Cang Er Zi San
Star苍耳子散 (Xanthium Powder)
Source: Ji Sheng Fang — Yan Yong-He (1253)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Cang Er Zi San (Xanthium Powder), from the Ji Sheng Fang (Formulas to Aid the Living) by Yan Yong-He.
Actions: Dispels wind; Opens the nasal orifices.
Presentation: Nasal obstruction caused by wind: stuffy nose, thick, yellow nasal discharge, and frontal and temporal headaches.
Cautions:
- May slightly irritate the digestive system: dry-fry Cang Er Zi before use and take after meals.
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 82.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cang Er Zi
co-chief with Xin Yi Hua; printed dose 7.5g (no single modern dose); as printed: Cang Er Zi (Fructus Xanthii, chao (dry-fried)) 7.5g
|
g | — | Jun (Chief) | Unblocks the nasal passages |
|
Xin Yi (Hua)
co-chief with Cang Er Zi; printed dose 15g (no single modern dose); as printed: Xin Yi Hua (Flos Magnoliae) 15g
|
g | — | Jun (Chief) | Unblocks the nasal passages |
|
Bai Zhi
printed dose 30g (no single modern dose); as printed: Bai Zhi (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae) 30g
|
g | — | Chen (Deputy) | Opens the nasal orifices, dispels wind, discharges pus, relieves wind headache |
|
Bo He
printed dose 1.5g (no single modern dose); as printed: Bo He (Herba Menthae) 1.5g
|
g | — | Zuo (Assistant) | Releases wind-heat from the exterior, relieves wind headache |
Dui Yao — Core Herb Pairs
The classical two-herb combinations at the heart of this formula, as recorded on the herbs' own pages — each pair has an action neither herb has alone.
Together they dispel wind and open the nasal passages, relieving nasal congestion and discharge.
Nasal obstruction with turbid discharge and frontal headache. Cang Er Zi is toxic in excess.
Preparation
Sun-dry and grind into fine powder; take 6g per dose after meals with a tea of Cong Bai and Cha Ye.
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Similar Formulas by composition
Match score combines dosage-weighted composition (cosine, 70%) with shared-herb overlap (Jaccard, 30%).
Traditional formula information is for educational purposes only. Herbal formulas should be prescribed by a qualified practitioner — dosages and combinations are individualized and can interact with medications.
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