Liu He Tang — Six Harmonies Decoction

On this page

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

Overview

Liu He Tang — the “Six Harmonies Decoction” — is from the Song-dynasty Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang. The “six harmonies” refers to the formula’s ability to harmonise the six pathological factors that can disturb the middle burner in summer: Cold, Damp, summer-Heat, food stagnation, Qi stagnation and middle-burner deficiency. Its classical use is the modern reality of summer gastroenteritis — Damp-Cold attacking the middle burner in summer, often from cold drinks or air-conditioning after sweating, with vomiting, diarrhoea, body aches and aversion to cold.

I prescribe Liu He Tang as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.

TCM pattern

Liu He Tang is prescribed for summer Damp-Cold injuring the middle burner:

• Vomiting and diarrhoea in summer
• Abdominal distention and pain
• Body aches, heaviness
• Aversion to cold, mild fever
• Poor appetite, loss of taste
• Often triggered by cold drinks, air-con, or eating cold food in hot weather
• Tongue — white greasy coat
• Pulse — soggy, slow

Key herbs

1. Huo Xiang — aromatically transforms Damp; harmonises the Stomach; stops vomiting
2. Sha Ren — aromatically opens the Spleen; stops vomiting
3. Hou Po — moves Qi; resolves Damp in the middle
4. Bian Dou (hyacinth bean) — tonifies Spleen; resolves Damp; harmonises summer pathogens
5. Fu Ling — drains Damp; tonifies Spleen
6. Mu Gua — relieves cramping muscle aches
7. Xing Ren — descends Lung Qi; opens the chest
8. Ren Shen, Bai Zhu, Zhi Gan Cao, Sheng Jiang, Da Zao — tonify and harmonise the middle

Formula actions

1. Releases the exterior; expels summer Damp-Cold
2. Harmonises the middle burner
3. Stops vomiting and diarrhoea
4. Relieves body aches and cramping

Conditions treated

1. Acute summer gastroenteritis with cold pattern
2. Travellers’ diarrhoea with vomiting and body aches
3. Food poisoning from cold/raw foods
4. Norovirus with prominent body aches
5. Cold-induced acute IBS flare in hot weather
6. Air-conditioning sickness with vomiting and diarrhoea

Cautions

Bloody diarrhoea, high fever, severe dehydration, or symptoms lasting more than 48 hours require medical assessment — rule out invasive bacterial or amoebic dysentery.

Not appropriate for Damp-Heat patterns (foul-smelling diarrhoea, burning, yellow tongue coat) — consider Ge Gen Qin Lian Tang or Xiang Lian Wan.

Severe dehydration needs oral rehydration salts or IV fluids alongside herbs.

For short-term acute use.

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the RCHM.

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