When heat comes in on the wind
Dry throat, a feeling of heat rising to the head, thirst, a slight chilliness in the wind despite the heat, a slightly heavy head, especially in spring or when the seasons change… In TCM, these signs may be associated with Wind-Heat that is still at the surface of the body. According to the Wen Bing school, devoted to the ways Heat affects the body, it first reaches the Lung and the throat, and the aim is to disperse it outwards before it reaches deeper levels.
Yin Qiao Pian is the modern form of Yin Qiao San, the “Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder”, by Wu Jutong (吴鞠通), which appeared in the Wen Bing Tiao Bian (《温病条辨》), written around 1798 under the Qing dynasty and published in 1813. Its name brings together its two chief herbs: yin (银) for honeysuckle, the “gold and silver” flower (金银花), and qiao (翘) for forsythia (连翘). It is the best-known formula of the Wen Bing school.
A touch of warmth in a cooling formula
Honeysuckle and forsythia, in high amounts, clear Heat and disperse it outwards; their pairing is one of the most famous in the pharmacopoeia. Mint and burdock, both cool, target the throat and the head. Schizonepeta, for its part, is slightly warm: tradition places it there on purpose to open the surface, and a classical commentary notes that, tempered by honeysuckle and forsythia, it disperses without drying.
Disperses Wind-Heat: Mint, burdock and schizonepeta open the surface and disperse Wind, so that Heat does not remain trapped.
Clears Heat: Honeysuckle and forsythia, at 650 mg each per 6 capsules, together account for more than 40% of the formula.
Brings gentle freshness to the throat: Platycodon carries the action upwards, as far as the throat, and forms a classic pair with licorice; burdock completes their action.
Supports the body during seasonal transitions: According to tradition, Wind opens the way for the other climatic factors, and Heat follows it. A formula that disperses Wind naturally finds its place in spring and between seasons.
