Chinese: 新加香薷饮
Pinyin: Xīn Jiā Xiāng Rú Yǐn
Other names: Newly Augmented Mosla Drink
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that dispel Summer-Heat and resolve Exterior
Mother formula: Xiang Ru San
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: InfluenzaCommon coldBacillary dysentery and one other condition
- Dispels Summerheat
- Releases the Exterior
- Clears Heat
- Transforms Dampness
Contraindications: This formula is intended to induce sweating. It should not be used when fever... This formula is intended to induce sweating. It should not be used when fever is accompanied by sweating and must be discontinued once sweating occurs. For best effects, the decoction should be taken cold. Long-term use is not advised see more
Source date: 1798 AD
Source book: Systematic Differentiation of Warm Pathogen Diseases
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.
Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Vietnamese Balm (Xiang Ru) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 1798 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that dispel Summer-Heat and resolve Exterior. Its main actions are: 1) dispels Summerheat and 2) releases 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 Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as common cold, influenza or acute gastroenteritis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the six ingredients in Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin, we review the patterns and conditions that Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin helps treat.
The six ingredients in Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin
Xiang Ru is a king ingredient in Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Vietnamese Balm (Xiang Ru)
Xiang Ru is acrid, warm, and aromatic. It enters the Lung collaterals to disperse the constraint of the protective Yang. It also facilitates urination to aid in the resolution of Dampness.
Bian Dou Hua is a deputy ingredient in Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Hyacinth Bean Flowers (Bian Dou Hua)
Part used: The flowers, dried
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
Bian Dou Hua is aromatic and slightly cold. It disperses pathogens and resolves Summer-Heat without damaging the Body Fluids.
Bai Bian Dou is a deputy ingredient in Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Hyacinth Beans (Bai Bian Dou)
Part used: Dried ripe seeds
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Bai Bian Dou is aromatic and slightly cold. It disperses pathogens and resolves Summer-Heat without damaging the Body Fluids.
Jin Yin Hua is a deputy ingredient in Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Honeysuckle Flowers (Jin Yin Hua)
In general Jin Yin Hua's main actions are as follows: "Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Dispels Wind-Heat derived from an External pathogen. Expels Damp-Heat from the Lower Burner. Relieves Carbuncles."
In the context of Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin, it is used because it is light, acrid, and cooling. It guides the Wind-Heat and foul turbidity through the Exterior.
Lian Qiao is a deputy ingredient in Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Forsythia Fruits (Lian Qiao)
In general Lian Qiao's main actions are as follows: "Expels Heat and toxicity from the Blood. Dispels External Wind-Heat. Reduces lumps, swollen lymph nodes and sores of a Heated nature."
In the context of Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin, it is used because it is light, acrid, and cooling. It guides the Wind-Heat and foul turbidity through the Exterior.
Hou Pu is an assistant ingredient in Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Houpu Magnolia Bark (Hou Pu)
Part used: Dried stem bark, root bark or branch bark
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: LungSpleenStomach
Category: Aromatic herbs that transform Dampness
Hou Pu is acrid and warming, so as to transform Dampness. It is used to balance the acrid and cooling nature of the three deputy herbs.
Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin is used to treat Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold
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 Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin is mostly used to treat the pattern "Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Common cold Influenza Acute gastroenteritis Bacillary dysentery
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin treats common cold" for instance. Rather, Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin is used to treat Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold, which is sometimes the root cause behind common cold.
Now let's look at Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin.
The Exterior in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Exterior in Chinese Medicine
Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold
Pulse type(s): Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Thick white coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Fever Chills Thirst Headaches Heavy body Dark Urine No sweating aching body Flushed face Rough urination Stifling sensation in the chest
Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold. This pattern leads to symptoms such as fever, chills, no sweating and headaches. Patients with Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold typically exhibit floating (Fu) pulses as well as a red tongue with thick white coating.
Formulas similar to Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin
Xiang Ru San is 50% similar to Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin
Qing Luo Yin is 33% similar to Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin
Qing Ying Tang is 22% similar to Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin
Yin Qiao San is 20% similar to Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin
Da Cheng Qi Tang is 17% similar to Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin
Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang is 17% similar to Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin