Zeng Ye Tang: Herbal Relief for Dryness and Constipation
Health Lab- Jan 30
- 5 min read
Updated: May 4
Zeng Ye Tang, or Humor-Increasing Decoction, is a classic Chinese herbal formula from Wenbing Tiaobian by Qing Dynasty physician Wu Jutong. Celebrated in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for nourishing yin, boosting body fluids, and relieving constipation, this simple yet powerful blend of three herbs hydrates the intestines and soothes symptoms of fluid deficiency.
From chronic dryness to diabetes-related thirst, Zeng Ye Tang offers natural relief, blending ancient wisdom with modern applications.
What’s in Zeng Ye Tang?
Zeng Ye Tang combines three herbs, structured by the TCM principle of monarch, minister, and assistant, to restore moisture and promote bowel health. The ingredients and their roles are:
Monarch Herb
Scrophularia Root (Xuan Shen): Bitter, salty, and slightly cold, scrophularia clears heat, cools blood, and nourishes yin, hydrating the intestines to ease constipation.
Minister Herb
Ophiopogon Root (Mai Dong): Sweet and slightly cold, ophiopogon nourishes yin, produces fluids, and clears heart heat, relieving thirst and dry tongue.
Assistant Herb
Rehmannia Root (Sheng Di Huang): Sweet, bitter, and cold, rehmannia clears heat, nourishes yin, and boosts fluids, supporting hydration and cooling internal heat.
Preparation
Decoct the herbs in water and drink warm as a tea, with dosages adjusted based on the patient’s condition, typically taken for a few days to relieve symptoms.
How It Works
Zeng Ye Tang targets yin and fluid deficiency, a TCM condition where insufficient body fluids dry out the intestines, causing constipation, thirst, and related symptoms.
Often seen in the later stages of fever or chronic conditions, this deficiency disrupts the body’s ability to lubricate the bowels. The formula works by:
Nourishing Yin: Scrophularia and rehmannia replenish yin to restore moisture.
Increasing Fluids: Ophiopogon and rehmannia boost body fluids, hydrating the intestines and tissues.
Clearing Heat: All three herbs cool internal heat, easing thirst and redness.
Moistening Intestines: Enhanced fluids lubricate the bowels, promoting smooth defecation.
This hydrates the body from within, relieving constipation and associated discomfort, as Wu Jutong emphasized in treating fluid-deficient febrile diseases.
What Does It Treat?
Zeng Ye Tang is used for constipation and symptoms of yin and fluid deficiency, often linked to Yangming febrile disease or chronic conditions. Key symptoms include:
Constipation with dry, hard stools
Thirst or dry mouth
Dry, red tongue
Thin or weak pulse
These reflect fluid depletion, commonly triggered by prolonged fever, dehydration, or chronic illness.
Modern Applications
Modern research supports Zeng Ye Tang’s hydrating and anti-inflammatory effects, making it a versatile remedy for dryness-related conditions. Clinical uses include:
Chronic Pharyngitis: Moistens the throat, relieving dryness and pain while aiding mucosal repair.
Recurrent Oral Ulcers: Hydrates the oral mucosa, promoting ulcer healing and reducing recurrence.
Diabetes: Eases thirst and excessive drinking by nourishing yin and regulating fluid balance.
Dry Skin Syndrome: Improves skin hydration, reducing dryness and itching.
Anal Fissures: Softens stools and promotes bowel regularity, aiding fissure healing.
Chronic Periodontitis: Moistens the gums, reducing dryness and bleeding while supporting tissue repair.
Its ability to restore moisture makes it effective for conditions involving dehydration or yin deficiency.
Pathogenesis in TCM
In TCM, yin and fluid deficiency dries out the body’s tissues, particularly the intestines, leading to constipation and systemic dryness. This often occurs after high fevers consume fluids or in chronic conditions where yin is depleted.
The intestines, lacking lubrication, struggle to move stools, while heat from yin deficiency causes thirst or a red tongue. Zeng Ye Tang replenishes fluids and cools heat, restoring balance and promoting natural bowel function.
Precautions
Syndrome Differentiation: Use only for fluid deficiency constipation, not for cold-damp or spleen-deficient cases (e.g., loose stools, bloating).
Dosage Adjustment: Tailor herb amounts to the patient’s condition to avoid over-hydration or digestive upset.
