Ying Su Qiao (罂粟壳) is the husk of the opium poppy capsule, recorded as Pericarpium Papaveris. It is sour and astringent in flavour and neutral in temperature, entering the Lung, Kidney and Large Intestine channels. The catalogue files it under obsolete substances.

Pinyin

yīng sù qiào

Chinese

罂粟壳

Latin Name

Pericarpium Papaveris

English Name

poppy husk

Japanese

ozokukoku

Korean

aengsokgak

Actions and indications

Restrains leakage of Lung Qi

Chronic cough
Long-standing cough or wheezing with no Exterior or Excess pattern present

Astringes the Intestines

Diarrhea or dysentery that has become chronic and depleting

Stabilises the Lower Jiao

Deficiency of the Lower Jiao with excessive urination, spermatorrhea or vaginal discharge

Relieves pain

Pain of any kind, particularly of the sinews and bones, the epigastrium or the abdomen
Pain from tumors

Combinations

wu mei + wu wei zi

Chronic, incessant cough

mu xiang + huang lian

Chronic diarrhea and dysentery

he zi + sha ren

Spleen and Stomach Deficiency and weakness with chronic, unrelenting diarrhea

wu mei

Chronic dry cough. Chronic cough, wheezing and exhaustion from floating dispersal of Lung Qi

bai zhu + shan yao + gan cao

Chronic cough

he zi + rou dou kou

Diarrhea

ren shen + bai zhu + fu ling

Diarrhea with Spleen Deficiency

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 1.5-30g; Tincture: 0.5-3ml

1.5-30 g

—

0.5-3 ml

—

Cautions

contraindication Acute dysentery or diarrhea, and other early-stage or Excess Heat conditions, where its binding action can lock the pathogen inside

contraindication Acute cough

pregnancy Contraindicated in pregnancy

lactation Contraindicated while breastfeeding

paediatric Not for young children

caution Toxic and addictive: avoid large doses and extended use; classical texts treat it as a short-term, last-resort remedy under professional supervision

caution Contains opiate alkaloids and is a controlled narcotic in most jurisdictions (poppy straw concentrate is Schedule II under US federal law); several Western dispensaries no longer supply it

Interactions

Drug interactions

Phenothiazines, MAO inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants: can deepen and lengthen the herb's depressant effect
Sedatives, benzodiazepines, alcohol and other opioids: expected to add to sedation and the risk of suppressed breathing (inferred from its opiate content, not herb-specific trials)
Urine drug testing: can produce a false positive for opioids or morphine, which matters for anyone in a monitored treatment programme