Herbsmith Rx Bi Yan Wan for Dogs, Cats and Horses

Herbsmith Rx Bi Yan Wan is a classical Chinese herbal formula recommended by holistic veterinarians to clear wind-heat nasal congestion, cool irritated nasal passages and itchy eyes, and stop sneezing in dogs, cats, and horses. Also known as Cool Sinus, Bi Yan Wan is a twelve-herb formula indicated specifically for the wind-heat nasal congestion pattern in which heat has entered the nasal passages and sinuses alongside wind, generating the characteristic combination of nasal congestion with heat signs: yellow or sticky nasal discharge, red or inflamed nasal passages and eyes, sneezing, itchy eyes and nose, and general signs of heat in the upper body and head region. The formula's twelve herbs address this pattern through four simultaneous therapeutic strategies: opening the nasal orifices and dispersing wind from the nasal passages (Xin Yi Hua, Cang Er Zi, Bai Zhi), clearing wind-heat from the upper body and releasing the exterior (Jing Jie, Fang Feng, Lian Qiao, Ju Hua), draining heat from the lung and kidney channels and cooling the inflamed nasal tissue (Huang Bai, Zhi Mu), and supporting the lung's diffusing function while harmonizing the formula (Jie Geng, Wu Wei Zi, Gan Cao). Well suited for dogs, cats, and horses presenting with the wind-heat nasal congestion pattern, characterized by nasal congestion with yellow, sticky, or thick discharge; red or irritated nasal passages and eyes; sneezing; and a red tongue tip or red tongue edges with a thin yellow coating and a floating, rapid pulse reflecting wind-heat in the exterior and upper body. Available as a concentrated powder mixed into food; dogs and cats use the Canine Blend, while horses use the Equine/Horse Blend. Dosing varies by species and body weight, and your authorizing veterinarian will provide specific guidance.

