Bai Du San败毒散

Ginseng Powder to Overcome Pathogenic Influences

Releasing the Exterior 解表剂Release the Exterior with Tonification 扶正解表

Ingredients10 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

柴Chai Hu柴胡去苗Bupleuri Radix900g臣 DeputyReleases the muscle layer and vents the fever outward 前Qian Hu前胡去苗，洗Peucedani Radix900g佐 AssistantDescends Lung qi and transforms phlegm 川Chuan Xiong川芎Chuanxiong Rhizoma900g臣 DeputyMoves qi and blood so the aching head and body ease 枳Zhi Ke枳壳去瓤，麸炒Aurantii Fructus900g佐 AssistantLoosens the chest and sends qi downward, balancing Jie Geng's lift 羌Qiang Huo羌活去苗Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix900g君 ChiefScatters wind, cold and damp from the surface, easing the upper-body ache 独Du Huo独活去苗Angelicae Pubescentis Radix900g君 ChiefPairs with Qiang Huo and reaches the lower body and deeper channels 茯Fu Ling茯苓去皮Poria900g佐 AssistantLeaches damp so phlegm has no source 桔Jie Geng桔梗Platycodonis Radix900g佐 AssistantOpens and lifts Lung qi and frees the throat 人Ren Shen人参去芦Ginseng Radix900g佐 AssistantSupplies the qi that expelling the pathogen costs, so dispersing does not deplete 甘Gan Cao甘草Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma900g佐使 Assistant–EnvoyHarmonizes the group and steadies the middle

Indications

Scatters cold and expels dampnessReleases the exterior while supporting qiDiffuses the Lung and stops coughLifts a sunken pathogen back out

Wind, cold and damp attacking the surface of someone whose qi is already short. The surface is closed and aching but the person has no reserve with which to sweat, so a full acrid-warm exterior team is paired with a small dose of qi tonic rather than used alone.

Clinical Manifestations

Wind-cold-damp exterior pattern in a qi-deficient person
Strong chills with fever, body aches and no sweating
Stiff, painful head and neck
Blocked nose with a heavy voice, cough with phlegm
Early dysentery still showing an exterior sign
Colds in the elderly, postpartum or convalescent

TonguePale with a white coating

PulseFloating but forceless on pressure

Health Categories

Digestive HealthRespiratory HealthBone & Joint HealthEnergy & FatigueCold & Flu Relief

Modern Applications

Common cold Influenza Bronchitis Myalgia Bacillary dysentery Convalescent fatigue

Common adjustments

Wind-heat leaning, or the patient is not qi-deficient — drop Ren Shen 人参 and add Jing Jie 荆芥 with Fang Feng 防风 — Jing Fang Bai Du San
Dysentery with refusal of food — add parched rice — Cang Lin San
Cough and phlegm predominant — increase Qian Hu 前胡 and Jie Geng 桔梗
Heavy damp with aching, weighted limbs — increase Qiang Huo 羌活 and Du Huo 独活

Contraindications

Not for warm-heat or damp-heat exterior patterns, and not once the pathogen has moved fully into the interior — the acrid, drying team will consume fluids. Use cautiously where yin is depleted or the cough is dry and unproductive.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Not a routine pregnancy formula. It is full of acrid dispersing herbs and includes Chuan Xiong, so in pregnancy it should be used only under a practitioner's direct supervision, only while a genuine wind-cold-damp exterior pattern is present, and only for a short course.

Related Formulas

References

Source Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang 《太平惠民和剂局方》 · Northern Song

「治伤寒时气，头痛项强，壮热恶寒，身体烦疼，及寒壅咳嗽，鼻塞声重。」
— 《太平惠民和剂局方》(classical source, public domain)

Classical source (public domain), cited in the source-quote section.
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— pattern analysis cross-checked.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.