Yin Qiao San

Pronunciation: yin chee-ow sahn.

Generic name
Yin Qiao San (银翘散, Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder)
Drug class
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbal combination formula (classical 'Wind-Heat'-release category); Chinese Pharmacopoeia tradition -- not a Western-regulator-approved drug
Form
Traditional decoction (herbs prepared from a coarse powder, approximately 18g per dose), granules, or patent-medicine tablets (Yinqiao Jiedu Pian)
Route
Oral
Legal status
A classical Traditional Chinese Medicine formula manufactured and sold by multiple TCM manufacturers in China and available through TCM practitioners/retailers internationally as an herbal supplement in some markets; no evidence of authorisation as a regulated medicine was found in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand -- confirmed as a clean, live zero-result search in the United States (DailyMed), United Kingdom (electronic Medicines Compendium), and Australia (TGA); the European Union, Canada, and New Zealand live database queries returned technical errors this session rather than a clean result, so those three are honestly recorded as unable to verify rather than assumed absent.

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: United States

Australia: · Full directory

What Yin Qiao San (银翘散, Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder) is and how it works

Yin Qiao San (Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder) is one of the most widely used classical Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas, first recorded by Wu Jutong in 1798. It combines 10 herbs -- most notably honeysuckle flower and forsythia fruit, which give the formula its name -- and is traditionally used at the very early stage of what TCM describes as a 'Wind-Heat' pattern: broadly, the early stage of a common cold, influenza, or similar acute upper-respiratory viral illness with fever, sore throat, headache, thirst, and mild or no chills. It is available as a traditional decoction, granules, or a patent-medicine tablet form (Yinqiao Jiedu Pian). (1) (4)

Yin Qiao San is a classical herbal formula, not a drug reviewed and approved by the FDA, MHRA, EMA, Health Canada, TGA, or Medsafe -- no evidence of Western-regulator authorisation was found in any of the 6 standard markets checked. A 2024 peer-reviewed safety analysis of Chinese patent medicines' toxic-ingredient categories (aconitine-type alkaloids, toxic minerals, Araceae plant toxins, and cyanide-yielding herbs) did not flag this formula, and none of its 10 herbs fall into those categories -- a reassuring finding specific to this product's real composition. It is traditionally intended for short-term, acute use only (typically 1-5 days), not as a long-term remedy, and TCM sources caution it is designed for a 'Wind-Heat' presentation, not the opposite 'Wind-Cold' pattern (strong chills, no thirst). Anyone with a high fever, difficulty breathing, symptoms that worsen or last more than a few days, or any serious illness should see a clinician rather than rely on this formula alone.

Mechanism of action: how Yin Qiao San (银翘散, Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder) works

Yin Qiao San is a 10-herb combination formula; its constituents include compounds studied for anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties (a 2022 UPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS quality-evaluation study identified 53 bioactive compounds in the extract), though a single, internationally-agreed mechanism of action for the combination product has not been established through Western-regulator-style review. A 2024 peer-reviewed toxic-ingredient risk analysis of Chinese patent medicines did not list this formula among products containing aconitine-type alkaloids, toxic minerals, Araceae plant toxins, or cyanide-yielding herbs. (1) (4)

What Yin Qiao San (银翘散, Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder) is used for

Early-stage Wind-Heat pattern (common cold/influenza with fever, sore throat, headache)

Traditionally used at the earliest stage of an acute upper-respiratory illness presenting with fever, slight or absent chills, sore throat, headache, thirst, and cough -- what TCM describes as an external Wind-Heat invasion of the Lungs. This is the formula's primary classical indication, not an indication reviewed or approved by any Western drug regulator. (1)

Adjunctive use in pneumonia alongside conventional treatment (Chinese clinical practice)

Chinese clinical trials, summarised in a peer-reviewed meta-analysis, have studied Yinqiao powder combined with antibiotics/conventional treatment for pneumonia, reporting improved efficacy and a low incidence of adverse reactions in the studies reviewed. This is Chinese-context clinical-trial evidence, not an approval or endorsement by any Western drug regulator, and does not mean this formula should replace or delay appropriate antibiotic or antiviral treatment for a serious respiratory infection. (3)

Before taking Yin Qiao San (银翘散, Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder)

