Shen Su Yin
Star参苏饮 (Ginseng and Perilla Leaf Decoction)
Source: Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang — Imperial Medical Department (Song, 1078)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Shen Su Yin (Ginseng and Perilla Leaf Decoction), from the Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (Imperial Grace Formulary of the Tai Ping Era) by Imperial Medical Department.
Actions: Tonifies qi and releases the exterior; Expels phlegm and stops cough.
Presentation: Exterior wind-cold syndrome with interior tan yin (phlegm retention): aversion to cold, fever, headache, nasal obstruction, coughing with profuse sputum, fullness and distention in the chest and diaphragm, fatigue, lethargy, shortness of breath, no desire to speak, a white tongue coating, and a superficial pulse.
Pharmacological effects reported:
- Antipyretic: 0.54 g/kg markedly reduced induced fever in rabbits
- Antitussive and expectorant effects in mice
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 128.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ge Gen
as printed: Ge Gen (Radix Puerariae Lobatae) 22.5g [6g]
|
6g | 10.71% | Jun (Chief) | releases exterior wind-cold |
|
Zi Su Ye
as printed: Zi Su Ye (Folium Perillae) 22.5g [6g]
|
6g | 10.71% | Jun (Chief) | releases exterior wind-cold and regulates qi |
|
Qian Hu
as printed: Qian Hu (Radix Peucedani) 22.5g [6g]
|
6g | 10.71% | arrests cough, dissolves phlegm, ventilates Lung qi | |
|
Ban Xia
chao (dry-fried with ginger juice); as printed: Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae) 22.5g [6g]
|
6g | 10.71% | arrests cough, dissolves phlegm, ventilates Lung qi | |
|
Jie Geng
as printed: Jie Geng (Radix Platycodonis) 15g [4g]
|
4g | 7.14% | arrests cough, dissolves phlegm, ventilates Lung qi | |
|
Chen Pi
as printed: Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae) 15g [4g]
|
4g | 7.14% | regulates qi and expands the chest | |
|
Zhi Ke
chao (dry-fried) with bran; as printed: Zhi Qiao (Fructus Aurantii) 15g [4g]
|
4g | 7.14% | regulates qi and expands the chest | |
|
Mu Xiang
as printed: Mu Xiang (Radix Aucklandiae) 15g [4g]
|
4g | 7.14% | regulates qi, dries dampness, unblocks stagnation | |
|
Ren Shen
as printed: Ren Shen (Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng) 22.5g [6g]
|
6g | 10.71% | tonifies Lung and Spleen qi | |
|
Fu Ling
as printed: Fu Ling (Poria) 22.5g [6g]
|
6g | 10.71% | strengthens the Spleen and drains dampness | |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Gan Cao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae) 15g [4g]
|
4g | 7.14% | harmonizes the middle jiao and the formula |
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 neutral (+0.18)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cool 29%, neutral 25%, warm 46%.
Pairs warm and cool. 46% of the weighed grams are warm or hot and 29% cool or cold — the net is their average, not the whole story.
Taste
- pungent 45%
- sweet 23%
- sour 2%
- bitter 24%
- bland 5%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 82%
- Spleen 82%
- Stomach 54%
- Heart 29%
- Large intestine 25%
- Kidney 21%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
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 coarsely; cook 12g with 7 slices Sheng Jiang and 1 piece Da Zao in 1.5 bowls of water down to 60%; take warm, strained, any time of day. May also be decocted with bracketed doses.
Relationships
Full-screen graph →Click a node for details · double-click to expand it · Ctrl/⌘ + scroll or two fingers to zoom and pan.
Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Da Ban Xia Tang + Jie Geng Tang + Ge Gen, Zi Su Ye, Chen Pi, Fu Ling, Mu Xiang, Qian Hu and Zhi Ke
- This formula = Jie Geng Tang + Da Ban Xia Tang + Ge Gen, Zi Su Ye, Chen Pi, Fu Ling, Mu Xiang, Qian Hu and Zhi Ke
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
Formulas that share herbs with this one — the closer to the centre, the stronger the match. Click a node to explore.
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.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Shen Su Yin.
No notes yet.