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What It Supports

• Nasal orifice opening and wind dispersal through Xin Yi Hua as the chief herb: Opens the nasal orifices, disperses wind-cold and wind-heat from the nasal passages, and unblocks nasal congestion through Xin Yi Hua (magnolia flower bud, Magnolia Flower) (24%). Xin Yi Hua's acrid, warm nature enters the lung and stomach channels to open the nasal orifices directly and disperse wind obstruction that blocks the free flow of qi through the nose. As the formula's chief herb at 24%, Xin Yi Hua provides the primary nasal-opening and wind-dispersing action that addresses the immediate nasal congestion, while the formula's heat-clearing herbs address the heat component of the wind-heat pattern. Generally well tolerated; its warming nature is balanced by the formula's cold and cool herbs.
• Nasal congestion resolution and wind-damp dispelling through Cang Er Zi: Disperses wind, resolves nasal congestion, opens the nasal orifices, and dispels wind-damp from the nasal passages through Cang Er Zi (xanthium fruit, Xanthium Fruit) (20%). Cang Er Zi's bitter, sweet, and warm nature enters the lung channel and works with Xin Yi Hua as the formula's primary nasal-opening pair, addressing congestion from both the wind-dispersing and nasal-orifice-opening directions simultaneously. Cang Er Zi is mildly toxic in large doses; the formula's 20% concentration is within the standard therapeutic range and is safe at recommended dosing. Do not exceed the prescribed dose.
• Heat draining from the kidney channel and damp-heat clearing through Huang Bai: Drains heat from the kidney channel, clears damp-heat, and cools the inflamed nasal tissue and mucous membranes through Huang Bai (phellodendron bark, Phellodendron Bark) (7%). Huang Bai's bitter and cold nature enters the kidney, urinary bladder, and large intestine channels to drain heat that has descended into the lower channels and to address damp-heat accumulation in the nasal passages that generates the yellow, sticky nasal discharge characteristic of the wind-heat pattern. Berberine content has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity; monitoring is warranted in animals on immunosuppressive medications.
• Wind-heat clearing and exterior releasing through Lian Qiao: Clears wind-heat, releases the exterior, clears heat toxin, and reduces swelling in the upper body through Lian Qiao (forsythia fruit, Forsythia Fruit) (7%). Lian Qiao's bitter and slightly cold nature enters the heart, lung, and small intestine channels to clear the wind-heat that has entered the exterior and upper body, working with Ju Hua and Jing Jie to release the wind-heat pattern from the exterior level. Lian Qiao is one of the most important single herbs in the classical materia medica for wind-heat patterns affecting the upper body and head. Generally well tolerated.
• Formula harmonization and qi and yin support through Gan Cao: Harmonizes the formula's herbs, moderates the harsh properties of Cang Er Zi, tonifies the qi and spleen, and moistens the lung through Gan Cao (licorice root, Licorice Root) (6%). Gan Cao's sweet and neutral nature enters all twelve channels to harmonize the formula's diverse herb actions and protect the spleen from the cold-natured herbs' potential to impair the middle jiao's warming function. Gan Cao has mineralocorticoid-like effects from glycyrrhizin content; long-term use at high doses warrants monitoring in animals with fluid retention or hypertension. Potential interaction with corticosteroids and antihypertensive medications.
• Lung qi astringing and kidney yin nourishment through Wu Wei Zi: Astringes the lung qi, nourishes the kidney yin, generates fluids, and prevents the dispersing herbs from over-dissipating the lung qi through Wu Wei Zi (schisandra fruit, Schisandra Fruit) (6%). Wu Wei Zi's five-flavor astringing and nourishing action serves as the formula's restraining counterbalance to the multiple wind-dispersing and heat-clearing herbs, ensuring the formula's dispersing action clears the pathogen without depleting the lung's defensive qi. Significant CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 enzyme inhibition from lignan content; veterinary review of all hepatically metabolized medications required before use.
• Nasal passage opening and wind-cold-damp dispelling through Bai Zhi: Opens the nasal orifices, dispels wind-cold-damp from the head and nasal passages, reduces swelling, and addresses the nasal congestion and frontal sinus obstruction through Bai Zhi (fragrant angelica root, Fragrant Angelica Root) (5%). Bai Zhi works with Xin Yi Hua and Cang Er Zi as the formula's third nasal-opening herb, specifically targeting frontal sinus and nasal passage obstruction with its strongly aromatic, ascending nature. Mild interaction potential with anticoagulant medications due to its coumarin content.
• Wind-heat releasing and exterior opening through Fang Feng: Releases the exterior, disperses wind-cold and wind-heat from the body surface, and opens the exterior to allow the pathogen to exit through Fang Feng (siler root, Siler) (5%). Fang Feng's acrid, sweet, and slightly warm nature enters the urinary bladder, liver, and spleen channels to release the exterior and dispel wind from the body surface level, working with Jing Jie as the formula's primary exterior-releasing pair. Generally well tolerated; its wind-dispersing action complements the formula's heat-clearing herbs without adding significant heat.
• Lung qi diffusing and phlegm transformation through Jie Geng: Diffuses the lung qi, transforms phlegm, benefits the throat, and directs the formula's actions upward to the lung and nasal passages through Jie Geng (platycodon root, Platycodon Root) (5%). Jie Geng's bitter, acrid, and neutral nature enters the lung channel to open and diffuse the lung qi, ensuring the formula's herbs are directed to the lung and upper respiratory passages where the wind-heat pattern is located. Jie Geng's upward-directing and lung-diffusing action is a key structural component of the formula, carrying the heat-clearing and wind-dispersing herbs to the upper body where they are needed. Generally well tolerated.
• Wind-heat releasing and exterior opening through Jing Jie: Releases the exterior, disperses wind-heat from the body surface, stops itching, and opens the skin and exterior to allow wind-heat to exit through Jing Jie (schizonepeta herb, Schizonepeta) (5%). Jing Jie's acrid and slightly warm nature enters the lung and liver channels to release the exterior and dispel wind-heat, specifically addressing the itching in the eyes and nose that wind-heat in the exterior generates. Jing Jie is the formula's primary herb for the itchy eyes and nose component of the wind-heat nasal pattern. Generally well tolerated.
• Wind-heat clearing from the liver channel and eye cooling through Ju Hua: Clears wind-heat, cools the liver, brightens the eyes, and addresses the red, itchy, or irritated eyes that wind-heat affecting the liver channel generates through Ju Hua (chrysanthemum flower, Chrysanthemum Flower) (5%). Ju Hua's sweet, bitter, and slightly cold nature enters the lung and liver channels to clear the wind-heat from the liver channel specifically, addressing the liver-channel manifestation of wind-heat in the eyes (red, itchy, or teary eyes) that accompanies the nasal congestion pattern. Ju Hua is one of the most important single herbs in the classical materia medica for wind-heat affecting the eyes. Generally well tolerated.
• Heat and yin vacuity heat clearing from the lung and stomach channels through Zhi Mu: Clears heat from the lung and stomach channels, nourishes the yin, and cools the inflamed respiratory tissue through Zhi Mu (anemarrhena rhizome, Anemarrhena) (5%). Zhi Mu's bitter and cold nature enters the lung, stomach, and kidney channels to clear the excess heat and yin vacuity heat from the lung and stomach, addressing the heat component of the wind-heat pattern from the interior level and working with Huang Bai as the classical Zhi Mu-Huang Bai pair for clearing heat from the lung-kidney axis. Generally well tolerated; its cold nature warrants caution in animals with significant spleen yang vacuity or cold patterns.

