Chinese: 止嗽散
Pinyin: Zhǐ Sòu Sǎn
Other names: Stop Coughing Powder
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that transform Phlegm and extinguish Wind
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: PertussisAcute bronchitisChronic bronchitis and two other conditions
- Transforms Phlegm and stops coughing
- Disperses the Exterior
- Spreads the Lung Qi
Contraindications: This formula has a tendency to dry and should therefore not be used in treating... This formula has a tendency to dry and should therefore not be used in treating coughs associated with Yin Deficiency. It was designed for treating Wind-Cold and should not be used, without modification, in treating coughs due to Heat in the Lungs see more
Source date: 1732 AD
Source book: Awakening of the Mind in Medical Studies
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.
Zhi Sou San is a 7-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Aster Roots (Zi Wan) and Stemona Roots (Bai Bu) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1732 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that transform Phlegm and extinguish Wind. Its main actions are: 1) transforms Phlegm and stops coughing and 2) disperses the Exterior.
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 Zhi Sou San is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Wind-Cold invading the Lungs or Phlegm-Fluids in the Lungs. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as upper respiratory tract infections, acute bronchitis or chronic bronchitis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the seven ingredients in Zhi Sou San, we review the patterns and conditions that Zhi Sou San helps treat.
The seven ingredients in Zhi Sou San
Zi Wan is a king ingredient in Zhi Sou San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Aster Roots (Zi Wan)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: Lung
Category: Herbs that relieve coughing and wheezing
Zi Wan is able to warm without causing Heat as well as moisten without causing Coldness. It is better and is effective in stopping coughs and transforming Phlegm in both acute and chronic disorders.
Bai Bu is a king ingredient in Zhi Sou San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Stemona Roots (Bai Bu)
Part used: The root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: Lung
Category: Herbs that relieve coughing and wheezing
Bai Bu is able to warm without causing Heat as well as moisten without causing Coldness. It is better and is effective in stopping coughs and transforming Phlegm in both acute and chronic disorders.
Jie Geng is a deputy ingredient in Zhi Sou San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Platycodon Roots (Jie Geng)
Jie Geng focuses on opening the Lung Qi Stagnation, by facilitating its spreading. It assists the key herbs in treating the root of coughing.
Bai Qian is a deputy ingredient in Zhi Sou San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Cynanchum Roots And Rhizomes (Bai Qian)
Bai Qian focuses on opening the Lung Qi Stagnation, by directing the Lung Qi downward. It assists the key herbs in treating the root of coughing.
Jing Jie is an assistant ingredient in Zhi Sou San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Japanese Catnip (Jing Jie)
Part used: Aerial portion and flowers, or the spikes only (in which case it is called Jing Jie Sui)
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Pungent
Jing Jie gives the formula a slight, Exterior-releasing (sweating) action that helps eliminate the lingering pathogenic influence.
Chen Pi is an assistant ingredient in Zhi Sou San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi)
In general Chen Pi's main actions are as follows: "Warms the Spleen and regulates the Middle Burner Qi. Dries Dampness and disperses Phlegm from the Lungs and Middle Burner. Reduces the potential for Stagnation caused by tonifying herbs."
In the context of Zhi Sou San, it is used because it regulates the Qi to transform Phlegm.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Zhi Sou San. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
7. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Gan Cao harmonizes the actions of the other herbs. It is very effective in treating throat disorders due to externally-contracted wind, when used together with Japanese catnip and Platycodon root.
Conditions and patterns for which Zhi Sou San may be prescribed
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 Zhi Sou San is used by TCM practitioners to treat two different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Upper respiratory tract infections Acute bronchitis Chronic bronchitis Pertussis Early stages of viral and mycoplasmic pneumonia
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Zhi Sou San treats upper respiratory tract infections" for instance. Rather, Zhi Sou San is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind upper respiratory tract infections.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Zhi Sou San.
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Wind-Cold invading the Lungs
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Floating (Fu)
Tongue shape: Partially swollen
Symptoms: Fever Chills Sneezing Headaches Runny nose Body aches Itchy throat Blocked nose Aversion to cold Lack of sweating Shortness of breath White and watery sputum Coughing and wheezing with copious sputum
Zhi Sou San is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Wind-Cold invading the Lungs. This pattern leads to symptoms such as aversion to cold, fever, itchy throat and shortness of breath. Patients with Wind-Cold invading the Lungs typically exhibit tight (Jin) or floating (Fu) pulses.
The Defensive Qi layer of the Lungs is invaded by the external Wind-Cold. The battel between these two takes place and gives rise to fever. This is similar to how the immune system reacts to the external bacterial or virus according to the Western Medicine. Please be aware that there aren't always... read more about Wind-Cold invading the Lungs
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm-Fluids in the Lungs
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Soggy (Ru), Wiry (Xian), Fine (Xi)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Symptoms: Coughing Dizziness Itchy throat Feeling of cold Shortness of breath Feeling of heaviness White and watery sputum Cought with sticky phlegm Splashing sound in the chest Stifling sensation in the chest
Zhi Sou San is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Phlegm-Fluids in the Lungs. This pattern leads to symptoms such as coughing, white and watery sputum, shortness of breath and splashing sound in the chest. Patients with Phlegm-Fluids in the Lungs typically exhibit slippery (Hua), soggy (Ru), wiry (Xian) or fine (Xi) pulses as well as Pale tongue with thick sticky white coating.
This pattern is similar to Damp-Phlegm in the Lungs. Both has the typical symptoms of Phlegm such as coughing, breathlessness, chest oppression, sputum, feeling of heaviness of the head and dizziness. Coughing and breathlessness happen because the Lung Qi can not descend accordingly. Chest... read more about Phlegm-Fluids in the Lungs
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