Ren Shen Bai Du San — Ginseng Decoction to Overcome Pathogenic Influences

On this page

1. Overview
2. TCM pattern
3. Key herbs
4. Formula actions
5. Conditions treated
6. Cautions

What is Ren Shen Bai Du San?

Ren Shen Bai Du San — Ginseng Decoction to Overcome Pathogenic Influences — is a classical Song dynasty formula from the Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (1107) for Wind-Cold-Damp exterior invasion in a Qi-deficient constitution. It is one of the most useful formulas in Chinese herbal medicine for elderly winter colds and influenza where the patient is too weak to mount a strong response without help.

I prescribe Ren Shen Bai Du San as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.

Ren Shen Bai Du San TCM pattern

Prescribed for external Wind-Cold-Damp with internal Qi deficiency: chills with low fever, severe body aches and heaviness, headache, no sweating, cough with some phlegm, marked fatigue, weak appetite, a thin white tongue coat and a floating soft pulse.

Key herbs

1. Qiang Huo, Du Huo — dispel Wind-Cold-Damp from the upper and lower body
2. Chai Hu — releases the muscle layer
3. Qian Hu, Jie Geng — disperse Lung Qi and transform Phlegm
4. Chuan Xiong — moves Qi and Blood to relieve headache
5. Zhi Ke, Fu Ling — move Qi, transform Damp
6. Ren Shen — tonifies Qi to support the exterior release
7. Gan Cao, Sheng Jiang, Bo He — harmonise the formula

Formula actions

1. Releases the exterior and dispels Wind-Cold-Damp
2. Disperses Lung Qi and transforms Phlegm
3. Tonifies Qi to support the upright

Conditions treated

1. Influenza and colds in elderly or Qi-deficient patients
2. Colds in patients with chronic illness who cannot tolerate strong sweating
3. Early-stage dysentery with exterior Wind-Cold-Damp features
4. Cold-Damp exacerbations of chronic skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis)

Cautions

Contraindicated in pure heat-pattern colds and Yin-deficient febrile illness. Discontinue once the chills and body aches resolve.

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM). Online herbal consultations are available.

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