Xiao Feng Wan - Clear Wind Pill - TCM Herbal Formula

Chinese Name: Xiao Feng Wan
English Name: Clear Wind Pill

Formula Category


  • Expel Wind
  • Release Wind from the Skin and Channels

Clinical Usage and Indications

Itchy and red skin lesions, possibly with weeping, comprising such conditions as psoriasis, eczema, acne, dermatitis, etc.

The Pulse will generally be forceful, floating and rapid and the Tongue will have a yellow or white tongue coating.

Related TCM Diagnostic Patterns


Clinical Formula Combinations and Modifications:

Staff Clinician Notes:

There are no staff notes at this time.

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Cautions and Contraindications:

Due to the relatively strong dispersing nature this formula should be avoided in patients with significant qi and/or blood deficiency.  As always consult with an acupuncturist/herbalist before use.

Related Western Medical Conditions:


Individual Chinese Herbs In This Formula:


  • Cang Zhu
  • Herb Functions
    • Strongly dries dampness, strengthens spleen - low appetite, diarrhea, epigastric distention, fatigue, vomiting, greasy tongue coat.
    • Expels wind-damp-cold (bi-syndrome) in extremities.
    • Clears damp-heat from lower burner (combine with clear-heat herbs, however, as this has a warm nature (for example, Er Miao San) - vaginal discharge, swollen and sore joints.
    • Induces sweating, release the exterior.
    • Improves vision.

  • Chan Tui
  • Herb Functions
    • Disperses wind, clears heat - wind-heat with loss of voice, swollen and sore throat.
    • Vents rashes - for early stage of measles with an incomplete expression of the rash.
    • Clears eyes and removes superficial visual obstruction, wind-heat eye problems - red, painful, swollen eyes, blurry vision.
    • Stops spasms and extinguishes wind - childhood febrile diseases in which wind causes convulsions, spasms, delirium or night terrors; tetanus (lockjaw).

  • Contraindications
    • Avoid during Pregnancy.
    • Avoid in cases of exterior deficiency.

  • Dang Gui
  • Herb Functions
    • Tonifies the blood, regulates menses - pallid, ashen complexion, tinnitus, blurred vision, palpitations, irregular menses, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea.
    • Invigorates/harmonizes the blood, disperses cold - important herb to stop pain due to blood stasis - abdominal pain, trauma, carbuncles due to blood stasis, chronic bi.
    • Moistens dry intestines due to blood deficiency.
    • Reduces swellings, expels pus, generates flesh - sores.

  • Fang Feng
  • Herb Functions
    • Releases exterior, expel wind-cold (headache, chills, body ache)
    • Bi-Syndromes, Wind-Damp, alleviates pain, relieves spasms (not very strong, only as a supporting herb)
    • Trembling hands and/or feet
    • Spleen/Liver intestinal issues - painful diarrhea, bright blood in stool
    • Migraines

  • Contraindications
    • Avoid in Yin Deficiency - Empty Heat
    • Avoid in spasms from Blood Deficiency

  • Gan Cao
  • Herb Functions
    • Tonifies the spleen and augments qi - spleen deficiency w/shortness of breath, fatigue, loose stools (si jun zi tong).
    • Qi and/or blood deficiency w/irregular pluse or palpitations (Zhi Gan Cao Tang).
    • Moistens the lungs and stops cough - heat/cold in the lungs (Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang).
    • Clears heat and toxic fire (raw) - carbuncles, sores, sore throat due to fire toxin (internally or topically).
    • Alleviates pain and stops spasms - abdomen or legs (Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang).
    • Often used to harmonize and/or moderate characteristics of other herbs.
    • Antidote for toxic substances (internally and topically).

  • Contraindications
    • Avoid with excess dampness, nausea, vomiting.
    • Incompatible with Gan Sui, Da Ji, Yuan Hua, Hai Zao (although used in some formulas with Hai Zao).
    • If taken for long periods of time, may cause hypertension and/or edema.

  • Hei Zhi Ma
  • Herb Functions
    • Tonify the yin of the liver and kidney systems.  Useful for vision disturbances (blurry vision), tinnitus, dizziness, vertigo, premature graying of the hair.
    • Nourish liver blood and clear liver wind - headaches, dizziness, numbness in the limbs.
    • Moisten and lubricate the intestines - constipation.

