin, gan jiang, wu wei zi, ban xia, bai shao, and zhi gan cao, it treats both exterior and interior simultaneously—dispersing and warming in concert, with astringent within the dispersing and non-drying warmth.
Release the exterior and dissipate cold; warm the Lung and transform thin mucus
Formula Rhyme
小青龙汤桂芍麻，干姜辛夏草味加。外束风寒内停饮，散寒蠲饮效堪夸。
—— 方剂学教材 (traditional mnemonic)
Xiao Qing Long Tang has Gui Zhi, Bai Shao and Ma Huang; add Gan Jiang, Xi Xin, Ban Xia, Gan Cao and Wu Wei Zi — for exterior wind-cold with inner rheum, its dissipation and drying of thin mucus are greatly praised.
This prescription is provided only by the dispensing TCM practitioner. Take as directed; do not modify the dose or share it. If you experience any adverse effect, stop immediately and contact your practitioner. The content of this platform is educational reference, not medical advice. Bencao Dian · https://bencaodian.org · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Cite this entry
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@misc{bencaodian-xiao-qing-long-tang,
author = {{Bencaodian Editorial}},
title = {Xiǎo Qīng Lóng Tāng 小青龙汤 (Minor Bluegreen Dragon Decoction)},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {Bencao Dian: A Bilingual Knowledge Graph of Traditional Chinese Medicine},
url = {https://bencaodian.org/en/formulas/xiao-qing-long-tang},
urldate = {2026-04-17},
note = {CC BY-SA 4.0}
}