辛夷散

• Effects: Dispels wind and opens the nasal orifices, disperses cold and relieves pain.
• Core pathomechanism: Wind-cold-damp evil obstructing the orifices of the Lung. Wind evil, carrying cold and damp, invades upward and stagnates in the nasal orifices, obstructing qi movement and the distribution of fluids, leading to nasal congestion, nasal discharge, headache, and related symptoms.

1. When it is used

This formula is a foundational formula for bi yuan (sinusitis) caused by wind-cold-damp evil. Its composition emphasizes acrid-warm dispersion and aromatic opening of the orifices, assisted by herbs that raise clear yang and dispel wind-damp.

2. Pattern and presentation

Main symptoms:

• Nasal congestion, loss of sense of smell, nasal discharge.
• Distending pain of the forehead.

Systemic and accompanying symptoms:

• Muscle spasm/contracture of the limbs, thin white tongue coating.

3. Tongue and pulse

• Tongue: Thin white or white greasy coating.
• Pulse: Floating or wiry pulse.

4. Granule conversion and dose

Calculation of the total raw herb weight of the original formula (common ratio):

Xin Yi (magnolia flower) 15 g + Cang Er Zi (siberian cocklebur fruit) 7.5 g + Bai Zhi (dahurian angelica root) 30 g + Gao Ben (chinese lovage rhizome) 6 g + Fang Feng (siler root) 6 g + Sheng Ma (bugbane rhizome) 6 g + Chuan Xiong (sichuan lovage rhizome) 6 g + Mu Tong (akebia stem) 3 g + Zhi Gan Cao (honey-fried licorice root) 6 g = 85.5 g.