Contraindications: Avoid in patients with spleen-stomach cold, dampness, or bloating, as cooling herbs may worsen symptoms.
Adverse Reactions: Rare, but monitor for gastrointestinal discomfort or diarrhea; adjust or stop if needed.
Professional Guidance: Consult a TCM practitioner to ensure proper diagnosis and safe use, especially for chronic conditions.
Conclusion
Zeng Ye Tang is a gentle yet effective Chinese herbal formula that nourishes yin, boosts fluids, and relieves constipation caused by dryness. With scrophularia, ophiopogon, and rehmannia, it hydrates the intestines, soothes thirst, and supports overall moisture balance.
Widely used in modern TCM for chronic pharyngitis, diabetes, and dry skin, its benefits are rooted in centuries of tradition and supported by contemporary research. When guided by a professional, Zeng Ye Tang offers natural relief for dryness-related ailments, embodying the timeless wisdom of TCM.
Chinese Name | 增液湯 |
Phonetic | Zeng Ye Tang |
English Name | Humor-Increasing Decoction |
Classification | Dryness-moistening formulas |
Source | 《Systematic Differentiation of Warm Diseases》Wen Bing Tiao Bian《溫病條辨》 |
Combination | Scrophulariae Radix (Xuan Shen) 1 liang (30g), Ophiopogonis Radix (Mai Dong) 8 qian (24g), Rehmanniae Radix (Sheng Di) 8 qian (24g) |
Method | Cook the ingredients with 8 cups of water and reduce it down to 3 cups. For patients with a dry mouth, take the entire decoction at once. Repeat this process if the patients do not have a bowel movement (Modern use: prepare the ingredients as a decoction for oral use). |
Action | Increases body fluids to moisten dryness. |
Indication | Zeng Ye Tang is indicated for yangming warm-febrile disease with fluid inadequacy and constipation. The symptoms are constipation and thirst. The tongue is red and dry, and the pulse is thin and rapid or deep and forceless. |
Pathogenesis | Constipation as a symptom of yangming warm-febrile disease is commonly caused by the binding of heat or drying up of fluids. For an excess pattern with intense heat and binding of heat, Da Cheng Qi Tang should be selected to drastically purge and preserve yin. However, in cases where yin and body fluids have already been severely damaged due to heat and dryness, “the boat cannot steer because there is no water; the dry and accumulated stool cannot be discharged” as stated in《Systematic Differentiation of Warm Diseases》. In this condition, it is necessary to employ the therapeutic method of “increasing the fluids to float the boat”. The constipation that is treated by this formula is caused by febrile disease which consumes fluids and leads to yin deficiency and drying of the fluids that moisten the intestines and facilitate the passage of stool. As yin fluids become depleted, they are unable to rise to the mouth, causing thirst. A dry, red tongue and thin, rapid pulse reflect internal heat from yin deficiency and a deep and forceless pulse indicates interior deficiency. The appropriate therapeutic method is to increase body fluids in order to moisten dryness. |
Application | 1. Essential pattern differentiation Zeng Ye Tang is a common formula prescribed to treat constipation caused by intestinal dryness and fluid depletion. It is also a primary formula to treat yin deficiency and fluid depletion caused by internal damage. This clinical pattern is marked by constipation, thirst, dry and red tongue, thin, rapid or deep and forceless pulse. 2. Modern applications This formula can be used in the following biomedically defined disorders when the patient shows signs of yin-fluid deficiency: chronic pharyngitis, recurrent oral ulcer, diabetes, sjogren syndrome, fissure, and chronic periodontitis. |
Additonal formulae | Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang (Humor-Increasing and Qi-Guiding Decoction 增液承气汤) [Source]《Systematic Differentiation of Warm Diseases》Wen Bing Tiao Bian《温病条辨》 [Ingredients] Xuan shen 1 liang (30g), mai dong 8 qian (24g), xi sheng di 8 qian (24g), da huang 3 qian (9g), mang xiao 1.5 qian (4.5g) [Preparation and Administration] Prepare it as a decoction. [Actions] Enriches yin and increases fluid, and discharges heat to promote defecation. [Applicable Patterns] Heat binding and yin deficiency. Symptoms include: obstruction of dry stool that cannot be moved by purging, distention and fullness of stomach cavity and abdomen, dry mouth and lips, a red tongue with yellow tongue coating, and a thin, rapid pulse. |
Comments