Do not take / not appropriate for

  • Traditionally not recommended for a 'Wind-Cold' pattern -- strong chills, no significant thirst, and a white tongue coating -- since this formula is specifically designed for a Wind-Heat presentation. (all users, per TCM tradition) (1)
  • Do not take this product if you have a known allergy or hypersensitivity to honeysuckle, forsythia, licorice, or any of its other herbal components. (all users) (1)
  • This formula is not a Western-regulator-approved medicine. It should not be assumed regulator-reviewed in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. (all countries outside China) (5) (6) (7)

Tell your clinician about

  • Whether you have a tendency toward loose stools or a weak digestive system, or a Yin-deficiency-type presentation -- traditional sources note caution or the need for a modified formula in these cases.
  • Whether you have significant liver disease, since some traditional sources note caution in this setting.
  • All other medicines and herbal or supplement products being used, to check for interactions.
  • Whether the illness being treated could be something more serious than a mild cold -- see a clinician for high fever, difficulty breathing, chest pain, or symptoms lasting more than a few days.
  • Whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or considering use for a child, so a qualified practitioner can advise on appropriateness and dosing.
(1)

How to take Yin Qiao San (银翘散, Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder)

  • This is a classical herbal formula; dosing described here reflects traditional and modern manufactured-product labelling and is provided for reference only, not as self-directed guidance for infants, children, or anyone with a complex medical history.
  • Intended for short-term, acute use only -- traditionally 1 to 5 days, discontinued once fever resolves. It is not intended as a long-term or maintenance remedy.
  • Modern manufactured forms (granules, tablets) come with product-specific dosing instructions that should be followed; these vary by manufacturer.
(1)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Missed dose

There is no internationally standardised missed-dose protocol for this classical herbal formula. Follow the specific manufactured product's label, or ask a qualified TCM practitioner or pharmacist for guidance.

Overdose

Contact a doctor, pharmacist, or local poison-control service promptly for advice if a much larger amount than the labelled dose has been taken, or if concerning symptoms develop such as a new rash, breathing difficulty, or persistent vomiting or diarrhoea. (1)

Side effects

Side effects and their urgency vary; report severe, persistent, or concerning symptoms.

Generally described as well tolerated in the clinical literature reviewed; mild digestive upset has been anecdotally associated with herbal formulas of this type in some individuals, though this dossier did not find a formal, quantified adverse-event-rate table specific to Yin Qiao San in the sources reviewed.

What to notice: Generally described as well tolerated in the clinical literature reviewed; mild digestive upset has been anecdotally associated with herbal formulas of this type in some individuals, though this dossier did not find a formal, quantified adverse-event-rate table specific to Yin Qiao San in the sources reviewed.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (3)

Reported adverse event

Incidence: See prescribing information

Serious warnings

Serious allergic reaction — emergency

Symptoms: Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat; difficulty breathing; widespread rash or hives.

Action: Seek emergency medical help immediately. (1)

Signs of a more serious illness than a mild Wind-Heat cold — high caution

Symptoms: High or persistent fever, difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, or symptoms that worsen or last more than a few days.

Action: See a clinician promptly. This formula is intended for short-term, mild-illness self-care and is not a substitute for medical assessment or antiviral/antibiotic treatment where these are needed. (1)

Using this formula for the wrong TCM pattern (Wind-Cold instead of Wind-Heat) — high caution

Symptoms: Not applicable -- this is a formula-selection safety point, not a symptom to watch for in someone already taking it correctly.

Action: This formula is traditionally intended only for a Wind-Heat presentation (fever, thirst, sore throat, little or no chills). A qualified TCM practitioner or clinician should confirm the correct formula is being used, since a Wind-Cold presentation (strong chills, no thirst) traditionally calls for a different formula. (1)

Interactions

  • No formally documented drug-drug interaction data specific to this herbal combination was identified in the sources reviewed; disclose all other medicines and herbal/supplement products to a clinician or pharmacist before combined use. (1)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Pregnancy

Traditional sources reviewed describe this formula as generally compatible with short-term acute use in pregnancy, and none of its individual herbs are classified as contraindicated in pregnancy in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia per the source reviewed -- but as with any herbal product with limited formal Western-regulator safety data, use in pregnancy should only occur under a qualified practitioner's or clinician's guidance. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Breastfeeding

Traditional sources reviewed describe this formula as compatible with short-term use while breastfeeding, with prolonged use advised against; discuss with a clinician or qualified practitioner before use. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Children

