Jiu Xian San九仙散

Nine-Immortal Powder

Stabilizing and Astringing 固涩剂Astringe the Lung and Stop Cough 敛肺止咳

Ingredients9 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

人Ren Shen人参Ginseng Radix30g臣 DeputyRebuilds the Lung qi that the long cough spent 款Kuan Dong Hua款冬花Farfarae Flos30g佐 AssistantWarms and moistens the Lung, settles cough without drying 桑Sang Bai Pi桑白皮Mori Cortex30g佐 AssistantDrains the Lung and directs rebellious qi downward 桔Jie Geng桔梗Platycodonis Radix30g佐 AssistantOpens the Lung and carries the other herbs upward to it 五Wu Wei Zi五味子Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus30g臣 DeputyGathers scattered Lung qi and generates fluids 阿E Jiao阿胶Asini Corii Colla30g臣 DeputyNourishes Lung yin and blood so the airway is moistened 乌Wu Mei乌梅Mume Fructus30g臣 DeputySour astringency that helps the Lung hold and moistens a dry throat

贝贝母15g佐 Assistant

罂Ying Su Ke罂粟壳去顶，蜜炒黄Papaveris Pericarpium240g君 ChiefBinds the Lung and quiets the chronic cough — a restricted narcotic material

Indications

Astringes the Lung and stops chronic coughAugments qi and nourishes yinDirects Lung qi downward and transforms phlegm

Chronic cough from a depleted Lung: months of coughing have scattered Lung qi and consumed Lung yin. There is no exterior pathogen and no thick phlegm left — the cough persists because the organ can no longer gather itself.

Clinical Manifestations

Cough of long standing that will not settle
Coughing fits ending in breathlessness
Sweating brought on by coughing
Scanty sticky sputum with a dry throat
Weak voice and fatigue after prolonged coughing

TongueRed with scant coating

PulseDeficient and rapid

Health Categories

Respiratory Health

Modern Applications

Chronic cough Chronic bronchitis Post-infectious cough Bronchiectasis Emphysema

Common adjustments

Yin deficiency marked, throat very dry — add Mai Men Dong 麦门冬 and Bei Sha Shen 北沙参
Qi deficiency with spontaneous sweating — increase Ren Shen 人参 and add Huang Qi 黄芪
Phlegm still abundant — reduce the astringents and add Zhe Bei Mu 浙贝母 or Qian Hu 前胡 until the phlegm clears

Contraindications

Contraindicated while an exterior pathogen, fever or copious phlegm is present — astringing then locks the pathogen in the Lung and worsens the cough. The chief ingredient, poppy husk (Ying Su Ke 罂粟壳), is a narcotic material: it is habit-forming, depresses breathing in overdose, is not for children, and is legally restricted or unavailable in many countries including the United States. Where it cannot be supplied, practitioners substitute other Lung-astringing herbs rather than increase the remaining ones.

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

Pregnancy

Contraindicated in pregnancy and while breastfeeding — poppy husk is a narcotic material that is habit-forming and reaches the infant. Also not to be given to children.

References

Source 王子昭方，录自《卫生宝鉴》 · Yuan

Classical source as cited above (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）— 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.