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Cura x Cura

Shen Su Yin参苏饮

Ginseng and Perilla Decoction

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

Ingredients11 herbs

人Ren Shen人参6g臣 DeputySupplies the qi without which no sweat can be raised紫Zi Su Ye紫苏叶6g君 ChiefReleases wind-cold gently and moves qi in the chest
干Ge Gen干葛洗6g臣 DeputyReleases the muscle layer and generates fluids as the sweat comes
半Zhi Ban Xia半夏汤洗七次，姜汁制炒6g佐 AssistantDries phlegm-damp and settles rebellious stomach qi前Qian Hu前胡去苗6g佐 AssistantDescends qi and dissolves phlegm茯Fu Ling茯苓去皮6g佐 AssistantStrengthens the Spleen and leaches out the damp that makes the phlegm枳Zhi Ke枳壳去瓤，麸炒4g佐 AssistantLoosens fullness in the chest and epigastrium桔Jie Geng桔梗去芦4g佐 AssistantOpens Lung qi and lifts phlegm out木Mu Xiang木香4g佐 AssistantMoves qi so the tonic does not sit heavy in the middle陈Chen Pi陈皮去白4g佐 AssistantMoves qi in the middle and dries phlegm甘Zhi Gan Cao甘草炙4g佐使 Assistant–EnvoyAugments qi and harmonizes a large mixed formula

Indications

Augments qi and releases the exteriorRegulates qi and transforms phlegmStops cough and loosens the chest

Wind-cold in the exterior with qi deficiency and phlegm-damp inside: the surface cannot be forced open because there is not enough qi behind it, and the phlegm underneath keeps the cough alive.

Clinical Manifestations

  • Cold in a tired, easily fatigued patient
  • Cough with copious white phlegm and no stamina
  • Chills and fever with chest fullness and no appetite
  • Lingering cold that will not clear in an elderly patient
TonguePale with a white coating
PulseWeak, sometimes floating and weak

Health Categories

Respiratory HealthEnergy & FatigueImmune SupportCold & Flu Relief

Modern Applications

Common coldPost-viral coughChronic bronchitisFatigueConvalescent infection

Common adjustments

Contraindications

Not for wind-heat with a red sore throat and thick yellow phlegm, and not for a dry cough of yin deficiency — the aromatic drying herbs would worsen it. Ren Shen is inappropriate while an excess pathogen is strong and unaccompanied by deficiency, since it would hold the pathogen in.

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

Pregnancy

Use with caution in pregnancy, under supervision. It contains no Ma Huang and no blood-movers, but Ban Xia is traditionally used cautiously in pregnancy and Mu Xiang and Zhi Ke are strongly qi-moving; a practitioner would normally lighten these before use.

References

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

治感冒发热头疼，或因痰饮凝结，兼以为热。……中脘痞满，呕逆恶心，开胃进食，无以逾此。
— 《太平惠民和剂局方》卷2
  1. 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）— 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.