Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San藿香正气散

Agastache Powder to Rectify the Qi (Pogostemon Formula)

Expelling Dampness 祛湿剂Dry Damp and Harmonize the Stomach 燥湿和胃

Ingredients11 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

大Da Fu Pi大腹皮Arecae Pericarpium30g佐 AssistantMoves qi downward, disperses distension and moves stagnant water 白Bai Zhi白芷Angelicae Dahuricae Radix30g佐 AssistantReleases the exterior, dries damp and relieves the frontal headache

紫紫苏30g佐 Assistant

茯Fu Ling茯苓去皮Poria30g臣 DeputyDrains damp downward and firms the stool 半Ban Xia Qu半夏曲Pinelliae Rhizoma Fermentatum60g臣 DeputyDries damp, transforms phlegm and downbears rebellious stomach qi (modern versions often use prepared Ban Xia Zhi Ban Xia)白Bai Zhu白术Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma60g臣 DeputyFortifies the Spleen and dries damp at its source 陈Chen Pi陈皮去白Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium60g臣 DeputyMoves qi and dries damp so the fullness eases 厚Hou Po厚朴去粗皮，姜汁炙Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex60g佐 AssistantDries damp and relieves the stifling fullness of the epigastrium

苦Jie Geng苦桔梗Platycodonis Radix60g佐 AssistantOpens and lifts the Lung qi, which helps the exterior release and the chest open

藿Huo Xiang藿香去土Pogostemonis Herba90g君 ChiefDisperses exterior cold and aromatically transforms damp, settling nausea — the one herb that treats both layers 甘Zhi Gan Cao甘草炙Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata75g使 EnvoyHarmonizes the middle and the whole formula

Indications

Releases the exterior and transforms dampnessRectifies qi and harmonizes the middleStops vomiting and diarrhea

External wind-cold with internal damp stagnation— most often in summer, when cold drinks and chilled rooms meet an already damp middle burner. Both layers have to be treated together, or whichever is left behind holds the other in place.

Clinical Manifestations

Summer colds with digestive upset
Vomiting and diarrhea after unfamiliar food or travel
Abdominal bloating and rumbling with nausea
Gastrointestinal influenza with chills and headache
Heavy, foggy dampness with poor appetite in humid weather

TongueWhite greasy coating

PulseSoggy and moderate, or slippery

Health Categories

Digestive HealthLiver Health & DetoxCold & Flu Relief

Modern Applications

Gastroenteritis Traveller's diarrhea Food poisoning Motion sickness Summer cold Functional dyspepsia

Common adjustments

Exterior signs slight, dampness dominant — reduce Zi Su Ye 紫苏叶 and Bai Zhi 白芷; increase Cang Zhu 苍术
Food stagnation with sour belching — add Shen Qu 神曲 and Shan Zha 山楂
Vomiting severe — increase Sheng Jiang 生姜; add Sha Ren 砂仁
Summer-heat with damp rather than cold with damp — this is not the formula's pattern — a clearing summer-heat strategy is needed instead

Contraindications

Warm, acrid and drying: not for damp-heat dysentery, not for wind-heat colds with sore throat and thirst, and not for vomiting from stomach yin deficiency. The traditional liquid formis made with alcohol — it is not taken with cephalosporin antibiotics or metronidazole, and not by anyone avoiding alcohol; the alcohol-free soft capsule or granule is used instead.

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

Pregnancy

Used with caution in pregnancy — Ban Xia and Da Fu Pi are the reasons, and most commercial labels advise pregnant women to take it only on professional advice. The alcohol-based liquid form is avoided outright.

Related Formulas

Liu He Tang六和汤

References

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

「治伤寒头疼，憎寒壮热……心腹冷痛，反胃呕恶，气泻霍乱。」
— 《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.