Alleviate Cough Combination - Zhi Sou San

Formula Type

Extract

TCM Pattern

Wind-cold patterns that present with aversion to cold, discharge of clear nasal fluid, a cough that produces clear or white sputum, headache and fever. While this formula is intended for wind-cold cough, if combined with a heat-clearing formula like Yin Qiao San (Lonicera & Forsythia Combination) it can be used to treat wind-heat cough patterns and if combined with Huang Lian Shang Qing it can treat phlegm-heat lung cough.

Therapeutic Functions

Relieves cough, transforms phlegm, courses the exterior, and diffuses lung qi.*

Clinical Indications

This formula treats disorders that western medicine categorizes as upper respiratory tract infection, acute or chronic bronchitis, pertussis and the initial stages of viral or mycoplasmic pneumonia.

Symptoms & Signs

This formula is particularly effective for coughs from wind and cold. It can be used however, for wind-heat, lung-heat, phlegm-heat coughs if combined with other formulas that address the heat or phlegm-heat of these other patterns. Thus, the clinical picture is one of cough but the particulars vary according to the root cause of the cough.

Precautions

This formula is decidedly drying. It should not be applied to coughs that are the result of dryness or yin vacuity.

Pulse Quality

Tight and floating.

Tongue Appearance

Thin white tongue fur.