Da Cheng Qi Tang

Major Order the Qi Decoction

Purge Excess Heat • Relieve Constipation • Break Through Yangming Accumulation

Da Cheng Qi Tang is one of the most powerful purgative formulas in the Chinese herbal tradition. Designed to clear intense Yangming organ excess, it rapidly breaks up accumulations of Heat, dry stool, and Qi stagnation that obstruct the Large Intestine.

When severe constipation is accompanied by abdominal fullness, distention, pain that worsens with pressure, and signs of internal Heat, Da Cheng Qi Tang provides a decisive therapeutic approach. Rather than gently supporting digestion, this formula forcefully restores the downward movement of Qi and eliminates accumulated Heat from the intestines.

For experienced practitioners, it remains the gold standard when treating robust excess patterns characterized by significant obstruction and internal Heat.

Traditional Indications

• Severe constipation
• Abdominal distention
• Fullness and hardness of the abdomen
• Pain worse with pressure
• High fever
• Dry mouth and thirst
• Restlessness or irritability
• Delirium in severe Heat conditions
• Yangming organ syndrome
• Dry, difficult stools

TCM Pattern

Yangming Organ Excess Heat

Da Cheng Qi Tang powerfully purges Heat accumulation from the Yangming organs, softens hardness, breaks up Qi stagnation, restores the downward movement of the bowels, and relieves abdominal fullness and pain.

Modern Clinical Applications

Many practitioners reach for Da Cheng Qi Tang when supporting patients experiencing:

• Severe acute constipation
• Post-surgical ileus (as clinically appropriate)
• Bowel obstruction due to functional stagnation
• Acute abdominal fullness with excess patterns
• Severe intestinal Heat
• Early inflammatory abdominal conditions with constipation
• Postoperative bowel recovery
• Excess digestive stagnation
• Constipation associated with Blood stasis

This formula is reserved for strong excess constitutions with significant internal accumulation and should not be used for constipation caused by Qi, Blood, Yin, or Yang deficiency.

Ingredients

• Da Huang (Rhubarb) — 40%
• Mang Xiao (Mirabilite) — 20%
• Hou Po (Magnolia Bark) — 20%
• Zhi Shi (Immature Bitter Orange) — 20%

Crafted using our signature Two-Cured Decoction™ process—combining a traditional hot water decoction with a secondary high-proof alcohol extraction—to capture both water-soluble and alcohol-soluble herbal constituents for a full-spectrum tincture.

Practitioner Favorites

Gentle Purging for Weaker Constitutions

50% Da Cheng Qi Tang + 50% Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang

An excellent modification when purging is indicated but the patient requires a less aggressive approach.

Constipation + Blood Stasis

60% Da Cheng Qi Tang + 40% Tao He Cheng Qi Tang

Ideal for constipation complicated by Blood stasis, including postoperative recovery, pelvic stagnation, or endometriosis with excess patterns.

Complex Blood Stasis Presentations

50% Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang + 50% Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang

A valuable combination for practitioners treating concurrent chest and pelvic Blood stasis. While not typically combined directly with Da Cheng Qi Tang, it is an excellent companion strategy when broader circulatory stagnation predominates.

Single Herb Pairings

For further customization, consider adding:

• Mu Xiang — to promote Qi movement and relieve abdominal gas and distention.
• Tao Ren — when constipation is accompanied by significant Blood stasis or postoperative stagnation.
• Sheng Di Huang — to protect Yin fluids when prolonged Heat has produced dryness.

Urban Herbs Practitioner Advantage

Every 16 oz amber bottle is designed for fast, customized dispensing in clinical practice. Blend Da Cheng Qi Tang with complementary formulas to create individualized prescriptions in minutes—giving your patients the convenience of a liquid tincture while providing your practice with a flexible, space-saving herbal pharmacy.

Double-extracted. Ready to dispense. Built for practitioners.

Why Practitioners Keep Da Cheng Qi Tang on the Shelf

Some patients require more than gentle digestive support.

When Heat, dryness, and stagnation combine to create severe obstruction, Da Cheng Qi Tang becomes one of the most decisive formulas in the classical materia medica.

Its ability to rapidly purge excess while relieving abdominal fullness has made it a cornerstone formula for generations of practitioners treating robust excess patterns. While used less frequently than many tonic formulas, it is indispensable when the correct presentation appears.

Practitioners commonly reach for Da Cheng Qi Tang when treating:

• Severe constipation with abdominal hardness
• Yangming organ syndrome
• Functional bowel obstruction
• Post-surgical ileus (with appropriate medical oversight)
• Excess Heat with abdominal distention
• Acute digestive stagnation
• Postoperative constipation with excess patterns
• Patients whose abdominal pain improves after bowel evacuation

Because Urban Herbs tinctures are designed for blending, Da Cheng Qi Tang can be customized for varying degrees of Heat, Blood stasis, or digestive stagnation while allowing practitioners to tailor treatment to each patient's presentation.

Every complete herbal pharmacy should include at least one decisive purgative formula—and Da Cheng Qi Tang remains the classical benchmark.

One bottle. The definitive formula for resolving Yangming excess.

Practitioner Snapshot

Category

Purgative Formulas

Primary Actions

• Purges Excess Heat
• Breaks Up Intestinal Accumulation
• Relieves Constipation
• Moves Qi
• Softens Hardness
• Restores Bowel Function

Best For

• Severe constipation
• Yangming organ syndrome
• Abdominal fullness
• Pain worse with pressure
• Functional bowel obstruction
• Post-surgical ileus
• Internal Heat accumulation
• Acute digestive excess

Pairs Well With

• Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang
• Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
• Da Huang Mu Dan Tang
• Xiao Cheng Qi Tang
• Zeng Ye Tang (when dryness is significant)

Clinical Personality

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Purgative Strength
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Heat Clearing
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Qi Moving
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Constipation Relief
⭐⭐⭐☆☆ Softens Hardness

Clinical Pearl

Da Cheng Qi Tang is one of the "heroic formulas" of Chinese herbal medicine. It is designed for patients with true excess—robust constitutions presenting with severe constipation, abdominal fullness, Heat signs, and pain that worsens with pressure. In clinical practice, it's important to distinguish these patients from those whose constipation stems from deficiency, dryness, or depleted fluids. Used in the right presentation, Da Cheng Qi Tang can dramatically restore the downward movement of Qi and bowel function; used in the wrong patient, it can be overly aggressive. For this reason, experienced practitioners keep it available not because they prescribe it every day, but because when the pattern appears, few formulas are as effective.