Traditional paediatric use is well established in the TCM tradition, with dose adjusted by age/weight, but this page does not present a self-directed paediatric dose -- use in children should be guided by a qualified TCM practitioner or clinician. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Hepatic_impairment

No specific formal guidance identified in the sources reviewed for significant liver disease; traditional sources note general caution with prolonged use of cooling herbal formulas in this setting. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Monitoring

Before starting

  • Confirm the presentation is genuinely a Wind-Heat pattern (fever, thirst, sore throat, little or no chills) rather than Wind-Cold or a more serious illness
  • Consider whether the underlying illness needs clinician assessment, antiviral, or antibiotic treatment rather than herbal self-care alone

During treatment

  • Watch for any signs of allergic reaction or worsening/persistent symptoms and contact a clinician promptly if these occur.
  • Discontinue once the fever and acute symptoms have resolved -- this formula is not intended for prolonged or maintenance use.
(1)

Storage

Store per the specific manufactured product's label, typically at room temperature, protected from light and moisture, out of reach of children. Traditional decoctions prepared fresh should be used promptly.

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only. Yin Qiao San is a classical Traditional Chinese Medicine formula, not a Western-regulator-reviewed drug, so there is no FDA/EMA/MHRA-style prescribing information in the conventional sense. This section reflects classical TCM source material and peer-reviewed Chinese-context clinical literature reviewed this session.

China / wider TCM tradition

Indication: Early-stage Wind-Heat pattern (acute upper-respiratory illness with fever, sore throat, headache, thirst); adjunctive use in pneumonia alongside conventional treatment in some Chinese clinical studies

Dose summary: Traditional decoction: ~18g combined herbs per dose, dosed every 2-3 hours depending on severity for 1-5 days. Modern granule/tablet forms: product-specific, proportionally adjusted dosing.

Renal context: No specific renal-dosing guidance identified in the sources reviewed. (1)

United States / United Kingdom / European Union / Canada / Australia / New Zealand

Indication: Not applicable -- no evidence of Western-regulator authorisation found in any of these 6 markets.

Dose summary: Not applicable.

Renal context: Not applicable. (5) (6) (7)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

No specific hepatic-impairment dosing guidance identified in the sources reviewed.

Overdose note

No specific antidote identified; manage suspected significant overdose or reaction with supportive care and clinician or poison-control advice. (1) (4)

Frequently asked questions

Is Yin Qiao San available or approved outside China?

No evidence of Western drug-regulator authorisation was found in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. Live database searches confirmed a clean zero result in the United States (DailyMed), United Kingdom (electronic Medicines Compendium), and Australia (TGA). For the European Union, Canada, and New Zealand, this session's live regulator-database queries returned technical errors rather than a clean result, so those three are honestly recorded as unable to verify rather than assumed to be either authorised or unauthorised. Yin Qiao San is a classical Traditional Chinese Medicine formula rooted in Chinese medical tradition since 1798, sometimes sold internationally as an herbal supplement rather than as a regulator-approved medicine -- always check the regulatory status of the specific local product. (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)

What is Yin Qiao San used for?

Traditionally, it is used at the very earliest stage of an acute upper-respiratory illness with fever, sore throat, headache, thirst, and little or no chills -- what TCM calls a Wind-Heat pattern. It is intended for short-term use (traditionally 1-5 days) and is discontinued once the fever resolves. It is not designed for the opposite 'Wind-Cold' presentation (strong chills, no thirst), and it is not a substitute for medical care in a serious or worsening illness. (1)

Is Yin Qiao San safe? Does it contain any toxic ingredients?

A 2024 peer-reviewed safety-risk analysis of Chinese patent medicines examined four categories of toxic ingredients sometimes found in TCM products (aconitine-type alkaloids, toxic minerals such as mercury/arsenic/sulfur, Araceae plant toxins, and cyanide-yielding herbs). Yin Qiao San was not among the formulas that analysis examined or flagged, and none of its 10 constituent herbs (honeysuckle, forsythia, peppermint, burdock, schizonepeta, fermented soybean, balloon flower root, lophatherum, reed rhizome, licorice) fall into those categories. This is a genuine, reassuring finding specific to this formula's real composition -- but it is not a blanket guarantee of safety for all uses, all manufactured products, or use outside the traditional short-term, acute-illness scope, and it does not mean this formula has been reviewed or approved by a Western drug regulator. (4)

What herbs are in Yin Qiao San?

