Pai Nong San
Star排脓散 (Drain the Pus Powder)
Source: Jin Gui Yao Lue — Zhang Zhong-Jing (Eastern Han)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Pai Nong San (Drain the Pus Powder), from the Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essentials from the Golden Cabinet) by Zhang Zhong-Jing.
Actions: Dispels pus and eliminates toxins; Reduces nodules and disperses stagnation.
Presentation: Abscesses and sores: carbuncles, furuncles, cellulitis, boils and other conditions with formation of pus, abscess and discharge (heat and toxins attacking the body).
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 1364.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Zhi Shi
printed dose 16 pieces (no single modern dose); as printed: Zhi Shi (Fructus Aurantii Immaturus) 16 pieces
|
g | — | breaks stagnant qi, activates qi circulation, reduces nodules | |
|
Jie Geng
as printed: Jie Geng (Radix Platycodonis) 1.5g
|
1.5g | 25% | drains and dispels pus | |
|
Bai Shao
as printed: Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) 4.5g
|
4.5g | 75% | with egg yolk, nourishes blood and the body |
Energetics dose-weighted
The formula's overall nature, taste balance and channel reach, weighted by each herb's dose. Classical formulas often pair warm and cool herbs on purpose, so a net figure summarises the mix — it doesn't describe every herb in it.
Nature
Net cool (-0.75)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cool 75%, neutral 25%.
Taste
- pungent 13%
- sour 38%
- bitter 50%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Spleen 75%
- Liver 75%
- Lung 25%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
1 herb without a dose in grams, so left out of every figure above: Zhi Shi.
Dose-weighted from each herb's recorded nature, taste and channels (missing values are left out, never counted as neutral). It describes the composition — it is not a recommendation.
Preparation
Grind to fine powder; mix one egg yolk with an equal portion of the powder and take once daily with warm water.
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Formula family
Each entry reads as the larger formula written out: “+” adds its other catalogue cores, then the herbs none of them hold. A catalogue formula counts as a core only when at least 80% of its herbs are present, no more than 1 is absent, and the absent herb is not its chief.
Formula Network
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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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