Treat Dryness — herbs and formulas (治燥剂)

Dryness damages Body Fluids, particularly the fluids of the Lung. Treat-Dryness formulas moisten and nourish to restore fluid balance. They are used in autumn-season conditions and in chronic Yin-deficient presentations.

Sub-categories

1. Disperse Cool Dryness — Xing Su San
2. Clear Warm Dryness — Sang Xing Tang
3. Nourish Lung Yin and moisten — Sha Shen Mai Men Dong Tang, Bai He Gu Jin Tang
4. Moisten Intestines — covered in Drain Downward category

Herbs in this category

Treating dryness is primarily a formula-level strategy in classical Chinese herbal medicine. Individual herbs that nourish Yin or moisten dryness are classified primarily under Yin tonics (e.g. Sha Shen, Mai Men Dong, Yu Zhu) or under specific Lung-moistening categories. The classical formulas that target external and internal dryness (Sang Xing Tang, Bai He Gu Jin Tang, Mai Men Dong Tang) combine these Yin-nourishing herbs with Lung-clearing and Stomach-nourishing herbs.

Formulas in this category

The following classical and modern formulas in this category are detailed individually in the formula directory:

1. Sang Xing Tang — warm dryness invading the Lung
2. Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang — severe dryness damaging the Lung
3. Bai He Gu Jin Tang — Lung-Kidney Yin deficiency
4. Mai Men Dong Tang — Lung-Stomach Yin deficiency
5. Zeng Ye Tang — fluid depletion with constipation

Browse the full formula directory for over 260 individual formula pages.

When this category is used

Formulas that Treat Dryness are typically prescribed for: dry cough, dry skin, dry eye syndrome, post-viral Yin depletion, autumn-onset complaints. The choice of specific formula within the category is determined by precise Eight Principles pattern differentiation in clinical consultation.

About prescribing

Chinese herbal formulas are dispensed by qualified practitioners following individual TCM diagnosis. The herbs I prescribe are pharmaceutical-grade granules from Sun Ten in Taiwan, tested to the highest international quality and safety standards. Online consultations are available throughout the UK and worldwide.

Return to the Chinese herbal medicine main page or browse individual herbs.