by Skye Sturgeon, DAOM
Article originally published January, 2026
Release The Exterior Teapills / Jīng fáng bài dú wán 荊防敗毒丸,(MW#: 3367) is indicated. By contrast, when the patient is Qi Deficient, then Plum Flower ™ Resilient Warrior Teapills / Rénshēn bài dú sàn 人参败毒散, (MW#3384) should be prescribed. Let us take a look at these two important formulas.
Release The Exterior Teapills™ for Exterior Wind-Cold without Qi deficiency
Release The Exterior Teapills (Jing Fang Bai Du Wan) also known as ‘Schizonepeta and Ledebouriella Powder to Overcome Pathogenic Influences’ originates from the Collection of Wonderful Prescriptions for Nourishing Life/ She Sheng Zhong Miao Fang 摄生众妙方 (1550 CE). It is used to Release the Exterior and to dispel Wind, while also eliminating toxins and reducing swelling, clearing the Channels, resolving Phlegm and relieving cough. It is primarily used to treat exogenous Wind-Cold-Dampness (WCD) syndrome in the Du and Tai Yang channels. Symptoms include the initial stage of exogenous Wind-Cold invasion, aversion to cold and fever, occipital headache, generalized body aches, chest tightness, cough, copious white phlegm, as well as various types of sores and carbuncles with swelling, pain, and fever. The typical signs include a tongue with a white coating and floating and tight pulse.
Release The Exterior Teapills / Jing Fang Bai Du Wan
| Jing jie | Schizonepeta tenufolia herb | Releases the Exterior, expels Wind, moves Qi, relieves muscle spasms, relieves itching and reduces swelling. |
| Fang feng | Saposhnikovia divaricata root | Releases the Exterior, expels External Wind, expels Wind-Cold-Dampness and alleviates pain. |
| Chai hu | Bupleurum chinense root | Expels Wind-Heat, raises Yang Qi, and resolves Phlegm and congestion. |
| Qian hu | Peucedanum praeruptorum root | Descends Qi, expels Phlegm and expels Wind. |
| Chuan xiong | Ligusticum chuanxiong rhizome | Regulates Qi, assists in releasing the Exterior, moves Blood, expels Wind-Cold, enhances the pain-relieving function of the formula (especially in the head and neck) and treats headaches. |
| Qiang huo | Notopterygium incisum root | Expels Wind-Cold-Dampness, unblocks painful obstruction, alleviates pain and guides Qi to the Tai Yang and Du channels. |
| Du huo | Angelica dahurica root | Disperses Wind-Cold-Dampness, opens the channels and alleviates pain. |
| Fu ling | Poria cocos sclerotium | Transforms Phlegm, strengthens the Spleen, leaches out Dampness and promotes urination. |
| Jie geng | Platycodon grandiflorum root | Opens the Lungs, expels Phlegm, benefits the throat and directs the effects of other herbs to the upper body. |
| Gan cao | Glycyrrhiza uralensis root | Moistens the Lungs, resolves Phlegm, stops cough, clears Heat, relieves Fire toxicity and moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs. |
| Sheng jiang | Zingiber oficinale root | Releases the Exterior, induces perspiration and disperses Cold, Warms the Lungs and stops coughing |
Dosage and Administration
8 teapills, 3 x per day is the general dosing guidance. Administer half an hour before or one hour after eating. In acute cases, dosage may be increased to 8-12 pills every 2-4 hours, then reduced to a maintenance dose as the formula takes effect. Pills may be taken with hot ginger tea or rice and ginger porridge to encourage mild sweating. May be followed by a hot bath and bed rest with warm blankets. The formula can be used short-term for a few days to a few weeks. Once the acute exterior signs are resolved, this formula should be discontinued.
Cautions and contraindications
Contraindicated for conditions due to Wind-Heat but may be suitable for conditions of Wind-Cold transforming into Heat. Use with caution during pregnancy. This formula is warm and drying in nature and is not suitable for those with excess internal Heat or Yin deficiency with internal Heat.
Resilient Warrior Teapills™ for Excess with Qi Deficiency
The closely related formula, Rén shēn bài dú sàn 人参败毒散 literally translated as “Ginseng Detoxification Powder”, is even older since it originates from the Song Dynasty's (960-1127 CE) Formulary of the Bureau of Imperial Medical Services for the Benefit of the People/ Tài píng huì mín hé jì jú fāng 太平惠民和剂局方. Although the standard formula consists of ten medicinal herbs, most modern formulations contain 12 ingredients since it is customary in clinical applications to add Sheng jiang/ ginger and Bo He/ mint. Mayway Herb’s version is Plum Flower ™ Resilient Warrior Teapills (MW#3384).
Ren Shen Bai Du San also focuses on relieving Exterior symptoms, dispelling an external invasion of Wind, Cold, and Dampness (WCD), but importantly it also tonifies Qi. The formula was originally devised for children suffering from WCD since the Yuan Qi in children is generally insufficiently developed. The general treatment principle is to first remove the Excess condition, but it was believed that children needed augmentation of their Qi in order to expel the pathogenic influence. Nowadays, this formula is used to treat any individual with significant underlying Qi deficiency such as the elderly, the immunocompromised, post-partum females, or anyone suffering from a chronic debilitating condition.
