xiao chengqi tang

Xiao Chengqi Tang (小承气汤), also known as "Minor Rhubarb Decoction" or "Minor Order the Qi Decoction," is a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbal formula first recorded in 220 AD. It consists of three main herbs: Da Huang (Rhubarb root), Hou Po (Magnolia bark), and Zhi Shi (Immature bitter orange). The formula is designed to moderately purge heat accumulation, promote bowel movement, circulate Qi in the middle burner, and eliminate dampness. Its primary TCM indications are for relatively mild colon excess heat, Yang Ming Fu syndrome, and intestinal dry heat patterns. In modern clinical practice, it is used for conditions such as acute febrile diseases with constipation and abdominal fullness, habitual constipation, postoperative constipation/distention, hypertension with gastrointestinal symptoms, food poisoning with stagnation symptoms, dysentery at early stages with abdominal distention/constipation, difficult urination due to internal heat/dampness accumulation. Pharmacologically it stimulates intestinal smooth muscle contraction/peristalsis and has demonstrated some antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli[1][2][3][5][6].

Other names

小承气汤Minor Rhubarb DecoctionMinor Order the Qi DecoctionMinor Rhubarb CombinationLess Drastic Purgative DecoctionMinor Purgative Decoction