Chinese: 再造散
Pinyin: Zài Zào Sǎn
Other names: Renewal Powder
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Exterior disorders with Interior deficiency
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: Common coldRheumatic fever
- Tonfies the Yang
- Augments the Qi
- Induces sweating
- Releases the Exterior
Source date: 1445 AD
Source book: Six Texts on Cold Damage
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Zai Zao San is a 12-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Milkvetch Roots (Huang Qi) and Ginseng (Ren Shen) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1445 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Exterior disorders with Interior deficiency. Its main actions are: 1) tonfies the Yang and 2) augments the Qi.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Zai Zao San is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as rheumatic fever or common cold for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the twelve ingredients in Zai Zao San, we review the patterns and conditions that Zai Zao San helps treat.
The twelve ingredients in Zai Zao San
Huang Qi is a king ingredient in Zai Zao San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Milkvetch Roots (Huang Qi)
Huang Qi tonifies the original Qi and stabilizes Exterior. Together with Ginseng, they supply Yang force to drive out Pernicous influences and keep Exterior-releasing herbs from causing Yang Collapse.
Ren Shen is a king ingredient in Zai Zao San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Ginseng (Ren Shen)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Ren Shen tonifies the original Qi and stabilizes Exterior. Together with Milkvetch root, they supply Yang force to drive out Pernicous influences and keep Exterior-releasing herbs from causing Yang Collapse.
Zhi Fu Zi is a deputy ingredient in Zai Zao San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi)
Zhi Fu Zi releases the Exterior by dispersing Cold and activating the Yang along with Cinnamon twigs and Wild ginger.
Gui Zhi is a deputy ingredient in Zai Zao San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi)
Gui Zhi releases the Exterior by scattering Cold and activating the Yang along with Prepared aconite and Wild ginger.
Xi Xin is a deputy ingredient in Zai Zao San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Wild Ginger (Xi Xin)
Xi Xin releases the Exterior by scattering Cold and activating the Yang along with Prepared aconite and Cinnamon twigs.
Qiang Huo is an assistant ingredient in Zai Zao San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Notopterygium Roots (Qiang Huo)
Qiang Huo strengthens the Exterior-releasing and Cold-Dispersing actions of the Formula along with Szechuan lovage root, and Saposhnikovia roots.
Chuan Xiong is an assistant ingredient in Zai Zao San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Szechuan Lovage Roots (Chuan Xiong)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: GallbladderLiverPericardium
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
Chuan Xiong strengthens the Exterior-releasing and Cold-Dispersing of the Formula along with Notopterygium Root, and Saposhnikovia Roots.
Fang Feng is an assistant ingredient in Zai Zao San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Saposhnikovia Roots (Fang Feng)
Fang Feng strengthens the Exterior-releasing and Cold-Dispersing of the formula along with Szechuan lovage root, and Notopterygium Root.
Gan Cao is an assistant ingredient in Zai Zao San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
9. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Gan Cao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs."
In the context of Zai Zao San, it is used because it makes the Sweat-inducing actions of the other ingredients better.
Bai Shao is an assistant ingredient in Zai Zao San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
10. White Peony Roots (Bai Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Bai Shao regulates the protective and nutritive Qi, similar to its use in Gui Zhi Tang. It moderates the warm and drying
properties of the other herbs without interfering their ability to induce sweating.
Sheng Jiang is an envoy ingredient in Zai Zao San. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
11. Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang)
Sheng Jiang nourishes and revives the Spleen and Stomach Qi. It also regulates the nutritive and protective Qi along with jujube dates.
Da Zao is an envoy ingredient in Zai Zao San. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
12. Jujube Dates (Da Zao)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Da Zao nourishes and revives the Spleen and Stomach Qi. It also regulates the nutritive and protective Qi along with Fresh ginger.
Zai Zao San is used to treat Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Zai Zao San is mostly used to treat the pattern "Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Zai Zao San treats rheumatic fever" for instance. Rather, Zai Zao San is used to treat Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency, which is sometimes the root cause behind rheumatic fever.
Now let's look at Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Zai Zao San.
'Deficient' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Deficiency / Empty in Chinese Medicine
Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue coating: Thick white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Symptoms: Headaches Exhaustion Weak voice No sweating Slight fever Severe chills Desire to sleep Lower back pain Cold extremities General cold feeling Soreness of the lower back Feeling of cold in the lower back
Zai Zao San is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as slight fever, severe chills, exhaustion and desire to sleep. Patients with Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency typically exhibit deep (Chen) or weak (Ruo) pulses as well as A pale and puffy tongue.
This pattern is characterized by the invasion of external Wind-Cold in a person who already has an underlying Yang Deficiency. Yang in TCM is the body's warming and active principle. When Yang is Deficient, the body struggles to maintain warmth and adequate metabolic activity.
Patients with this... read more about Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency
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