Xing Su San
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
杏苏散 · Xìng Sū Sǎn
Formula for cool-dryness attacking the Lungs. Characterised by dry cough or cough with thin white sputum, nasal congestion, slight headache and aversion to cold, without significant Heat signs.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Exterior-Releasing Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Wind-Cold
- Primary Function
- Disperse cool-dryness, regulate Lung Qi, transform phlegm
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Gently disperse cool-dryness, regulate Lung Qi and transform thin phlegm
- Classical Source
- Wen Bing Tiao Bian (Wu Jutong, Qing dynasty)
- Available as Granules
- Yes
Formula Overview
Formula for cool-dryness attacking the Lungs. Characterised by dry cough or cough with thin white sputum, nasal congestion, slight headache and aversion to cold, without significant Heat signs.
Therapeutic Principle
Traditionally selected for cool-dryness, where dryness is accompanied by chills, nasal congestion and thin sputum rather than heat signs — the counterpart to the warm-dryness formulas Sang Xing Tang and Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang, and quite distinct from Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang's frank Lung Heat.
Composition: Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, Envoy
Every herb in the formula, grouped by the job it does in the classical hierarchy.
君SovereignTreats the main pattern
杏仁Xing Ren9g
Bitter Apricot Kernel- bitter
- warm and moistening in nature
- diffuses the lung qi
- relieves cough and dissolves phlegm
紫蘇葉Zi Su Ye6g
Perilla Leaf- acrid and warm yet not
- dries in nature
- releases the exterior and dispels pathogens
- diffuses the lung qi
- scatters cool-dryness from the exterior
臣MinisterReinforces the sovereign
前胡Qian Hu9g
Peucedanum Root- scatters and dissipates wind-cold
- directs the lung qi downward and dissolves phlegm
- helps xing ren and zi su ye dredge the exterior by light diffusion and dissolve phlegm
桔梗Jie Geng6g
Platycodon Root- ascend and descend in combinationi aid xing ren to diffuse the lung qi
佐AssistantTreats accompanying patterns
枳殼Zhi Ke6g
Bitter Orange- moves qi in the middle jiao and relieves distension
陳皮Chen Pi6g
Tangerine Peel- regulates middle qi
- dries dampness and directs counterflow downward
茯苓Fu Ling9g
Poria / Hoelen- percolates dampness and fortifies the spleen to block the source of phlegm production
半夏Ban Xia9g
Pinellia Rhizome- dries dampness and dissolves phlegm
- regulates qi to move stagnation
生薑Sheng Jiang3g
Fresh Ginger- harmonize ying and wei
大棗Da Zao3 pieces
Jujube / Chinese Date- harmonizes and nourishes
Classical Composition
- Perillae Folium (Zi Su Ye) 9g
- Pinelliae Rhizoma (Ban Xia) 9g
- Poria (Fu Ling) 9g
- Peucedani Radix (Qian Hu) 9g
- Platycodonis Radix (Jie Geng) 6g
- Aurantii Fructus (Zhi Qiao) 6g
- Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gan Cao) 3g
- Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Sheng Jiang) 3 slices
- Jujubae Fructus (Da Zao) 3 pieces
- Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Xing Ren) 9g
- Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Ju Pi) 6g
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Relieves cool-dryness by light diffusion
- regulates lung function
- and dissolves phlegm.
Indications
- Xing Su San is indicated for patterns of externally-contracted cool-dryness.
- The symptoms are aversion to cold, mild headache, coughing with scanty sputum, stuffy nose, and a dry throat.
Tongue & pulseThe tongue coating is white, and the pulse is wiry.
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- This pattern is caused by cool-dryness attacking the exterior with failure of the lung qi to diffuse and internal obstruction of phlegm-dampness.
- The mild headache and chills without sweating indicate that cool-dryness has attacked the skin and hair.
- Headaches caused by cool-dryness are less severe than headaches due to cold damage syndrome.
- Cool-dryness may invade the lung and cause failure of the lung to diffuse and govern descent as well as failure of lung qi to distribute fluids.
- As a result, water accumulates and turns into phlegm causing symptoms such as coughing with thin sputum.
- Cool-dryness damages the lung to cause dysfunction of lung qi characterized by a stuffy nose and a dry throat.
- The composition of this formula is based on the principle described within Basic Questions: “Dry pathogenic qi is treated internally with bitter and warm medicinals, and sweet and acrid medicinals are used adjunctively”.
Clinical presentation
- A white tongue coating and a wiry pulse prove the pattern of cool-dryness with sputum-dampness.
Treatment strategy
- This disorder should be treated primarily via relieving cool-dryness by light diffusion and supported by regulating the function of the lung to dissolve phlegm.
How does this formula compare?
Clinical Perspective
Xing Su San addresses cool-dryness. Sang Xing Tang and Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang address warm-dryness. Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang is for Lung Heat with wheezing. Sang Ju Yin is for mild Wind-Heat cough.
Clinical Differentiation
- Xing Su San is a characteristic formula commonly used to relieve cool-dryness by light diffusion, and a popular formula used to treat cough due to wind-cold.
- This clinical pattern is marked by aversion to cold, absence of perspiration, coughing with thin sputum, dry throat, white coating, wiry pulse.
Safety notes: This formula is not applicable for patients diagnosed with the cool-dryness that has transformed into warm-dryness or wind-heat.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actions of Xing Su San?
Xing Su San has the actions of gently dispersing Cool-Dryness, disseminating Lung Qi, and transforming phlegm. It is the classic formula for externally contracted Cool-Dryness attacking the Lung.
Which modern diseases is Xing Su San suited to?
Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within Cool-Dryness or mild Wind-Cold with phlegm, including upper respiratory tract infections, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and autumn dry coughs with thin watery phlegm and chills.
Is Xing Su San suitable for improving cough with thin phlegm and mild chills?
For presentations of mild headache, aversion to cold without sweating, cough with thin watery white phlegm, nasal congestion, dry throat without much thirst, a white tongue coating, and a wiry pulse — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms Cool-Dryness — TCM commonly applies Xing Su San as an adjunct. It cannot replace standard medical treatment.
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Xing Su San: Classic TCM Formula for Cool Dryness, Dry Cough & Lung Dryness
Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang: Traditional Chinese Herbal Formula for Cough, Wheezing, and Lung Heat
Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Warm-Dryness Damaging the Lungs, Dry Cough & Qi-Yin Injury
Sang Ju Yin: Classic TCM Formula for Early-Stage Wind-Heat, Cough & Sore Throat
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Medical Disclaimer
For general TCM education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified TCM practitioner or licensed healthcare provider before use, especially if pregnant, nursing, on medication, or managing a chronic condition.