Bi Yan Pian
Bi yan pian
Kan Traditionals
Disperses Wind Heat or Wind Cold, opens up the nasal passages.
- Herb: Xanthium fruit, Magnolia flower, Forsythia fruit, Phellodendron bark, Fragrant angelica root, Chinese licorice root and rhizome, Chrysanthemum flower, Schizonepeta herb, Siler root, Platycodon root, Anemarrhena rhizome, Schisandra fruit
- Herb (Pinyin): Cang er zi, Xin yi hua, Lian qiao, Huang bai, Bai zhi, Gan cao, Ju hua, Jing jie, Fang feng, Jie geng, Zhi mu, Wu wei zi
- Pattern: Invasion of Wind Heat or Wind Cold into the Lung and Yang channels of the head
- Actions: Disperses Wind Heat or Wind Cold, opens up the nasal passages
- Indications: Supports healthy nasal passages, Supports healthy sinuses, eyes, ears, nose, throat, bronchi and skin., Wind Heat or Wind Cold invasion
- Contraindications: Contraindicated during pregnancy.
- Tongue: Possibly red with a greasy, yellow or white coating.
- Pulse: Superficial, rapid or slow, slippery.
Bi Yan Pian is a modern formula for nasal and sinus congestion arising from Wind Heat or Wind Cold invasion. When External Wind penetrates the Exterior, it obstructs the dispersing and descending function of Lung Qi in the nasal passages. Bi Yan Pian combines Wind-expelling, Heat-clearing and aromatic herbs to open the nasal passages and sensory orifices and transform Phlegm.
Formula Composition
Xanthium fruit (Cang Er Zi) and Magnolia flower (Xin Yi Hua) are the chief herbs. Together they open the nose, expel Wind and Dampness, and guide the formula to the sinuses; Magnolia flower also disperses Wind Cold. Fragrant angelica root (Bai Zhi) releases the Exterior, opens the nasal orifice, dries Dampness and expels Wind Cold. Schizonepeta herb (Jing Jie) and Siler root (Fang Feng) dispel Wind and open the sinuses.
Forsythia fruit (Lian Qiao) clears externally contracted Wind Heat, and Chrysanthemum flower (Ye Ju Hua) reinforces the formula’s Wind-dispersing, Heat-clearing action. Anemarrhena rhizome (Zhi Mu) clears internal Heat from the Lung and Stomach and drains Fire, while Phellodendron bark (Huang Bai) drains Damp Heat.
Platycodon root (Jie Geng) opens and disseminates Lung Qi, transforms Phlegm, benefits the throat and carries the formula upward. Schisandra fruit (Wu Wei Zi) consolidates Lung Qi and nourishes the Kidney, tempering the formula’s dispersing herbs. Chinese licorice root and rhizome (Gan Cao) clears Heat in the Middle Burner, supplements Qi and harmonizes the formula.
Clinical Combinations
To strengthen Wind Heat clearing, Bi Yan Pian may be combined with Dispel Invasion from the Kan Herbals line, Yin Qiao or Gan Mao Ling. For underlying patterns such as Lung, Spleen or Kidney deficiency, Liver Qi stagnation or weak Defensive (Wei) Qi, it pairs well with constitutional formulas such as Jade Windscreen or Blue Green Lung Formula.
Origins and Development
Bi Yan Pian draws on classical nasal formulas, notably Xanthium Powder (Cang Er Zi San) and Magnolia Flower Powder (Xin Yi San), both recorded by Yan Yong-He in Formulas to Aid the Living (Ji Sheng Fang, 1253 A.D.).