Shen Su Yin (参苏饮) — Ginseng & Perilla Drink

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Overview
TCM pattern
Key herbs
Formula actions
Conditions treated
Comparisons with related formulas
Cautions

Overview

Shen Su Yin — the “Ginseng and Perilla Drink” — is from the Song-dynasty Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang. It addresses Wind-Cold invasion in a Qi-deficient patient with concurrent internal Phlegm — the picture of an older adult, child or convalescent who catches a cold with cough^[10], mild fever, chest tightness and persistent Phlegm, where stronger surface-releasing formulas would overdrive the weakened Qi.

The formula combines Qi-tonifying herbs (Ren Shen, Gan Cao) with mild surface-releasing herbs (Zi Su Ye, Ge Gen, Qian Hu), Phlegm-resolving herbs (Ban Xia, Chen Pi) and Qi-moving herbs (Mu Xiang, Zhi Ke, Jie Geng, Fu Ling). It is one of the most useful colds-for-the-elderly formulas in the materia medica.

I prescribe Shen Su Yin as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.

TCM pattern

Shen Su Yin is prescribed for Wind-Cold with Phlegm and Qi deficiency:

Cough with profuse white phlegm
Chest tightness and slight oppression
Mild fever with chills
Headache
Profound fatigue^[9] accompanying the cold
Reduced appetite, nausea^[12]
Pale complexion
Older adult, child or convalescent
Tongue — pale, white moist coat
Pulse — weak, floating, possibly slippery

Key herbs

Ren Shen (Rx. Ginseng, 1.5-22.5g) — tonifies Qi
Zi Su Ye (perilla leaf, 3-22.5g) — gently releases the surface
Ge Gen (Rx. Puerariae, 2-22.5g) — releases the muscle layer, generates fluids
Qian Hu (Rx. Peucedani, 2-22.5g) — descends Lung Qi and transforms Phlegm
Ban Xia (Ginger-fried Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum, 3-22.5g) — transforms Phlegm
Chen Pi (Per. Citri Reticulatae, 2-15g) — regulates Qi
Jie Geng (Rx. Platycodi, 2-15g) — opens the Lung
Zhi Ke — moves Qi in the chest
Fu Ling (Poria, 3-22.5g) — drains Damp
Mu Xiang (Rx. Aucklandiae, 1-15g) — moves Qi
Sheng Jiang (Rz. Zingiberis Recens, 1.5-15g), Da Zao (Fr. Zizyphi Jujube, 1.5-15g), Gan Cao (Rx. Glycyrrhizae, 1-15g) — harmonise

Formula actions

Augments Qi while releasing the exterior
Transforms Phlegm
Stops cough
Suitable for weak or deficient patients

Conditions treated

Wind-Cold cold in older adults
Postnatal cold with depletion
Cold in children with prominent cough and weak constitution
Chronic bronchitis exacerbation in Qi-deficient patients
Post-viral persistent cough with fatigue
Recurrent winter colds with susceptibility

Comparisons with related formulas

Ren Shen Bai Du San — for Wind-Cold-Damp in deficient patients with body aches and chills; more focus on Damp and the surface.
Zai Zao San — for Yang-deficient cold with severe chills; stronger warming.
Xiang Su San — for stress-related cold without Qi deficiency.

Cautions

Not appropriate for Wind-Heat with sore throat and yellow phlegm.

Generally well-tolerated; safe in older patients and pregnancy under qualified supervision.

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the RCHM.

Prefer to be treated from home? Chinese herbal medicine online consultations are available throughout the UK and worldwide.

References

[9] Wang YY, Li XX, Liu JP, Luo H, Ma LX, Alraek T. Traditional Chinese medicine for chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Complement Ther Med. 2014 Aug;22(4):826-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2014.06.004. PMID: 25146086.

[10] Lee B, Kwon CY, Suh HW, Kim YJ, Kim KI, Lee BJ, Lee JH. Herbal medicine for the treatment of chronic cough: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Pharmacol. 2023 Oct 17;14:1230604. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1230604. PMID: 37920213.

[12] Zhai X, He Q, Chen M, Yu L, Tong C, Chen Y, et al. Pinellia ternata-containing traditional Chinese medicine combined with 5-HT3RAs for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis of 22 RCTs. Phytomedicine. 2023 Jul;115:154823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154823. PMID: 37099981.