Zhi Sou San止嗽散

Stop Coughing Powder (Platycodon & Schizonepeta Formula)

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

Ingredients7 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

桔Jie Geng桔梗炒Platycodonis Radix1kg臣 DeputyLifts and diffuses Lung qi, opens the throat and expels phlegm 荆Jing Jie荆芥Schizonepetae Herba1kg佐 AssistantDisperses the wind still held at the surface 紫Zi Wan紫菀蒸Asteris Radix et Rhizoma1kg君 ChiefMoistens the Lung and stops cough without drying it out 百Bai Bu百部蒸Stemonae Radix1kg君 ChiefMoistens the Lung and quiets a stubborn, drawn-out cough 白Bai Qian白前蒸Cynanchi Stauntonii Radix et Rhizoma1kg臣 DeputyDescends Lung qi and drives phlegm downward, the counterweight to Jie Geng 甘Gan Cao甘草炒Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma375g佐使 Assistant–EnvoyEases the throat and harmonizes the group 陈Chen Pi陈皮水洗去白Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium500g佐 AssistantMoves qi and transforms phlegm so the cough loosens

Indications

Diffuses and descends Lung qiStops cough and transforms phlegmDisperses the last of the exterior wind

Wind lingering in the Lung: the exterior has largely been released, but a remnant of wind still blocks the Lung's diffusing and descending, so the cough persists with an itchy throat and sputum that will not clear.

Clinical Manifestations

Cough lingering after a cold or flu
Itchy throat with a persistent tickling cough
Sputum that will not come up easily
Slight aversion to wind with low-grade fever still present
Post-viral cough in adults and children

TongueThin white coating

PulseFloating and moderate

Health Categories

Respiratory HealthEnergy & FatigueImmune SupportCold & Flu Relief

Modern Applications

Post-viral cough Acute bronchitis Persistent cough Upper respiratory infection Throat irritation

Common adjustments

Wind-cold still evident, headache and blocked nose — add Fang Feng 防风, Zi Su Ye 紫苏叶 and Sheng Jiang 生姜
Damp generating phlegm, chest fullness — add Zhi Ban Xia 制半夏, Fu Ling 茯苓 and Sang Bai Pi 桑白皮
Dryness scorching the Lung, dry unproductive cough — add Gua Lou 瓜蒌, Chuan Bei Mu 川贝母 and Zhi Mu 知母
Heat in the Lung with thick yellow sputum — add Huang Qin 黄芩 and Sang Bai Pi 桑白皮

Contraindications

Not for the dry cough of yin deficiency or consumptive cough, and not the right choice for a full Lung-heat cough with thick yellow sputum and high fever, which needs clearing rather than dispersing. Blood in the sputum, breathlessness, or a cough dragging on for many weeks calls for a medical assessment rather than a longer course of this formula.

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

Pregnancy

Mild by design and commonly used with practitioner supervision during pregnancy, but Bai Bu is slightly toxic at high dose and Jing Jie is dispersing — keep strictly to the prescribed amount and duration.

Related Formulas

Jin Fei Cao San金沸草散

References

Source Yi Xue Xin Wu 《医学心悟》 · Qing dynasty

「本方温润和平，不寒不热，既无攻击过当之虞，大有启门驱贼之势。」
— 《医学心悟》(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.