Cang Er Zi San 苍耳子散
Xanthium Powder

Tradition:


TCM

Source / Author:


Formula to Aid the Living (Ji Sheng Fang)

Herb Name

Cang Er Zi (Xanthium fruit)
Xin Yi Hua (Magnolia flower)
Bai Zhi (Angelica dahurica)
Bo He (Mint)

Latin


Xanthium sibiricum
Magnolia denudata
Angelica dahurica
Mentha haplocalyx

Amount


7 ½ grams (6 gram)
15 grams (6 grams)
30 grams (9 grams)
1 ½ grams (3 grams)

Preparation:


Grind into powder and take with an infusion of Spring Onion and Green Tea. (Source text)
Today, it is usually prepared a standard decoction with the dosage given in brackets.

Function:


Clears Wind-Heat, Opens the Nasal Passages

Use:


Copious, foul-smelling nasal discharge, frontal headache, clear or yellow tongue coat, floating and rapid pulse.
1. Acute or Chronic Sinusitis
2. Acute or Chronic Rhinitis
3. Allergic Rhinitis (Hayfever)
4. Acute or Chronic Sinus Infection

Dose:


The Powder can be taken in doses of 2–3 grams, three times daily with hot Water or Mint tea.
The above decoction is divided into 3 equal doses to be taken over the course of a day.

Cautions:


None noted

Modifications:


1. Lung Heat, add Scutellaria Huang Qin
2. More purulent discharge, add Lonicera Jin Yin Hua

The condition for which this is designed is generally caused by an unresolved Common Cold.
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