Zhi Sou San: A Simple Guide to a Cough-Soothing, Lung-Clearing Herbal Formula
Hongji Medical- Jan 17
- 5 min read
Zhi Sou San, or "Cough-Relieving Powder," is a classic Chinese herbal formula from Medical Enlightenment. Designed to ease coughs and clear the lungs, this blend of herbs targets wind-related respiratory issues.
With its gentle yet effective mix, it’s a trusted remedy for soothing throats and calming coughs caused by colds or external irritants.
What’s in Zhi Sou San?
Zhi Sou San combines seven herbs, each contributing to lung health and cough relief:
Balloon Flower (Jie Geng): Bitter and slightly warm, it opens lung qi, clears heat, and eases sore throats and phlegm buildup.
Fern Root (Jing Jie): Warm and fragrant, it dispels wind, clears nasal congestion, and soothes throat pain from colds.
Aster Root (Zi Wan): Warm and moistening, it calms coughs, clears phlegm, and balances lung qi.
Stemona Root (Bai Bu): Sweet and slightly warm, it moistens the lungs and stops heat-related coughs.
Whitehead Root (Qian Hu): Slightly cold, it excels at clearing phlegm and calming coughs from lung irritation.
Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi): Regulates digestion, clears phlegm, and eases chest tightness.
Licorice (Gan Cao): Sweet and warming, it harmonizes the formula, boosts qi, and softens the herbs’ intensity.
Ingredients (traditional proportions): 1kg each of fried balloon flower, fern root, steamed aster root, steamed stemona root, and steamed phellodendron; 375g fried licorice; 500g tangerine peel (white pith removed).
How to Use It
Grind the herbs into a fine powder. Take 6–9g (about 1–1.5 teaspoons) after meals or before bed, mixed with warm water. For early-stage colds, take with ginger soup to enhance its wind-dispelling effects.
Alternatively, the herbs can be boiled into a tea, with doses adjusted proportionally.
How Zhi Sou San Works
Zhi Sou San clears wind, soothes the lungs, and stops coughs by:
Clearing Lung Irritation: Removes wind and heat, easing coughs and itchy throats.
Dissolving Phlegm: Breaks up mucus for easier expectoration.
Relieving Wind Symptoms: Addresses mild chills, fever, or nasal congestion from colds.
It’s ideal for coughs caused by external factors, with symptoms like:
Itchy throat or coughing
Sticky phlegm or difficult expectoration
Slight fever or sensitivity to wind
Thin white tongue coating, slow or floating pulse
Customizing the Formula
Zhi Sou San can be tailored to specific needs:
Wind-Cold (chills, nasal congestion): Add mustard seed, siler root, perilla leaf, or ginger to dispel cold.
Summer Heat (thirst, red urine): Include coptis, skullcap, or pollen to cool heat.
Thick Phlegm (sticky mucus): Add pinellia, poria, mulberry bark, ginger, or jujube to clear dampness.
Dry Cough (no phlegm): Use trichosanthes, fritillary bulb, anemarrhena, or cypress seed to moisten lungs.
Modern Uses
Zhi Sou San is widely used for:
Upper respiratory infections
Bronchitis
Whooping cough
It’s especially effective when coughs linger due to unresolved external pathogens, helping clear lungs and restore breathing ease.
Things to Keep in Mind
Not for Certain Coughs: Avoid in cases of yin deficiency (dry, chronic cough) or lung heat (yellow phlegm, fever).
Blood in Phlegm: Use cautiously if coughing up blood.
Side Effects: Its drying nature may irritate if misused; stop if discomfort occurs.
Professional Guidance: Consult a practitioner for proper diagnosis and dosing.
Why Zhi Sou San Matters
Zhi Sou San is a gentle yet powerful remedy, blending herbs like balloon flower, aster, and tangerine peel to calm coughs, clear phlegm, and protect the lungs. Rooted in ancient wisdom, it remains a go-to for colds and respiratory issues in modern clinics.
With careful use and tailored adjustments, this formula can soothe your throat and help you breathe easier, showcasing the timeless art of Chinese herbal healing.
Chinese Name | 止嗽散 |
Phonetic | Zhi Sou San |
English Name | Cough-Stopping Powder |
Classification | Exterior-releasing formulas |
Source | 《Medical Revelations》Yi Xue Xin Wu《醫學心悟》 |
Combination | Platycodonis Radix (Jie Geng) 2 jin (1kg), Schizonepetae Herba (Jing Jie) 2 jin (1kg), Asteris Radix et Rhizoma (Zi Wan) 2 jin (1kg), Stemonae Radix (Bai Bu) 2 jin (1kg), Cynanchi Stauntonii Rhizoma et Radix (Bai Qian) 2 jin (1kg), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gan Cao chao; dry-fried) 12 liang (375g), Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chen Pi) 1 jin (500g) |
Method | Grind all of the medicinals into powder and blend together evenly. Boil 9g for each dose, and take warm after meals and prior to bed time. Mix together with a decoction of sheng jiang for early stage wind-cold contraction. It can also be prepared as a decoction by adjusting the medicinal quantities based on the original ratio. |
Action | Diffuses and benefits the lung qi, disperses wind and relieves cough. |
Indication | Zhi Sou San is indicated for the pattern of wind pathogens attacking the lung. The symptoms are cough, itchiness in the pharynx, difficulty in coughing up sputum, or mild aversion to wind and fever. The tongue coating is thin and white, and the pulse is superficial and moderate. |
Pathogenesis | Zhi Sou San is indicated when an exterior pattern with cough is not relieved after taking exterior-releasing lung-diffusing remedies. When wind-pathogens attack the lung, they fail to diffuse and purify the lung qi. The use of scattering and dissipating medicinals is able to expel the majority of the pathogen. However, in this case, there are residual pathogens that cause cough, itchiness of the pharynx, aversion to wind and fever. The treatment is to rectify the lung and relieve cough by using a small amount of exterior releasing medicinals. |
Application | 1. Essential pattern differentiation Zhi Sou San is a commonly used formula for cough caused by the failure of the lung to diffuse qi with a concomitant residual exterior pathogen. The clinical pattern is marked by cough, itchy pharynx, minor aversion to wind, fever, thin and white tongue coating 2. Modern applications This formula may be used, when the patient shows signs of a residual exterior pathogen causing failure of the lung to diffuse, in the following biomedically defined disorders: upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, and pertussis. 3. Cautions and contraindications This formula is warm and moistening but predominately warm. Therefore, it is inappropriate for consumptive cough caused by yin deficiency consumption or cough due to lung heat. |
Additonal formulae | Jin Fei Cao San (Inula Powder, 金沸草散) [Source]《Extensive Relieving Formulas》Bo Ji Fang《博濟方》 [Ingredients] xuan fu hua 3 liang (90g), ma huang 3 liang (90g), qian hu 3 liang (90g), jing jie sui 4 liang (120g), zhi gan cao 1 liang (30g), jiang ban xia 1 liang (30g), chi shao 1 liang (30g) [Preparation and Administration] Grind them into powder. 2 qian (6g) per dose. Add sheng jiang and da zao and a small cup of water and boil them until 60% of water remain. The decoction should be taken warm. [Actions] Disperses wind-cold, lowers counterflowing qi, and dissolves phlegm. [Applicable Patterns] Cough due to wind damage (common cold). Symptoms include: aversion to cold, fever, cough with large amount of phlegm, stuffy and nasal congestion, a white and greasy tongue coating, and a superficial pulse. |