  • Contraindications
    • Avoid in patients with loose stools and/or diarrhea due to Spleen Qi Deficiency.

  • Jing Jie
  • Herb Functions
    • Expels wind and releases the exterior - useful for either wind-cold or wind-heat
    • Useful for boils, carbuncles, etc. in the initial stages
    • Resolve itching (wind-heat in the blood level), may be used topically
    • Stops bleeding, blood in stool (secondary herb), uterine bleeding

  • Contraindications
    • Avoid in measles and/or w/open sores
    • Caution with exterior deficiency
    • Avoid with liver wind patterns

    • Ku Shen
    • Herb Functions
      • Clears heat, dries dampness - dysentery, leukorrhea, jaundice, sores.
      • Expels wind, kills parasites, stops itching - for damp toxin skin lesions or infestations with chronic itching, seepage, and bleeding; genital itching and vaginal discharge.
      • Clears heat, promotes urination - for damp-heat in the small intestine, lin syndrome, hot edema.

    • Mu Tong
    • Herb Functions
      • Promotes urination, drains heat from the heart through the small intestine - irritability with sores of the mouth or tongue, scanty urination, lin syndrome, edema.
      • Promotes lactation, unblocks the blood vessels - insufficient lactation, less commonly for amenorrhea and bi-syndrome.

    • Contraindications
      • Avoid during Pregnancy.
      • Toxic - can lead to renal failure (aristolochic acid).

    • Niu Bang Zi
    • Herb Functions
      • Expels wind-heat (acrid), benefits throat - fever, cough, sore, red, swollen throat.
      • Clears heat (bitter, cold), relieves toxicity, vents rashes - red swellings, carbuncles, mumps, acute febrile rashes, early stages of measles with incomplete expression.
      • Moistens intestines (rich plant oil - slippery) - constipation due to wind-heat (cold nature of the herb).

    • Contraindications
      • Avoid in qi deficiency, diarrhea, lack of excess heat.
      • Avoid when open sores and/or carbuncles are present.

    • Sheng Di Huang
    • Herb Functions
      • Clears Heat, Cools Blood. High fever, thirst, scarlet tongue, hemorrhage due to heat in the Blood.
      • Nourishes Yin, Generates Fluids. Yin Deficiency with heat signs with injury to body fluids. Dry mouth, low-grade fever, constipation, throat pain from yin deficiency.
      • Cools Ascending Heart Fire (HT, LV). Mouth and tongue sores, irritability, insomnia, malar flush.
      • Wasting thirst disorder.

    • Contraindications
      Spleen Deficiency, Yang Deficiency, Damp Phlegm, Digestion Difficulties.
    • Shi Gao
    • Herb Functions
      • The most important herb to clear internal heat, especially in the qi and yang ming levels.
      • Clears heat, drains fire (heavy, descending) - high fever with no chills, excessive thirst, sweating, flooding and big pulse (the "4 bigs"), irritability, red tongue with yellow coat.
      • Clears excess lung heat - cough, wheezing, fever, thick yellow sputum.
      • Clears blazing stomach fire - headache, toothache, painful and swollen gums.
      • Topically for eczema, burns, ulcerated sores; may also be taken internally.

    • Contraindications
      • Avoid in patients with a weak stomach, weak pulse, and yang deficiency.
      • Avoid in cases with heat from yin deficiency.

    • Zhi Mu
    • Herb Functions
      • Clears heat, drains fire - high fever, irritability, thirst, and a rapid flooding pulse in patterns of excessive heat in the lungs and/or stomach; cough due to lung heat with thick yellow sputum.
      • Nourishes yin, moistens dryness - deficiency of lung and kidney yin, night sweats, steaming bone disorder, irritability, afternoon or low-grade fevers, bleeding gums, five-center heat; also for kidney heat signs - spermatorrhea, nocturnal emission, high sexual desire.
      • Generates fluids and clears heat - oral ulcers and inflammation due to yin deficiency, wasting and thirsting disorder.

    • Contraindications
      • Avoid in patients with diarrhea from spleen deficiency.