Traditional Chinese Medicine Healing Herbs(TCMHH)

Prescriptions for Astringing the Lung to Arrest Cough

Jiuxian San: Classic TCM Formula

九仙散
By the TCMHH editorial team Not medically reviewed How we work Updated 6 Oct 2026
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Name

Nine Noble Ingredients Powder

The Prescription of Jiuxian San

Source

The book Yi Xue Zheng Zhuan

Ingredients

Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng) 2 g,Kuan Dong Hua (Flos Farfarae) 2 g,Jie Geng (Radix Platycodi) 2 g,Sang Bai Pi (Cortex Mori) 2 g,Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae) 2 g,E Jiao (Colla Corii Asini) 2 g,Bei Mu (Bulbus Fritillariae) 2 g,Wu Mei (Fructus Mume) 6 g,Ying Su Qiao (Pericarpium Papaveris) 6 g,Sheng Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens) 1 piece,Da Zao (Fructus Jujubae) 1 date.

Explanation

Ying Su Qiao: One of the principal drugs, astringing the lung to arrest cough.

Ren Shen: The other principal drug, invigorating Qi and benefiting the lung.

E Jiao: Nourishing Yin and benefiting the lung.

Wu Wei Zi and Wu Mei: Astringing the lung to arrest cough.

Kuan Dong Hua and Bei Mu: Arresting cough, resolving phlegm, descending the adverse flow of the lung-Qi to relieve dyspnea.

Sang Bai Pi: Removing pathogenic heat from the lung to arrest cough.

Jie Geng: Arresting cough and resolving phlegm.

The Effect of Jiuxian San

Effect

Astringing the lung to arrest cough, invigorating Qi and nourishing Yin.

Indications

Syndrome due to deficiency of the lung and insufficiency of Qi, marked by protracted cough which even leads to dyspnea and spontaneous when severe, pale tongue with whitish coating, and weak rapid pulse; including such diseases with the above symptoms as chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, pleurisy and pneumonia in the convalescence.

Administrations

All the ingredients except the last two are ground into fine powder. The powder is decocted in water with Sheng Jiang and Da Zao for the decoction to be taken twice.

Contraindication

Because this prescription is very strong in astringing the lung and stopping cough, it should not be administered to treat patients with protracted cough complicated by profuse expectoration, or with exterior syndrome due to exogeneous pathogens for fear that the disease be prolonged or worsened.

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Sources and further reading

We cite classical materia medica and modern reference works. This article is health education, not medical advice.

  • Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Han dynasty.
  • Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen, 1578.
  • Chinese Pharmacopoeia, current edition — identity, quality and safety monographs.
  • NCCIH and WHO reference material on traditional medicine safety.

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