Xiang Ru San, Elsholtzia Powder, is Xiang Ru, Bai Bian Dou and Hou Po. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that release Exterior Cold, and records it as releasing the Exterior, scattering Cold and transforming Damp to bring the Middle Jiao back into accord.

Herb

Amount

xiang ru

9 g

bai bian dou

6 g

hou po

6 g

Actions and indications

Releases the Exterior and scatters Cold

Summertime damage from cold (Yin summerheat): wind and cold caught in hot weather, from drafts, cold food and drink or air conditioning while sweating
Chills and fever with no sweating, skin warm to the touch, headache, and a heavy, aching head and body
Aversion to cold, tired limbs and lethargy

Transforms Damp and harmonizes the Middle Jiao

Damp-Cold blocking the Spleen and Stomach: stifling fullness of the chest and epigastrium, abdominal pain, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
Tongue pink with a thick, white greasy coat; pulse floating, sometimes floating and soggy

Modern uses

Common cold and summer flu
Influenza
Fever
Headache
Heat stroke
Acute gastroenteritis
Bacillary dysentery
Enteric cholera
Diarrhea
Nausea and vomiting
Indigestion
Abdominal pain
Anorexia
Fatigue
Acute tonsillitis
Encephalitis B
Hypokalemia

Modifications

More marked exterior signs: + qing hao

Severe Cold, nasal obstruction (combined with Cong Chi Tang)

Cramps and spasms: + mu gua

More Damp: + fu ling, + gan cao

Spleen and Middle Qi deficiency: + ren shen, + bai zhu, + ju hong

Hypokalemia (combined with Liu Yi San): + bo he

Chills and stronger surface symptoms: + cong bai, + dan dou chi

Fever: + di gu pi, + qing hao

Summerheat: + jin yin hua, + lian qiao

Stronger effect: + huo xiang

Wind-Heat, Damp: + cang zhu, + zhi ban xia, + che qian zi, + fu ling

Wind-Heat with Damp, alternative: + zi su geng

Show all 14 modifications

Wind-Heat with Damp, second alternative: + jin yin hua, + fu ling, + che qian zi, + lian qiao, + huo xiang, + pei lan, + he ye
Severe nausea and vomiting (combined with Liu Yi San): + huo xiang, + chen pi

Cautions

contraindication Only for the cold-type (Yin) summerheat pattern; not for summerheat where Heat predominates, with fever, thirst and sweating but no chills

contraindication Profuse sweating or exterior deficiency with spontaneous sweating, since the formula opens rather than secures the surface

caution Meant for brief use in acute cases; not to be taken long-term or repeatedly unless a professional advises it

Pinyin

xiang ru san

English Name

Elsholtzia Powder

xiang ru san

About xiang ru san

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Releases the Exterior and scatters Cold

Transforms Damp and harmonizes the Middle Jiao

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification