Cong Bai Qi Wei Yin — Scallion Drink with Seven Ingredients

On this page

1. Overview
2. TCM pattern
3. Key herbs
4. Formula actions
5. Conditions treated
6. Cautions

Overview

Cong Bai Qi Wei Yin — the “Scallion Drink with Seven Ingredients” — is from Wang Tao’s Tang-dynasty Wai Tai Mi Yao. It addresses the difficult clinical situation where a patient with underlying Blood or Yin deficiency catches a Wind-Cold — common in post-partum women, after significant blood loss, in chronic illness, and in the elderly. Strong dispersing formulas like Ma Huang Tang would further injure the depleted Blood and Yin; this formula resolves the exterior while nourishing Blood to provide the substance from which sweat is generated.

I prescribe Cong Bai Qi Wei Yin as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.

TCM pattern

Cong Bai Qi Wei Yin is prescribed for Wind-Cold cold in a Blood/Yin-deficient patient:

• Aversion to cold, fever, headache, no sweat
• Pale or wan complexion
• Fatigue, weakness
• Onset after blood loss, post-partum, post-surgery, or in chronic depletion
• Mild thirst, dry mouth
• Tongue — pale, thin coat
• Pulse — floating but thin or weak

Key herbs

1. Cong Bai (Bb. Allii Fistulosi, 3–9g) — releases Wind-Cold; opens Yang
2. Dan Dou Chi (Sm. Sojae Praeparata, 9–15g) — releases the exterior gently
3. Ge Gen (Rx. Puerariae, 6–15g) — releases the exterior and generates fluids
4. Sheng Jiang (Rz. Zingiberis Recens, 3–6g) — warms the middle; assists Cong Bai
5. Sheng Di Huang (Rx. Rehmanniae, 6–30g) — nourishes Yin and Blood; provides substance for sweat
6. Mai Men Dong (Tb. Ophiopogonis, 6–15g) — nourishes Lung and Stomach Yin
7. Lao Jiu (aged rice wine, traditional adjunct) — circulates Yang; carries the herbs to the surface

Formula actions

1. Releases Wind-Cold at the exterior
2. Nourishes Blood and Yin to support sweating
3. Prevents the dispersing herbs from injuring depleted fluids

Conditions treated

1. Post-partum common cold with Blood deficiency
2. Cold caught after major blood loss (heavy menstrual flow, post-operative)
3. Cold in chronic illness with established depletion
4. Cold in elderly patients with weak constitution
5. Common cold in chemotherapy patients with Blood/Yin depletion

Cautions

Not appropriate for robust patients with full Wind-Cold — use Ma Huang Tang or Gui Zhi Tang instead.

Not appropriate for Wind-Heat — the warming Cong Bai and Sheng Jiang would aggravate Heat.

Severe post-partum infection requires urgent medical assessment.

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the RCHM.

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