Traditional Chinese Medicine Healing Herbs(TCMHH)

Prescriptions for Checking the Upward Adverse Flow of Qi

Suzi Jiangqi Tang: Classic TCM Formula

Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang 苏子降气汤
By the TCMHH editorial team Not medically reviewed How we work Updated 6 Oct 2026
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Name

Decoction of Perilla Seed for Descending Qi

The Prescription of Suzi Jiangqi Tang

Source

The book Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang

Ingredients

Su Zi (Fructus Perillae) 9 g,Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae) 9 g,Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) 6 g,Hou Po (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis) 6 g,Qian Hu (Radix Peucedani) 6 g,Zhi Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata) 6 g,Rou Gui (Cortex Cinnamomi) 3 g,Sheng Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens) 2 pieces,Da Zao (Fructus Jujubae) 1 dates,Su Ye (Folium Perillae) 2 g.

Explanation

Su Zi: The principal drug, descending Qi, dissolving phlegm, arresting cough and relieving dyspnea.

Ban Xia, Hou Po and Qian Hu: Arresting cough and relieving dyspnea.

Rou Gui: Warming the kidney to enhance its function of receiving air.

Dang Gui: Nourishing blood, tonifying the liver, relieving cough and shortness of breath.

Sheng Jiang and Su Ye: Dispelling pathogenic cold and facilitating the flow of the lung-Qi.

Gan Cao and Da Zao: Regulating the function of the middle-Jiao, tempering the actions of all the other ingredients.

The Effect of Suzi Jiangqi Tang

Effect

Checking the upward adverse flow of the lung-Qi to relieve dyspnea, removing phlegm and arresting cough.

Indications

Syndrome due to accumulation of phlegm as well as excessiveness in the upper and insufficiency in the lower, marked by dyspneic cough, shortness of breath, fullness and distention in the chest and epigastric region, or lumbago and weakness of the feet, or swelling of the limbs, pale tongue with whitish slippery coating, and deep pulse; including such diseases with the above symptoms as bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, and pulmonary heart disease.

Administrations

Decocted in water for oral dose to be taken twice.

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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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