Da Qing Long Tang (大青龙汤) — Major Bluegreen Dragon Decoction

On this page

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

Overview

Da Qing Long Tang — the “Major Bluegreen Dragon Decoction” — is from Zhang Zhongjing’s Shang Han Lun. It is essentially Ma Huang Tang with Shi Gao, Sheng Jiang and Da Zao added — combining strong Wind-Cold-releasing action with cold Shi Gao to clear the severe interior Heat that has built up from the trapped pathogen. The clinical picture: a patient with marked exterior Wind-Cold (no sweat, severe body aches) who has become very irritable and feverish because the Heat cannot escape. This trapped-Heat pattern is the hallmark.

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

TCM pattern

Da Qing Long Tang is prescribed for Wind-Cold trapped at the surface with intense interior Heat:

• Severe aversion to cold, high fever, no sweat
• Severe body and joint aches, headache
• Marked irritability, restlessness from trapped Heat
• Possible thirst
• Robust patient (not appropriate for deficient constitutions)
• Tongue — thin white coat, red tip
• Pulse — floating, tight, forceful

Key herbs

1. Ma Huang (Hb. Ephedrae, 6–18g) — chief; strongly releases Wind-Cold; opens the Lung
2. Gui Zhi (Ram. Cinnamomi, 6–12g) — assists Ma Huang; warms and unblocks the channels
3. Xing Ren (Sm. Armeniacae, 6–12g) — descends Lung Qi; stops cough^[10]
4. Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum, 30–60g) — clears intense interior Heat; relieves irritability
5. Zhi Gan Cao (Rx. Glycyrrhizae Preparata, 3–6g) — harmonises; moderates Ma Huang
6. Sheng Jiang (Rz. Zingiberis Recens, 3–6g) — assists in releasing the exterior
7. Da Zao (Fr. Jujubae, 3–12g) — protects the middle from the dispersing herbs

Formula actions

1. Strongly releases Wind-Cold at the surface
2. Clears intense interior Heat
3. Promotes vigorous sweating to release trapped Heat

Conditions treated

1. Severe acute influenza with high fever, no sweat and marked irritability
2. Acute bronchitis with severe exterior signs and trapped Heat
3. Acute exacerbation of asthma[13] with chill, fever and marked restlessness
4. Acute febrile illness in robust patients with the trapped-Heat picture

Cautions

Contains Ma Huang at high dose — contraindicated in hypertension^[19], hyperthyroidism^[6], anxiety^[4], glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy, pregnancy, and with MAO inhibitors or sympathomimetics. Strong sweating risk.

Strictly for robust patients with the full picture (severe chill + no sweat + irritability) — never for weak, depleted or Yin-deficient patients.

For short-term acute use only; stop as soon as sweating breaks and Heat clears.

High fever with severe systemic illness requires medical assessment.

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the RCHM.

Prefer to be treated from home? Chinese herbal medicine online consultations are available throughout the UK and worldwide.

References

[4] Lin Y, Cai S, Wang T, Zhuang T, Huang T, Yu X, et al. Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of Xiao Yao San as a Treatment for Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022;2022:1319592. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/1319592. PMID: 35432568.

[6] Liu Y, Cheng L, Yan G, Gu J, Lyu Z, Ding J. Effectiveness and potential mechanism of Jiawei-Xiaoyao-San for hyperthyroidism: a systematic review. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Sep 18;14:1241962. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1241962. PMID: 37780612.

[10] Lee B, Kwon CY, Suh HW, Kim YJ, Kim KI, Lee BJ, Lee JH. Herbal medicine for the treatment of chronic cough: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Pharmacol. 2023 Oct 17;14:1230604. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1230604. PMID: 37920213.

[13] Shergis JL, Wu L, Zhang AL, Guo X, Lu C, Xue CC. Herbal medicine for adults with asthma: A systematic review. J Asthma. 2016 Aug;53(6):650-9. https://doi.org/10.3109/02770903.2015.1101132. PMID: 27172294.

[19] Wang J, Xiong X, Liu W. Tianma Gouteng Yin as Adjunctive Treatment for Essential Hypertension: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:706125. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/706125. PMID: 23710230.