Chinese: 辛夷散
Pinyin: Xīn Yí Sǎn
Other names: Magnolia Flower Powder
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that dredge and disperse External Wind
Mother formula: Cang Er Zi San
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: FluSinusitisDiphtheria and six other conditions
- Disperses Wind-Cold
- Unblocks the nasal passages
Source date: 1253 AD
Source book: Formulas to Aid the Living
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 Yi San is a 9-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Biond’S Magnolia Flowers (Xin Yi Hua) and Bugbane Rhizomes (Sheng Ma) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1253 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that dredge and disperse External Wind. Its main actions are: 1) disperses Wind-Cold and 2) unblocks the nasal passages.
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 Yi San is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Wind-Cold invading the Lungs. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as nasal congestion, allergic rhinitis or sinusitis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the nine ingredients in Xin Yi San, we review the patterns and conditions that Xin Yi San helps treat.
The nine ingredients in Xin Yi San
Xin Yi Hua is a king ingredient in Xin Yi San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Biond’S Magnolia Flowers (Xin Yi Hua)
Xin Yi Hua disperses Wind-Cold, and unblocks the nasal passages. It also relieves headache, neck pain, running nose, and toothache.
Sheng Ma is a king ingredient in Xin Yi San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Bugbane Rhizomes (Sheng Ma)
Sheng Ma has an ascending nature and directs the effectiveness of other herbs to the head. It also also used to release Toxic-Heat from the skin by cooling the Blood.
Gao Ben is a deputy ingredient in Xin Yi San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Chinese Lovage Roots (Gao Ben)
Gao Ben disperses Wind-Cold-Dampness and stops pain. It has an ascending nature so has to enter the Bladder Channel on the head to ease headache around the vertex.
Fang Feng is a deputy ingredient in Xin Yi San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Saposhnikovia Roots (Fang Feng)
In general Fang Feng's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Relieves Wind-Damp-Cold painful obstruction. Disperses Wind."
In the context of Xin Yi San, it is used because it releases Wind from the Exterior and disperses Cold. Relieves Wind-Damp-Cold painful obstruction. .
Bai Zhi is a deputy ingredient in Xin Yi San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Angelica Roots (Bai Zhi)
Bai Zhi relieves the Exterior and disperses Wind. It disperses Wind and Cold from the Yang Brightness Channels. It also relieves Wind-Damp Cold painful obstruction, dries Dampness and pus and reduces swelling. Finally, it opens the nasal passages.
Chuan Xiong is an assistant ingredient in Xin Yi San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Szechuan Lovage Roots (Chuan Xiong)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: GallbladderLiverPericardium
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
In general Chuan Xiong's main actions are as follows: "Regulates and moves the Blood. Relieves Wind-Cold and pain. Circulates the Qi in the Upper Burner, relieving headaches."
In the context of Xin Yi San, it is used because it circulates the Blood by removing the Stagnation. It is used to relieve headache and dizziness.
Ze Xie is an assistant ingredient in Xin Yi San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Water Plantain (Ze Xie)
Part used: Dried tuber
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: BladderKidney
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
In general Ze Xie's main actions are as follows: "Causes urination and removes Damp-Heat"
In the context of Xin Yi San, it is used because it removes Damp-Heat by causes urination.
Qiang Huo is an assistant ingredient in Xin Yi San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Notopterygium Roots (Qiang Huo)
Qiang Huo relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold and Dampness. It relieves Wind-Damp-Cold painful obstruction. It also directs Qi to the Greater Yang (Tai Yang) channel and the Governing Vessel.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Xin Yi San. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
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 Xin Yi San, it is used because it tonifies Qi, moderates all ingredients of the formula and relieves pain.
Xin Yi San is used to treat Wind-Cold invading the Lungs
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 Yi San is mostly used to treat the pattern "Wind-Cold invading the Lungs" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Wind-Cold invading the Lungs here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Nasal congestion Allergic rhinitis Sinusitis Nasal polyps Loss of smell Diphtheria Chronic rhinitis Nasopharyngeal tumor Flu
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Xin Yi San treats nasal congestion" for instance. Rather, Xin Yi San is used to treat Wind-Cold invading the Lungs, which is sometimes the root cause behind nasal congestion.
Now let's look at Wind-Cold invading the Lungs, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Xin Yi 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
Xin Yi 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
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