Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San — Patchouli Rectify the Qi Powder
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What is Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San?
Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San — Patchouli Rectify the Qi Powder — is a classical Song dynasty formula from the Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (1107). It is one of the most widely used formulas in Chinese herbal medicine for summer colds, food poisoning, travellers’ diarrhoea and the kind of damp-cold gastroenteritis that occurs after eating cold food or being caught in a sudden downpour.
I prescribe Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.
Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San TCM pattern
Prescribed for external wind-cold with internal Damp obstructing the middle Burner: chills, fever, headache, heaviness of head and body, chest oppression, nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhoea, abdominal pain, slimy white tongue coat and a soggy or floating pulse. Classic summer cold or food-poisoning pattern.
Key herbs
- Huo Xiang — chief herb; releases the exterior, aromatically transforms Damp and harmonises the middle
- Zi Su Ye — releases the exterior
- Bai Zhi — dispels Wind-cold and resolves Damp
- Ban Xia — transforms Phlegm and stops vomiting
- Chen Pi, Hou Po, Da Fu Pi — move Qi and dry Damp
- Bai Zhu, Fu Ling — tonify Spleen and drain Damp
- Jie Geng — opens the upper Burner
- Sheng Jiang, Da Zao, Gan Cao — harmonise
Formula actions
- Releases the exterior and dispels Wind-Cold
- Aromatically transforms Damp and harmonises the middle
- Stops vomiting and diarrhoea
Conditions treated
- Acute gastroenteritis with vomiting, watery diarrhoea, headache and chills
- Summer colds with marked heaviness and chest oppression
- Travellers’ diarrhoea
- Food poisoning with cold-damp features
- Mild seasickness and motion sickness
Cautions
Contraindicated in heat-pattern diarrhoea and damp-heat dysentery with bloody mucus (use Bai Tou Weng Tang or Huang Qin Tang instead). Severe dehydration in children or the elderly requires medical assessment.
Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM). Online herbal consultations are available.
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