TCVM Principles

• Primary action - wind-heat nasal congestion pattern through the combined strategy of opening the nasal orifices (Xin Yi Hua, Cang Er Zi, Bai Zhi), clearing wind-heat from the exterior and upper body (Jing Jie, Fang Feng, Lian Qiao, Ju Hua), draining heat from the lung-kidney axis (Huang Bai, Zhi Mu), and supporting the lung's diffusing function while harmonizing the formula (Jie Geng, Wu Wei Zi, Gan Cao): Addresses the wind-heat nasal congestion pattern through four simultaneous therapeutic strategies. The formula's three nasal-opening herbs (Xin Yi Hua, Cang Er Zi, Bai Zhi) directly address the primary symptom of nasal congestion and orifice obstruction. The four wind-heat-releasing and cooling herbs (Jing Jie, Fang Feng, Lian Qiao, Ju Hua) address the wind-heat pathogen at the exterior level and in the upper-body channels. The two heat-draining herbs (Huang Bai, Zhi Mu) address the heat from the interior and the lung-kidney channel level. Jie Geng directs the formula upward to the lung and nasal passages; Wu Wei Zi astringes the lung qi to prevent over-dispersal; Gan Cao harmonizes and protects the middle jiao.
• Secondary action - the distinction between the wind-heat pattern of Bi Yan Wan and wind-cold nasal congestion (requiring warm-acrid exterior releasing herbs without the heat-clearing components), allergic nasal patterns from lung qi vacuity (requiring tonification rather than clearing), or damp-heat accumulation in the sinuses without the wind component (requiring different formula strategies): Bi Yan Wan is indicated specifically for nasal congestion with pronounced heat signs (yellow or sticky discharge, red or inflamed nasal passages and eyes, sneezing with heat signs, floating rapid pulse, red tongue with thin yellow coating), not for wind-cold nasal congestion (clear watery discharge, cold signs, slow pulse) or chronic lung qi vacuity nasal patterns (recurring congestion from deficiency without the heat signs). Your authorizing veterinarian will confirm the wind-heat nasal congestion pattern through tongue and pulse examination and clinical assessment of the discharge character and eye involvement.

Available Forms

• Powder - Canine Blend (for dogs and cats): Available in 75 g, 150 g, 500 g, 900 g, and 1200 g sizes; mix into food at the recommended dose for your pet's weight. Cats and dogs both use this blend.
• Powder - Equine/Horse Blend (for horses only): Available in 150 g, 500 g, 900 g, and 1200 g sizes; mix into grain at the recommended dose for your horse.

Suggested Use

For Dogs (Canine Blend Powder):

• Under 30 lbs: ½ tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
• 30-80 lbs: 1 tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
• 80-120 lbs: 1½ tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
• Over 120 lbs: 2 tsp twice daily, or as prescribed

For Cats (Canine Blend Powder): ¼ tsp twice daily, or as prescribed

For Horses (Equine/Horse Blend, 1,000 lb horse): Two tablespoons twice daily for 20 days, then two tablespoons once daily in grain. If the horse initially refuses, start with a small amount mixed into grain and gradually increase. Most horses will readily accept the herbs in their grain.

