by Bob Flaws

Just because we learn about a particular formula in school in a certain way in our beginner’s textbook doesn’t mean that formula can only be used that way or even that it is mostly used that way in real-life clinical practice. Xiao Chai Hu Tang is a case in point. We all know that Xiao Chai Hu Tang is Zhang Zhong-jing’s flag-ship formula for harmonizing a shao yang aspect cold damage condition. However, Xiao Chai Hu Tang also harmonizes the liver and stomach, liver and spleen, spleen and stomach, and stomach and intestines. Therefore, it is a hugely useful formula in clinical practice with a very wide scope of application.

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On pages 184-185 of issue #3, 2008 of Shi Yong Zhong Yi Yao Za Zhi (Journal of Practical Chinese Medicine & Pharmacology), Liu Li et al. published an article titled “A Simple Analysis of the Use of Xiao Chai Hu Tang.” In this article, they describe the origination of this formula, how it is used in a shao yang aspect cold damage condition, and its relationship to other harmonizing formulas in the Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Damage [Due to] Cold). However, they end their article by stating Xiao Chai Hu Tang harmonizes and resolves a number of different entities and that it does not just treat cold damage, shao yang, half exterior/half interior, acute febrile conditions. Rather, it address both above and below, exterior and interior, the constructive and defensive, the qi and blood, and the qi transformation of all three burners. When appropriate additions and subtractions are made to this formula, it frees and eases the flow of the qi and pathways of all three burners. Thus it restores the normalcy of the upbearing and downbearing of the qi mechanism of the whole body.

Therefore, practitioners would do well not to underestimate the utility of this formula just because we all learned it mainly as a cold damage, shao yang aspect resolving formula.