Hai Zao (pictured) and the Laminaria seaweed in this formula addressed goiter long before the thyroid gland was “discovered”.

Alternative Names

• Forsythia, Laminaria and Licorice Formula
• San Zhong Kui Jian Tang
• san tsung kuei chien tang

Ingredients

Dang Gui 當歸 tangkuei, Chinese angelica root Radix Angelicae Sinensis [supports pregnancy]

Bai Shao 白芍 white peony root, peony Paeoniae Radix alba [supports pregnancy]

Chai Hu 柴胡 hare’s ear root, thorowax root, bupleurum Radix Bupleuri [caution]

Huang Qin 黃苓 baical skullcap root, scutellaria, scute Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis [supports pregnancy]

Huang Lian 黃蓮 coptis rhizome Rhizoma Coptidis

Lian Qiao 連翹 forsythia fruit Forsythiae Fructus

Huang Bai 黃栢 amur cork tree bark, huang bo, phellodendron bark Cortex Phellodendri

Jie Geng 桔梗 balloon flower root, platycodon root Radix Platycodi Grandifolii

Long Dan Cao 龍膽草 Chinese gentian root, gentiana root Radix Gentianae Longdancao

Zhi Mu 知母 anemarrhena rhizome Rhizoma Anemarrhenae Asphodeloidis

Ge Gen 葛根 kudzu root, pueraria Radix Puerariae

San Leng 三棱 sparganium, burr reed rhizome, scirpus, common burr reed Sparganii Rhizoma [don’t use if pregnant]

E Zhu 莪术 curcuma rhizome Curcumae Rhizoma [don’t use if pregnant]

Kun Bu 昆布 Thallus Ecklonia

Sheng Ma 升麻 bugbane rhizome, cimicifuga, black cohosh rhizome Rhizoma Cimicifugae

Sheng Jiang 生薑 fresh ginger rhizome Zingiberis Rhizoma

Gan Cao 甘草 licorice root Radix Glycyrrhizae [caution]

Tian Hua Fen 天花粉 trichosanthes root Radix Trichosanthis Kirilowii [don’t use if pregnant]

Lian qiao isn’t a leaf, but a seed pod from the forsythia pictured here. It has a cooling affect on the skin

Alternative Names

• Forsythia, Lonicera and Licorice Formula
• Zhi Tou Chuang Yi Fang
• chih tou chuang i fang
• jizusoippo
• For Exzema Decoction
• Ji-zusō-ippō
• 治頭瘡一方
• ぢずそういっぽう
• TJ59; TJ-59; TJ 59

Benefits

• targets white-head pimples on the head
• supports moist skin in babies
• benefits the skin in the pubic region as well

Ingredients

Lian Qiao 連翹 forsythia fruit Forsythiae Fructus

Jin Yin Hua 金銀花 honeysuckle flower, lonicera Flos Lonicerae Japonicae

• With a spicy minty taste, forsythia and honeysuckle generate a little cool sweat which is thought to be an outward pathway for hot irritants in the skin. These two herbs could be said to regulate the inflammatory response in the skin to address redness and irritation.

Fang Feng 防風 saposhnikovia root, ledebouriella root, siler Radix Ledebouriellae Divaricatae

Jing Jie 荊芥 schizonepeta stem or bud Herba seu Flos Schizonepetae Tenuifoliae

• While the first two herbs in this formula push hot irritants out of the skin, saposhnikovia and schizonepeta push out the “wind”. Wind itches, and these two herbs with the difficult-to-pronounce names address the itching one might find with certain skin conditions.

Hong Hua 紅花 safflower flower, carthamus Carthami Flos [don’t use if pregnant]

Chuan Xiong 川芎 Sichuan lovage root, cnidium, chuanxiong root Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong

• Safflower and Cnidium stimulate movement of the blood in the skin. There’s an ancient saying in Chinese medicine: “To treat wind (itching) you must treat the blood.” These two herbs are here to treat the blood.

Cang Zhu 蒼术 atractylodes rhizome, cang shu Atractylodis Rhizoma

• If the itchy skin “weeps” or feels wet when you scratch it, that’s what Chinese medicine calls “dampness” in the skin. This herb dries that dampness however it leaves normal skin moisture (sweat and oil) intact.

Da Huang 大黄 rhubarb root and rhizome Radix et Rhizoma Rhei [don’t use if pregnant]

• Most of the herbs in this formula address “exterior wind-heat” in the skin. They target external insults to the skin such as allergens or some other irritation. However, skin conditions can also arise from internal turbidity of the stomach and intestines. Rhubarb root cleanses the stomach and intestines. This formula includes only a “pinch” of this herb to support intestinal functions.

Gan Cao 甘草 licorice root Radix Glycyrrhizae [caution]

• This licorice root is added to many Chinese formulas to moderate the harsh actions of the herbs in this formula to work more gently and in a harmonious coordinated manner. It also works with the first two herbs mentioned above to regulate the inflammatory response in the skin.

This formula can be used to support health with or without symptoms. If symptoms are present, take 1 level teaspoon of the powder (8 capsules) three times daily. When symptoms are not present, take 1/2 level teaspoon (4 capsules), two times daily. Empty stomach is best for efficient absorption, but not essential. [More…]

At this dosage, your order will last approximately this long (?):

• 100 grams powder (capsules or powder): 8 to 25 days
• 200 grams powder (powder only): 19 to 56 days