Ingredients

Active Ingredients: Xin Yi Hua (Magnolia Flower) (24%), Cang Er Zi (Xanthium Fruit) (20%), Huang Bai (Phellodendron Bark) (7%), Lian Qiao (Forsythia Fruit) (7%), Gan Cao (Licorice Root) (6%), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Fruit) (6%), Bai Zhi (Fragrant Angelica Root) (5%), Fang Feng (Siler) (5%), Jie Geng (Platycodon Root) (5%), Jing Jie (Schizonepeta) (5%), Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum Flower) (5%), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena) (5%)

Inactive Ingredient: Flaxseed

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Active Ingredient TCVM Actions

Bi Yan Wan is a twelve-herb formula organized around four therapeutic strategies: nasal orifice opening and wind dispersal (Xin Yi Hua, Cang Er Zi, Bai Zhi), wind-heat releasing and upper body cooling (Jing Jie, Fang Feng, Lian Qiao, Ju Hua), heat draining from the lung-kidney axis (Huang Bai, Zhi Mu), and lung qi support with formula harmonization (Jie Geng, Wu Wei Zi, Gan Cao):

• Xin Yi Hua (Magnolia Flower) - Magnolia Flower Bud (24%): Chief herb; opens the nasal orifices and disperses wind from the nasal passages. Generally well tolerated.
• Cang Er Zi (Xanthium Fruit) - Xanthium Fruit / Cocklebur Fruit (20%): Disperses wind, resolves nasal congestion, and opens the nasal orifices alongside Xin Yi Hua. Do not exceed the prescribed dose.
• Huang Bai (Phellodendron Bark) - Phellodendron Bark / Amur Cork Tree Bark (7%): Drains heat from the kidney channel and clears damp-heat from the nasal mucous membranes. Berberine content; monitoring warranted in animals on immunosuppressive medications.
• Lian Qiao (Forsythia Fruit) - Forsythia Fruit (7%): Clears wind-heat, releases the exterior, and clears heat toxin from the upper body. Generally well tolerated.
• Gan Cao (Licorice Root) - Licorice Root (6%): Harmonizes the formula, moderates Cang Er Zi's properties, and tonifies the qi and spleen. Glycyrrhizin content with mineralocorticoid-like effects; monitoring warranted with corticosteroids and antihypertensive medications.
• Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Fruit) - Schisandra Berry / Five-Flavor Berry (6%): Astringes the lung qi and nourishes kidney yin; balances the formula's dispersing herbs. Significant CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 inhibition from lignan content; veterinary review of hepatically metabolized medications required.
• Bai Zhi (Fragrant Angelica Root) - Fragrant Angelica Root (5%): Opens the nasal orifices and dispels wind-damp from the head and frontal sinus passages. Mild anticoagulant effects from coumarin content.
• Fang Feng (Siler) - Siler Root / Ledebouriella Root (5%): Releases the exterior and disperses wind-heat from the body surface; exterior-releasing pair with Jing Jie. Generally well tolerated.
• Jie Geng (Platycodon Root) - Platycodon Root / Balloon Flower Root (5%): Diffuses the lung qi, transforms phlegm, and directs the formula's herbs upward to the lung and nasal passages. Generally well tolerated.
• Jing Jie (Schizonepeta) - Schizonepeta Herb (5%): Releases the exterior, disperses wind-heat, and stops itching in the eyes and nose. Generally well tolerated.
• Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum Flower) - Chrysanthemum Flower (5%): Clears wind-heat from the liver channel and cools and brightens the irritated, red, or itchy eyes. Generally well tolerated.
• Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena) - Anemarrhena Rhizome (5%): Clears heat from the lung and stomach channels and nourishes yin; a classic pair with Huang Bai for lung-kidney heat. Cold nature warrants caution in animals with spleen yang vacuity.

Potential Drug Interactions

Bi Yan Wan's primary drug interaction concern is Wu Wei Zi's significant CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 enzyme inhibition from its schisandrin and gomisin lignan content, which creates meaningful interaction potential with any medication metabolized by these pathways, including cyclosporine, many antibiotics and antifungal medications, anticonvulsants, and other hepatically metabolized drugs. This interaction can substantially increase blood levels and the duration of action of affected medications. Secondary concerns include Gan Cao's glycyrrhizin-based mineralocorticoid-like effects (monitoring warranted in animals on corticosteroids, where additive effects are possible, and antihypertensive medications, where Gan Cao's fluid-retaining tendency could counteract the medication); Huang Bai's berberine content with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity (monitoring warranted in animals on immunosuppressive medications); and Bai Zhi's mild anticoagulant effects from coumarin content (monitoring warranted in animals on anticoagulant medications).

