Xiang Su San, Cyperus and Perilla Leaf Powder, is Zi Su Ye, Xiang Fu, Chen Pi and Zhi Gan Cao. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that release Exterior Cold, and records it as dispersing Wind-Cold while regulating Qi.

Herb

Amount

6 g

6 g

3 g

3 g

Actions and indications

Releases the Exterior and disperses Wind-Cold

Wind-Cold caught by someone whose Qi is already constrained, tense, tired or not strong enough for a forceful sweat
Chills with fever and headache, without sweating
Aching shoulders, dizziness and tinnitus

Regulates Qi

Qi stagnation inside: focal fullness and a stifled feeling in the chest and epigastrium, abdominal distention
Poor appetite, belching and nausea
Wheezing cough; absent periods
Tongue thin and white coated; pulse floating, often wiry or tight

Modern uses

Common cold, including with low mood or irritability at its onset
Stomach flu
Fever
Headache
Cough
Gasping
Nasal congestion
Loss of smell
Tinnitus
Vertigo
Acute gastroenteritis
Indigestion
Poor appetite
Belching
Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal pain
Globus pharyngeus
Neurasthenia
Urticaria from seafood poisoning
Amenorrhea

Modifications

Continuous coughing: + zhi ban xia, + xing ren, + sang bai pi

Coughing and dyspnea: + jie geng, + qian hu

Bad headache with aching body and stiff neck: + jing jie, + qin jiao, + fang feng, + man jing zi, + chuan xiong, + sheng jiang

Severe headache: + qiang huo, + cong bai

Blocked nose with clear discharge: + sheng jiang, + dan dou chi, + cong bai

Stuffy nose, dizziness: + qiang huo, + jing jie

Anorexia: + shan zha, + mai ya

Stronger diaphoresis: + dan dou chi, + cong bai

Food stagnation: + shen qu, + ji nei jin, + gu ya, + mai ya

Abdominal pain: + mu xiang

Marked Qi stagnation with full, distended chest and epigastrium: + hou po, + zhi shi

Diarrhea and dysentery: + bai zhu, + fu ling

Show all 21 modifications

Chronic gastritis: + bai shao, + ji nei jin
Indigestion: + sha ren, + qing pi
Hiccups with cough and white phlegm: + zi su zi, + zhi ban xia
Hiccups with cough and white phlegm, alternative: + shen qu, + mai ya
Coughing: + tao ren, + xing ren, + jie geng
Phlegm: + zhi ban xia
Sweating: + gui zhi
Abdominal fullness: + hou po, + zhi ke
Strengthening the exterior release when decocted: + sheng jiang, + cong bai

Cautions

contraindication Patterns where Heat predominates, as its herbs are warm and acrid

caution Too mild for severe exterior Cold with marked body aches and no sweating; a stronger formula is usually chosen

caution Xiang Fu is somewhat drying; take care with marked Yin or Blood deficiency

caution For short courses: stop once sweating comes and the symptoms clear

pregnancy Traditionally preferred in pregnancy as a gentle alternative to stronger sweating formulas such as those with Ma Huang, but still to be used only with a qualified practitioner's guidance

Pinyin

xiang su san

English Name

Cyperus and Perilla Leaf Powder

xiang su san

About xiang su san

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Releases the Exterior and disperses Wind-Cold

Regulates Qi

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification