Yang Xue Jie Du Tang (养血解毒汤) — Nourish the Blood and Resolve Toxicity Decoction

Yang Xue Jie Du Tang (Nourish the Blood and Resolve Toxicity Decoction) is the primary modern Chinese herbal formula for chronic Blood-Dryness pattern psoriasis — the thick, dry, cracked, silvery-scaled plaques of long-standing psoriasis vulgaris where Blood-Heat has consumed Yin over months to years. It combines rich Blood-nourishing herbs (Shu Di Huang, Dang Gui, Bai Shao) with moistening Yin herbs (Mai Men Dong) and gentler toxin-resolving herbs, while adding Huang Qi to support Wei Qi and immune tolerance.

On this page

Overview
TCM pattern — Blood-Dryness with residual Toxin
Ingredients
Actions and indications
Dosing
Cautions and contraindications
Related formulas
Treatment at my clinic

1. Overview

Yang Xue Jie Du Tang (养血解毒汤) is a modern Chinese herbal formula developed and standardised in Chinese dermatology hospitals for chronic Blood-Dryness pattern psoriasis. Like its Blood-Heat counterpart Liang Xue Jie Du Tang, it is a 20th-century composition rather than a Han-dynasty classical formula. I prescribe it as bespoke pharmaceutical-grade granules from Sun Ten in Taiwan at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire, and via online Chinese herbal consultations for patients throughout the UK and internationally.

2. TCM pattern — Blood-Dryness with residual Toxin

Blood-Dryness psoriasis presents as: pale-pink to dull-red plaques with thick, dry, cracked silvery scale; long-standing (usually years) rather than acute; stable rather than actively spreading; skin that feels dry and cool; scale that adheres firmly and lifts with difficulty; dull complexion, thin dry hair, brittle nails and dry lips; a pale or dull red tongue with scanty coat; a thin thready pulse. This is the classic pattern of long-standing plaque psoriasis in older adults, post-menopausal women, and patients with underlying constitutional Yin and Blood deficiency.

3. Ingredients

Shu Di Huang — Rehmannia glutinosa (prepared) (15–30g) — chief; strongly nourishes Blood and Kidney Yin; the foundational Blood-and-Yin-restoring herb
Dang Gui — Angelica sinensis (9–12g) — nourishes Blood, gently moves Blood, moistens dryness
Bai Shao — Paeonia lactiflora (white peony) (9–12g) — nourishes Blood, preserves Yin, softens the Liver
He Shou Wu — Polygonum multiflorum (9–15g) — nourishes Blood and Yin; moistens the skin; particularly targets skin dryness
Hei Zhi Ma — Sesamum indicum (black sesame seed) (9–15g) — nourishes Liver and Kidney, moistens Blood and skin
Mai Men Dong — Ophiopogon japonicus (9–12g) — nourishes Yin, moistens dryness, generates fluids
Huang Qi — Astragalus membranaceus (12–20g) — strengthens Wei Qi and supports immune tolerance; the immunomodulatory herb of the formula

Modifications commonly added by the clinician include Sheng Di Huang for residual Blood-Heat; Dan Shen for Blood stasis in chronic plaques; and Gan Cao to harmonise.

4. Actions and indications

Principal actions

Nourishes Blood and Yin
Moistens the skin and resolves dryness
Resolves residual Toxin
Strengthens Wei Qi (supports immune tolerance)

Indications

Chronic Blood-Dryness pattern psoriasis vulgaris — the primary indication
Long-standing thick-plaque psoriasis with dry scale
Post-menopausal psoriasis with underlying Yin deficiency
Psoriasis with concurrent dry eczema (asteatotic pattern)
General dry skin syndrome in older adults with Blood-Yin deficiency

5. Dosing

As decoction or granule concentrate, 8–12g/day of the granule formulation divided across two daily doses. Duration for chronic psoriasis: 12–16 weeks minimum for the active phase, often followed by a long maintenance course (6–12 months at half dose). Response is slower than Blood-Heat pattern — expect visible skin thinning from weeks 6–8, meaningful clearance by 3–4 months.

6. Cautions and contraindications

Contraindicated in acute Blood-Heat pattern psoriasis (actively spreading, red, hot lesions) — use Liang Xue Jie Du Tang
Reduce dose in Spleen-Damp patients — the rich Yin-nourishing herbs are cloying and can aggravate Damp accumulation
Not for use in acute infections
Contraindicated in pregnancy without practitioner supervision
Do not self-prescribe. Always used within a full TCM diagnosis

Liang Xue Jie Du Tang — the Blood-Heat pattern equivalent
Tao Hong Si Wu Tang — for Blood-Stasis pattern psoriasis
Si Wu Tang — the parent Blood-nourishing formula
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan — foundational Kidney Yin tonic (often combined for constitutional support)

8. Treatment at my clinic

I prescribe Yang Xue Jie Du Tang for chronic Blood-Dryness pattern psoriasis where the plaques are stable, dry and long-standing. I see patients in person at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire, and remotely via online Chinese herbal consultations — a full history, tongue and skin photograph review with delivery of pharmaceutical-grade granules to your door. See the psoriasis page for the broader TCM framework.