Medication categories warranting extra caution include hepatically metabolized medications subject to CYP3A4 or CYP2C9 metabolism (Wu Wei Zi enzyme inhibition - primary concern), corticosteroids (Gan Cao additive mineralocorticoid effects), antihypertensive medications (Gan Cao fluid-retaining tendency), immunosuppressive medications (Huang Bai berberine immune-modulating effects), and anticoagulant medications (Bai Zhi coumarin content). Your authorizing veterinarian will determine appropriateness based on your animal's condition, current medications, and confirmation of the wind-heat nasal congestion pattern through tongue quality, pulse character, and clinical assessment of the discharge character, eye involvement, and heat signs.

VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

What conditions is Bi Yan Wan used for in TCVM?

In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Bi Yan Wan is indicated for the wind-heat nasal congestion pattern. The clinical presentation centers on nasal congestion with yellow, sticky, or thick discharge reflecting the heat component; red or inflamed nasal passages and eyes; sneezing; itchy eyes and nose from wind-heat affecting the lung and liver channels; and a red tongue tip or red tongue edges with a thin yellow coating and a floating, rapid pulse reflecting wind-heat in the exterior and upper body. Bi Yan Wan is specifically suited for congestion with pronounced heat signs, not for the wind-cold nasal pattern (clear watery discharge, cold signs) or the chronic lung qi vacuity pattern (recurring congestion from deficiency without heat). Your authorizing veterinarian will confirm the wind-heat pattern through tongue and pulse examination and assessment of the discharge character and eye involvement.

How is Bi Yan Wan administered to dogs, cats, and horses?

Mix the powder directly into food or grain at the dose recommended for your animal's species and body weight. Dogs and cats use the Canine Blend; horses use the Equine/Horse Blend. All species receive the formula twice daily. Because Bi Yan Wan contains Wu Wei Zi with significant CYP enzyme inhibition potential, comprehensive veterinary review of all current medications - particularly any hepatically metabolized medications - is important before use. The formula's cold-natured herbs (Huang Bai, Zhi Mu, Lian Qiao) make it best suited for animals with clear heat signs and not appropriate for animals with cold patterns or significant spleen yang vacuity.

How long does it take to see results with Bi Yan Wan?

As a formula addressing an acute or subacute wind-heat pattern rather than a deep constitutional vacuity, Bi Yan Wan typically shows earlier improvement than tonifying formulas. Early improvement in sneezing frequency, nasal discharge character (from yellow and thick to clearer and thinner), and eye irritation may be seen within 3 to 7 days as the formula's wind-heat-clearing and nasal-opening herbs begin addressing the exterior pattern. More complete resolution of the nasal congestion and normalization of the tongue (from red toward pink) and pulse (from floating and rapid toward calmer) typically requires 1 to 3 weeks. Chronic or recurrent wind-heat nasal patterns may require a longer treatment course. Your authorizing veterinarian will monitor tongue, pulse, and discharge character throughout.

Is Bi Yan Wan appropriate for all types of nasal congestion in pets?

No - Bi Yan Wan is specifically formulated for nasal congestion from the wind-heat pattern and is not appropriate for all types of nasal congestion. It is well matched to congestion with yellow or sticky discharge, red or inflamed nasal passages, itchy eyes, and clear heat signs. It is not appropriate for wind-cold nasal congestion (clear watery discharge, cold signs, aversion to cold, slow pulse), where the formula's cold-natured herbs could aggravate the cold pattern; for chronic nasal congestion from lung qi vacuity or spleen qi vacuity without the heat signs, where tonifying rather than clearing strategies are needed; or for nasal congestion from structural causes. Your authorizing veterinarian's tongue and pulse assessment, along with evaluation of the discharge character and associated signs, will determine whether Bi Yan Wan is the correct formula for your animal's specific pattern.