Hua Gai San华盖散

Canopy Powder

Releasing the Exterior 解表剂Release Wind-Cold 辛温解表

Ingredients7 herbs

HerbDosageWhat it does in this formula

紫Zi Su Zi紫苏子炒Perillae Fructus30gSettles rebellious qi and moves phlegm downward 麻Ma Huang麻黄去根节Ephedrae Herba30gReleases wind-cold and diffuses the Lung to stop wheezing 杏Xing Ren杏仁去皮尖Armeniacae Amarum Semen30gDirects Lung qi downward, works with Ma Huang as descent to ascent 陈Chen Pi陈皮去白Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium30gMoves qi and dries phlegm at its source in the middle 桑Sang Bai Pi桑白皮Mori Cortex30gDrains fullness from the Lung and calms wheezing 赤Chi Fu Ling赤茯苓去皮Poriae Cocos Sclerotium Rubrum30gLeaches out the damp that keeps regenerating the phlegm 甘Zhi Gan Cao甘草Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata15gHarmonizes and eases the cough

Indications

Diffuses the Lung, releases wind-coldTransforms phlegm and stops coughSettles rebellious qi and wheezing

Wind-cold attacking a Lung that already holds phlegm-damp. Distinguish from San Ao Tang by the volume of phlegm and the rattling quality of the breathing.

Clinical Manifestations

Cough with copious white phlegm during a cold
Wheezing with an audible rattle in the throat
Blocked nose and heavy voice with chest fullness
Recurrent winter cough in a phlegm-damp constitution

TongueWhite, moist or slightly greasy coating

PulseFloating and tight, or slippery

Health Categories

Respiratory HealthCold & Flu Relief

Modern Applications

Acute bronchitis Productive cough Asthma exacerbation Common cold Wheezing

Common adjustments

Phlegm turning yellow and thick — add Huang Qin 黄芩 and Zhe Bei Mu 浙贝母
Wheezing severe — add Ting Li Zi 葶苈子
Middle burner weak, appetite poor — add Bai Zhu 白术

Contraindications

Not for a dry cough from Lung yin deficiency, and not for a hot phlegm cough with thick yellow sputum and thirst — the formula is warm and drying. Exterior deficiency with sweating is a contraindication as for the other Ma Huang formulas.

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

Pregnancy

Avoid in pregnancy because of Ma Huang. For a phlegm-damp cough during pregnancy a practitioner will normally build around Chen Pi and Zi Su Ye instead and leave Ma Huang out.

Related Formulas

References

Source 《博济方》 · Northern Song

Classical source as given in the source fields (pre-1900, public domain).
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）— 附方 note under 麻黄汤, 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.