Yin Qiao San

Yin Qiao San 银翘散
Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder

Tradition:

TCM

Source / Author:

Systemic Differentiation of Warm Pathogen Diseases, 1798

Herb Name	Latin	Amount *
Jin Yin Hua(Honeysuckle)	Lonicera japonica	30 grams ea.
Lian Qiao (Forsythia)	Forsythia suspensa	18 grams ea.
Jie Geng(Platycodon)	Platycodon grandiflorum	15 grams
Niu Bang Zi (Burdock seed)	Arctium lappa	12 grams ea.
Bo He(Mint)	Mentha haplocalyx	15 grams ea.
Dan Dou Chi(prepared Soy)	Soja praeparata
Jing Jie(Schizonepeta)	Schizonepeta tenuifolia
Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatherum)	Lophatherum gracile
Lu Gen(Phragmites)	Phragmites communis
Gan Cao(Licorice)	Glycyrrhiza uralensis

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:

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.

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.