Minor Bupleurum
小柴胡湯 · xiǎo chái hú tāng
A foundational TCM formula for symptoms that come and go in waves. Alternating chills and fever, bad mood, sticky digestion.
What it's for
From the ancient Discussion of Cold Damage, this is the textbook formula for what TCM calls a half-exterior, half-interior pattern: alternating chills and feeling hot, a bitter taste, no appetite, nausea, and a heavy mood. Practitioners reach for it for the in-between feeling that comes with low-grade lingering illness, hormonal swings, or chronic stress that bounces between extremes. Also widely used in Japanese Kampo practice.
Signs this formula is a fit
At least 2 of the 3 main signs below should sound like you. The cycling between hot and cold is the key signal.
Main signs
Hot then cold, cycling on and off
alternating fever and chills, neither one settling
Stuck under the ribs, hard to take a full breath
fullness in the chest and sides, sighing a lot
Queasy, off food, low mood
nausea, bitter taste, no appetite, mild despondency
Extra signs
- Dry throat
- Dizziness
- Heartburn or vomiting
- Thin white tongue coating
Signs it isn't
- Your illness is on the surface only, with strong chills, body aches, and no internal signs
- Your illness has moved deep, with high fever, strong thirst, and constipation
- Your fever-chill cycling is from being run-down, not a stuck infection
What's in it
Safety
- For the lesser-yang pattern: alternating hot and cold with a bitter taste. Not for early colds or deep depletion.
- Pinellia must be properly processed. Raw pinellia is toxic. Only use products from a reputable TCM source.
- Long-term use has been linked in Japan to rare interstitial pneumonia, especially combined with interferon.
- Documented interaction with interferon, with rare lung-injury cases. Check before combining immune-modulating drugs.
How to take it
This formula is best obtained through a licensed TCM practitioner who can confirm it matches your pattern.
Find a practitioner (NCCAOM directory)