Yu Ping Feng San, first mentioned in The Teachings of Zhu Dan-Xi (Dan Xi Xin Fa) in the Song Dynasty, dating back to 920 A.D., is traditionally comprised of three herbs: root of Astragalus (Huang Qi), rhizomes of Atractylodes (Bai Zhu), and root of Saposhnikovia (Fang Feng), though Chinese medicine practitioners will sometimes make adjustments to the patients’ individual constitutions. 

Three Herbs for Better Immunity

According to Chinese herbal medicine theory, herbs are more powerful when blended together. Here is how these herbs act from a Chinese medicine perspective when combined:

Huang Qi: Improves Spleen Qi, raises Yang, and stabilizes the exterior Wei Qi or “Defensive Qi”.

Fang Feng: The literal translation is “Guard against wind”. It warms and circulates Qi and blood out to the surface, firms and closes the exterior, and expels wind.

Bai Zhu: Strengthens Spleen Qi, warms and benefits digestion, stabilizes the exterior, and stops spontaneous sweating.

The direct translation of Yu Ping Feng San is "Jade Windscreen", given the core belief that the herbs create a “screen from the wind” around your body that’s as powerful and precious and hard to penetrate as jade - and further research have explored whether this blend helps support the body’s natural defenses at the cellular level.

A Variety of Applications Beyond Just Cold & Flu

For centuries, Yu Ping Feng San has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to support respiratory health and seasonal wellness. It has been historically studied in a variety of health contexts, including support for lung and immune system function (Chen, 2013; Chen et al., 2013), and explored for its role in supporting the body’s natural immune defenses. Though doctors of Chinese medicine have turned to this common formula for centuries, 6 practitioners set out to understand the research around the effects of this formula. 

Out of 500 studies reviewed between 1990 and 2007 on the wellness-supporting effects of Yu Ping Feng San, nine high-quality trials were selected based on rigorous standards. These focused on areas of respiratory, urinary, and skin-related wellness.

The findings suggest that Yu Ping Feng San may help support immune function and complement general health practices. Some reports also indicated benefits in promoting balance and reducing discomfort commonly experienced with other wellness approaches.

Ancient Herbs for Your Modern Life

Yu Ping Feng San is the inspiration and herbal foundation of our Immunity Support formula.  Complemented with pears and ginger natural flavors in an easy-to-drink effervescent powder that you simply mix with water, we encourage keeping this formula on hand as part of your seasonal wellness routine. Who doesn’t need a little extra immunity support these days?

To learn more about this foundational formula, you can read how I prescribed it to keep my 90-year-old grandmother healthy during the last years of her life here.

Care Consideration: Just a reminder that the above information is not a substitute for medical care and is not a substitute for medical advice or recommendations from a healthcare provider. This information is not intended to treat, mitigate, or cure any disease.  That said, we encourage you to connect with an Acupuncturist in your community to learn more about this and other Traditional Chinese Medicine options.  If you’ve got questions about Chinese herbal medicine or getting started with an Acupuncturist, feel free to connect with us at hello@mydaolabs.com.

Dr. Eric Karchmer is a practicing Chinese medical doctor, medical anthropologist, and co-founder and Chief Doctor of Chinese Medicine for DAO Labs. From 1995-2000, Eric studied at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and today is both a licensed acupuncturist and professor at Appalachian State University. Eric can be reached at drkarchmer@mydaolabs.com.