External Wind-Cold-Dampness invasion with underlying Qi deficiency symptoms include an aversion to cold and/or wind, severe chills and shivering, with possibly a high fever, absence of sweating, pain and stiffness of head and neck, occipital headache, generalized body aches, fullness of the chest and epigastrium, cough with white phlegm, fatigue and weakness, nasal congestion or runny nose with clear mucus. Signs include a tongue that is swollen with possible toothmarks, and a greasy white coat. The pulse is generally floating, weak, or soggy.
This formula uses most of the same exterior releasing herbs and dampness removing herbs as Release the Exterior Teapills, but uses the Qi tonifying herb Ren Shen/ ginseng root as the principal ingredient to support the body's resistance and Zheng Qi while eliminating Evil Qi.
Resilient Warrior Teapills / Ren Shen Bai Du Wan
| Qiang huo | Notopterygium incisum root | Expels Wind-Cold-Dampness, unblocks painful obstruction, alleviates pain and guides Qi to the Tai Yang and Du channels. |
| Du huo | Angelica dahurica root | Disperses Wind-Cold-Dampness, opens the Channels and alleviates pain. |
| Chuan xiong | Ligusticum chuanxiong rhizome | Regulates Qi, assists to release the Exterior, moves Blood, expels Wind-Cold, enhances the pain-relieving function of the formula (especially in the head and neck) and treats headaches. |
| Chai hu | Bupleurum chinense root | Expels Wind-Heat, raises Yang Qi, and resolves Phlegm and congestion. |
| Qian hu | Peucedanum praeruptorum root | Descends Lung Qi, expels Phlegm and expels Wind. |
| Fu ling | Poria cocos sclerotium | Transforms Phlegm, strengthens the Spleen, leaches out Dampness and promotes urination. |
| Zhi ke | Citrus aurantium fruit | Promotes the movement of Qi, reduces distention and pressure, regulates the flow of Qi in the chest, and aids in the transformation of Phlegm for chest congestion. |
| Jie geng | Platycodon grandiflorum roo | Opens the Lungs, expels Phlegm, expels pus, benefits the throat and directs the effects of other herbs to the upper body. |
| Bo he | Mentha haplocalyx herb | Disperses Wind-Heat, clears the head and eyes and benefits the throat. |
| Ren shen | Panax ginseng root | Strengthens Zheng Qi to expel pathogenic influences, generates fluids to produce sweat, and strengthens the body's resistance to invasion. |
| Gan cao | Glycyrrhiza uralensis root | Moistens the Lungs, resolves Phlegm, stops cough, clears Heat, relieves Fire toxicity and moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs. |
| Sheng jiang | Zingiber oficinale root | Releases the Exterior, induces perspiration and disperses Cold, Warms the Lungs and stops coughing |
Dosage and Administration
8 teapills, 3 x per day is the general dosing guidance for adults. For children 2-5 years old use 1/3 adult dose, and for children 5-10 years old start with half the adult dose. Administer half an hour before or one hour after eating. In acute cases, dosage may be increased to 8-12 pills every 2-4 hours, then reduced to a maintenance dose as the formula takes effect. Pills may be taken with hot ginger tea or rice and ginger porridge to encourage mild sweating. Administration may be followed by a hot bath. The formula may be used short-term for a few days to a few weeks. Once acute Exterior signs are resolved, this formula should be discontinued and replaced with an appropriate formula to augment the Wei Qi, such as Jade Screen Teapills/ Yu Ping Feng Wan (MW# 3357).
Cautions and Contraindications
Contraindicated for those with a strong constitution or in cases of pure Excess without deficiency, or those with obvious Heat symptoms. Contraindicated for those with Exterior Wind-Heat. Contraindicated for those with Yin Deficiency and internal Heat. Not suitable for patients with Damp-Heat syndrome, or those with Damp-Heat in the Channels. It should be used with caution during pregnancy.
Differentiation Between the Two Formulas
What is the essential difference between these formulas? Jing Fang Bai Du Wan / Release the Exterior Teapills was derived from Ren Shen Bai Du San but with the ginseng, ginger, and mint removed, and with the addition of Jing jie/ Schizonepeta and Fang feng/Saposhnikovia. These changes enhance the formula’s ability to relieve Exterior symptoms and dispel Cold, making it suitable for those with more severe Wind-Cold. The other major point to understand is that Plum Flower ™ Release the Exterior Teapills follows the treatment principle of focusing on relieving the Excess condition before tonifying, since there is a risk of tonifying the Evil Qi. On the other hand, when a patient is significantly Qi deficient, it may be necessary to simultaneously tonify the Qi while removing the Excess if the patient is too weak to expel the pathogen without assistance, in which case Ren Shen Bai Du Wan / Resilient Warrior Teapills is the formula to use.
References
- American Dragon, https://www.americandragon.com
- Bensky, D. & Barolet, R., Formulas & Strategies, Eastland Press: 1990.
- Maciocia, G., Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine, Churchill Livingstone, 2004.
- Wrinkle, A. et al., A Practitioner’s Formula Guide, Elemental Essentials Press: 2008.
