Yin Qiao San银翘散

Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder

Releasing the Exterior 解表剂Release Wind-Heat 辛凉解表

Ingredients9 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

连Lian Qiao连翘Forsythiae Fructus30g君 ChiefClears heat-toxin, especially in the upper burner and the throat

银Jin Yin Hua银花Lonicerae Japonicae Flos30g君 ChiefClears heat and resolves toxin while its aroma lifts the pathogen outward

苦Jie Geng苦桔梗Platycodonis Radix18g佐 AssistantDiffuses Lung qi, stops cough and benefits the throat

薄Bo He薄荷Menthae Haplocalycis Herba18g臣 DeputyAcrid and cool, disperses wind-heat and clears the head

竹Dan Zhu Ye竹叶Lophatheri Herba12g佐 AssistantClears heat and leads it out through the urine

生Sheng Gan Cao生甘草Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma15g佐使 Assistant–EnvoyResolves toxin, soothes the throat together with Jie Geng, and harmonizes the formula

芥Jing Jie Sui芥穗Schizonepetae Spica12g臣 DeputyWarm and dispersing — borrowed for its power to open the surface, not its heat

淡Dan Dou Chi淡豆豉Sojae Semen praeparatum15g臣 DeputyReleases the exterior and settles restlessness in the chest 牛Niu Bang Zi牛蒡子Arctii Fructus18g臣 DeputyCools heat and eases a swollen, painful throat

Indications

Releases the exterior with acrid coolnessClears heat and resolves toxinSoothes the throat and stops cough

Wind-heat attacking the exterior at the defensive level: fever out of proportion to the chill, thirst, and a throat that hurts from the very first day.

Clinical Manifestations

Early fever with sore throat and headache
Acute tonsillitis and pharyngitis
Influenza and warm-type common cold
Early-stage measles and other eruptive fevers
Cough with a dry, scratchy throat

TongueRed at the tip with a thin white or thin yellow coating

PulseFloating and rapid

Health Categories

Respiratory HealthImmune SupportCold & Flu Relief

Modern Applications

Influenza Common cold Tonsillitis Pharyngitis Acute bronchitis Measles

Common adjustments

Chest and diaphragm feel stuffy — add Huo Xiang 藿香 and Yu Jin 郁金
Severe thirst — add Tian Hua Fen 天花粉
Swollen neck with a badly painful throat — add Ma Bo 马勃 and Xuan Shen 玄参
Nosebleed — omit Jing Jie Sui and Dan Dou Chi; add Bai Mao Gen 白茅根, charred Ce Bai Ye 侧柏叶 and charred Zhi Zi 栀子
Cough prominent — add Xing Ren 杏仁

Contraindications

Wrong for a wind-cold pattern — chills stronger than the fever, clear runny nose, no sore throat — where cooling herbs suppress rather than release. It is a formula for the first days only: once heat has moved deeper, with high fever, heavy sweating and a large pulse, something else is needed, and it is never appropriate for a lingering low-grade fever arising from deficiency. Do not boil it hard or long.

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

Pregnancy

Generally acceptable for short-term use under practitioner supervision — it contains no herb that is contraindicated in pregnancy. Fever during pregnancy should still be assessed by a clinician rather than self-treated.

References

Source Wen Bing Tiao Bian 《温病条辨》 · Qing

「太阴风温、温热、温疫、冬温，初起恶风寒者，桂枝汤主之；但热不恶寒而渴者，辛凉平剂银翘散主之。」
— 《温病条辨》(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.