What Pi Pa Qing Fei Yin is for
The skin picture is oily and congested: a shiny T-zone, red papules on the face and upper back, and a greasy scalp that flakes. The Lungs govern the skin, so Heat gathered there shows at the surface as oiliness and redness, and the formula clears that Heat and dries the Dampness behind the shine. It is aimed at the oily, robust presentation rather than dry or thin skin.
The face is oily and congested rather than dry. The T-zone shines, red papules sit on a greasy base, on the face and often the upper back, and the scalp may flake with grease rather than with dryness. It is the picture of a robust younger person rather than a depleted one, and the oiliness is part of the problem rather than a cosmetic detail, because it is what keeps the surface congested. The redness is inflammatory and does not settle while the oiliness continues.
The tradition explains the oiliness as Lung Heat showing at the surface. Pi Pa Ye and Sang Bai Pi clear the Lung Heat and direct it downward; Huang Lian and Huang Bo clear Heat and dry the Dampness that leaves the surface greasy; Ren Shen in a small dose protects the Qi, so that weeks of bitter cold do not exhaust the person; Gan Cao harmonises. The protective dose is the balance of the formula: without it the drying would be too much to take for a course.
It suits the oily, congested picture and not dry, thin or depleted skin, where the bitter cold would strip what little moisture is left. It is given for two to four weeks and then reassessed, and the course is shortened if the person is depleted. Severe or scarring acne needs medical assessment, and fried, greasy, sweet and spicy food and alcohol are avoided because they increase the oiliness.
Actions
- Clears Lung Heat
- Drains Heat downward
- Dries Dampness and reduces oiliness
- Clears facial congestion
Properties
- Taste and temperature: Predominantly bitter and slightly sweet. Bitter clears Heat and dries Dampness, sweet protects the Qi.
- Organs: Lungs, Stomach
- Channels: Lung, Stomach
The pattern behind it
The pattern is Lung Heat rising to the face. The Lungs govern the skin, so when Heat accumulates there the face becomes oily, red and congested. The formula clears that Heat and drains it downward, which is why it is used for oily facial acne rather than for dry or deficient patterns.
Composition
The herbs in Pi Pa Qing Fei Yin, with their role and dose.
| Role | Herb | Dose | Properties | Why it is there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King | Pi Pa Ye | 6 to 9 g | Slightly cold, Bitter | Clears Lung Heat and directs it downward, the leading herb of the formula. |
| King | Sang Bai Pi | 6 to 9 g | Cold, Sweet | Clears Lung Heat and drains it, supporting the descending action. |
| Huang Lian | 3 to 6 g | Cold, Bitter | Clears Heat and dries Dampness, reducing the oiliness and inflammation. | |
| Assistant | Huang Bo | 3 to 6 g | Cold, Bitter | Clears Heat and dries Dampness, addressing the oily quality from below. |
| Envoy | Ren Shen | 1 to 3 g | Slightly warm, Sweet | A small dose protects the Qi so the bitter cold herbs do not exhaust the person. |
| Gan Cao | 1 to 3 g | Neutral, Sweet | Harmonises the formula. |
Patterns it treats
Lung Heat
Oily, congested facial skin with a shiny T-zone, red papules and greasy scalp flaking. The Lungs govern the skin, so Heat gathered there surfaces as oiliness and redness that the drying herbs clear.
How the formula is built
Two herbs clear and descend the Lung Heat, two dry the Dampness, and one small dose of a Qi tonic protects against the drying. That protective herb is the formula's balance: without it the bitter cold would be too draining for a course of weeks.
Skin conditions it is used for
Where this formula appears in the skin conditions of the library.
Preparation and use
Decocted in water and taken warm, in two divided doses.
Modifications
- If the oiliness is marked, drying herbs are increased.
- If the papules are inflamed, more cooling is added.
- If the person is depleted, the protective herb is increased and the course shortened.
- For dry skin, this formula is not appropriate.
Timing
Taken warm in two divided doses.
Duration
Typically two to four weeks, then reassessed, and extended with care because the formula is bitter and cold.
Diet while taking it
Avoid fried, greasy, sweet and spicy food, and alcohol, all of which increase oiliness and Heat.
Safety
Contraindications
Caution in acne or skin conditions caused by deficiency or cold: the formula is bitter and cold and would worsen dryness and depletion. Avoid in pregnancy without guidance.
Interactions
Berberine from Huang Lian and Huang Bo can affect drug metabolism and blood sugar. Ren Shen may affect blood sugar and anticoagulant therapy.
Pregnancy
Use with caution in pregnancy. No herb in the formula is classified as strongly prohibited, but the bitter cold herbs need professional guidance.
Breastfeeding
Use only under professional guidance.
Children
Used only with professional supervision and reduced dose.
Before you use it
Recorded from the classical record and rewritten in this project's own words. Educational only: not a prescription, and severe or scarring acne needs medical assessment.
General safety references
General references for herbal hepatotoxicity and herb-drug interactions; they are not specific to this formula.
- Review article: Herbal hepatotoxicity - an update on traditional Chinese medicine preparations. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 2014. PMID: 24844799.
- Interactions between herbal medicines and prescribed drugs: an updated systematic review. Drugs, 2009. PMID: 19719333.
- Warfarin and food, herbal or dietary supplement interactions: a systematic review. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2021. PMID: 32478963.
Origin and history
Yi Zong Jin Jian (医宗金鉴, Golden Mirror of Medicine), surgical section, Qing dynasty, 1742.
The formula appears in the surgical section of the Qing imperial compendium in 1742, where acne and facial congestion were attributed to Lung Heat. It remains one of the standard formulas for oily facial acne, and its small protective dose of ginseng shows how the tradition balanced strong cooling for longer courses.
Classical record
The surgical section of the Golden Mirror records the drink for acne and facial congestion caused by Lung Heat, to clear the Lungs and drain the Heat downward.
Yi Zong Jin Jian (医宗金鉴, Golden Mirror of Medicine), surgical section, Qing dynasty, 1742.
Evidence note
No controlled trial of this treatment in skin conditions was identified for this entry. What is described here rests on the classical and later materia medica record and on traditional clinical use, not on controlled trial evidence, and it is not a prediction of benefit. Where skin-specific research does exist it is linked above.
Common questions
What kind of acne does it suit?
Oily congested facial acne with red papules and a red tongue tip, in a robust person. Dry or depleted acne is a different pattern.
Why does a cooling formula contain ginseng?
A small dose protects the Qi so the bitter cold herbs can be taken for weeks without exhausting the person.
Can it help greasy dandruff?
Where the scalp problem accompanies Lung Heat and oiliness, as part of a broader treatment.
How long is it used?
Two to four weeks, then reassessed.