The classical 10-herb formula consists of: honeysuckle flower (Jin Yin Hua), forsythia fruit (Lian Qiao), peppermint (Bo He), burdock fruit (Niu Bang Zi), schizonepeta (Jing Jie), fermented soybean (Dan Dou Chi), balloon flower root (Jie Geng), lophatherum (Dan Zhu Ye), reed rhizome (Lu Gen), and licorice (Gan Cao). The formula's name comes from its two principal herbs: Yin from Jin Yin Hua (honeysuckle) and Qiao from Lian Qiao (forsythia). (1)

What is the mechanism of action of Yin Qiao San (银翘散, Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder)?

Yin Qiao San is a 10-herb combination formula; its constituents include compounds studied for anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties (a 2022 UPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS quality-evaluation study identified 53 bioactive compounds in the extract), though a single, internationally-agreed mechanism of action for the combination product has not been established through Western-regulator-style review. A 2024 peer-reviewed toxic-ingredient risk analysis of Chinese patent medicines did not list this formula among products containing aconitine-type alkaloids, toxic minerals, Araceae plant toxins, or cyanide-yielding herbs. (1) (4)

What is the generic name of Yin Qiao San?

The generic name is Yin Qiao San (银翘散, Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder). (1) (2)

What class of drug is Yin Qiao San (银翘散, Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder)?

Yin Qiao San is classed as: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbal combination formula (classical 'Wind-Heat'-release category); Chinese Pharmacopoeia tradition -- not a Western-regulator-approved drug. (1) (2)

References

  1. Yin Qiao San (银翘散) -- complete formula profile, composition, classical source, and traditional dosingClassical TCM formula reference, reproducing the original Wen Bing Tiao Bian (Wu Jutong, 1798) formula composition and dosing · China (classical source) · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 1
  2. Yin Qiao Jie Du Pian: A Patent Remedy Based on Yin Qiao SanInstitute for Traditional Medicine (itmonline.org) -- reference article on the patent-medicine derivative of Yin Qiao San · China / international TCM reference · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 2
  3. Efficacy and safety of yinqiao powder combined with western medicine in the treatment of pneumonia: A systematic review and meta-analysisPeer-reviewed systematic review/meta-analysis (PMC) · China (clinical evidence base) · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 3
  4. 'Risk-benefit' assessment for comprehensive safety evaluation of Chinese patent medicines containing four common toxic ingredients: an analysis of clinical risk factorsPeer-reviewed safety/pharmacovigilance analysis (Frontiers in Pharmacology / PMC) · China · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 4
  5. DailyMed search for 'yin qiao' -- zero resultsDailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) -- product label search · United States · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 5
  6. emc.medicines.org.uk search for 'yin qiao' -- zero resultselectronic medicines compendium (emc), United Kingdom -- product search · United Kingdom · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 6
  7. TGA PI & CMI search for 'yin qiao' -- 0 documentsTherapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia -- PI & CMI product search · Australia · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 7
  8. EMA medicine search for 'yin qiao' -- technical failure (HTTP 401)n/a -- disclosed live-query technical failure, not a confirmed negative or positive result · European Union · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 8
  9. Health Canada Drug Product Database search for 'yin qiao' -- technical failure (HTTP 405)n/a -- disclosed live-query technical failure, not a confirmed negative or positive result · Canada · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 9
  10. Medsafe product/trade-name search -- form-based search, no direct result page captured for 'yin qiao'n/a -- disclosed live-query limitation, not a confirmed negative or positive result · New Zealand · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 10

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient Yin Qiao San (银翘散, Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder) names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

United States

  • Hawaii PharmHawaii Pharm
  • Herbal TerraHerbal Terra
  • Plum FlowerPlum Flower
  • Ron Teeguarden's Dragon HerbsRon Teeguarden's Dragon Herbs
  • Guang Ci TangGuang Ci Tang
View brands in additional countries.

This page provides general reference information about Yin Qiao San, a classical Traditional Chinese Medicine formula, and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified TCM practitioner, pharmacist, or doctor. It is not an approved medicine in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. It is intended for short-term, acute use only and is not a substitute for medical care for a serious or worsening illness.

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