Yin Qiao San 银翘散
Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder

Tradition:


TCM

Source / Author:


Systemic Differentiation of Warm Pathogen Diseases, 1798

Herb Name

Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle)
Lian Qiao
(Forsythia)
Jie Geng (Platycodon)
Niu Bang Zi
(Burdock seed)
Bo He (Mint)
Dan Dou Chi (prepared Soy)
Jing Jie (Schizonepeta)
Dan Zhu Ye
(Lophatherum)
Lu Gen (Phragmites)
Gan Cao (Licorice)

Latin


Lonicera japonica
Forsythia suspensa
Platycodon grandi
florum
Arctium lappa

Mentha haplocalyx
Soja praeparata
Schizonepeta tenuifolia
Lophatherum gracile
Phragmites communis
Glycyrrhiza uralensis

Amount



30 grams ea.


18 grams ea.
15 grams

12 grams ea.


15 grams ea.

Preparation:


Powder.
Traditionally, a decoction of 15–30 grams of Phargmites Lu Gen was prepared and a dose of 9 grams of the powder of the remaining herbs was taken. Most commonly used in the form of Pills today.

Function:


Clears acute Wind-Heat, relieves Toxicity

Use:


Fever, with or without chills, headache, cough, sore throat, mild yellow tongue coating, with a floating, rapid pulse.
1. Acute Cold or Flu with Heat symptoms
2. Acute Bronchitis
3. Acute Sore Throat
4. Respiratory Tract Infection
5. Measles
6. Early stages of Encephalitis or Meningitis


Dose:


6–9 grams of the powder three times daily. Often used as pills in which case follow the manufacturers directions. It is often most effective to take the formula every few hours for the first 24 hours that symptoms appear which can abort a serious case of Cold or Flu.

Cautions:


None noted

Modifications:


1. More severe cough, add Prunus Xing Ren (Apricot kernel)
2. To more strongly clear Heat, add Scutellaria
Huang Qin and Coptis Huang Lian
3. If used for Wind-Cold symptoms, take with decoction of fresh Ginger.

This is the primary TCM medicine for acute Cold and Flu symptoms and is regularly taken as a household remedy in China. Despite the fact that it is intended for acute Wind-Heat conditions, it can be used for Wind-Cold symptoms if taken with a decoction of fresh Ginger, in which case it is very effective.
It is widely available as a patent medicine, often with modifications. Some pills may contain unlisted pharmaceuticals for example paracetamol. It is often sold as Yin Qiao Jie Du Pian, Honeysuckle and Forsythia Pills to clear Toxicity.
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