Formula Formulas that clear Heat and open sensory orifices

Zi Xue Dan

紫雪丹

Also known as:

Purple Snow Special Pill

Formula Composition

Shui Niu Jiao
Shui Niu Jiao
Ling Yang Jiao
Ling Yang Jiao
She Xiang
She Xiang
Shi Gao
Shi Gao
Han Shui Shi
Han Shui Shi
Hua Shi
Hua Shi
Xuan Shen
Xuan Shen
Sheng Ma
Sheng Ma
Ci Shi
Ci Shi
Mu Xiang
Mu Xiang
Chen Xiang
Chen Xiang
Ding Xiang
Ding Xiang
Zhu Sha
Zhu Sha
Mang Xiao
Mang Xiao
Xiao Shi
Xiao Shi
Gan Cao
Gan Cao
Jin Bo
Jin Bo
View detailed herb information
Kings
Main ingredient
Deputies
Assists main
Assistants
Supports
Envoys
Directs formula

Formula Properties

Main Actions

  1. Clears Heat
  2. Opens the sensory orifices
  3. Controls spasms and convulsions
  4. Extinguishes Wind

Patterns Treated

Heart Fire blazing, Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire, Pericardium Fire

Historical Origin

Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library (752 AD)

Explore More About This Formula

TCM Actions & Uses Formula Ingredients Contraindications

TCM Actions & Uses

Traditional Chinese Medicine properties and applications of Zi Xue Dan

Main Actions

Clears Heat
Opens the sensory orifices
Controls spasms and convulsions
Extinguishes Wind

Key TCM Concepts

Zi Xue Dan is a 17-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Water Buffalo Horns (Shui Niu Jiao), Saiga Antelope's Horns (Ling Yang Jiao) and Musk (She Xiang) as principal ingredients.

 

Invented in 752 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat and open sensory orifices. Its main actions are: 1) clears Heat and 2) opens the sensory orifices.

 

In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.

 

In this case Zi Xue Dan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Heart Fire blazing, Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire or Pericardium Fire. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as acute encephalitis, acute meningitis or severe pneumonia for instance.

TCM Patterns Addressed

  • Heart Fire blazing
  • Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
  • Pericardium Fire

Common Applications

Acute encephalitis Acute meningitis Severe pneumonia Measles Scarlet fever Diphtheria Acute tonsillitis Febrile convulsions Folliculitis Furuncles Epilepsy

Ingredients in Zi Xue Dan

Detailed information about each herb in Zi Xue Dan and their roles

Kings
Deputies
Assistants
Envoys
Shui Niu Jiao
Shui Niu Jiao

Water buffalo horns

Temperature Cold
Taste Bitter, Salty
Organ Affinity Stomach, Heart, Liver
Parts Used The horn, as a powder or as thin scrapes
Role in Zi Xue Dan
Shui Niu Jiao is cool and aromatic. It is ascending and dispersing in nature. It enters the Nutritive and Blood Levels, and clearing Fire and Heat from the Heart and Liver Channels. It clears Heat from the Nutritive Level, cools the Blood, and resolves Toxicity. Because of its active nature, it can be cold without retarding movement, making it usefulfor venting Heat through the collaterals of the Pericardium. The combination of Saiga antelope's horns and Water buffalo horn treats the Heat in the Heart and Liver Channels and effectively resolve the spasms, convulsions, and impaired consciousness. Rhinoceros horn is used in the formula in the past, which is forbitten nowadays. Thus it is replaced by Water buffalo horn.
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Ling Yang Jiao
Ling Yang Jiao

Saiga antelope's horns

Temperature Cold
Taste Salty
Organ Affinity Heart, Liver
Parts Used The horn
Role in Zi Xue Dan
Ling Yang Jiao is particularly useful for draining Liver Fire and is an important substance for extinguishing Liver Wind. The combination of Saiga antelope's horns and Water buffalo horn treats the Heat in the Heart and Liver Channels and effectively resolve the spasms, convulsions, and impaired consciousness.
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She Xiang
She Xiang

Musk

Temperature Warm
Taste Pungent
Organ Affinity Spleen, Heart, Liver
Parts Used Musk gland of the deer
Role in Zi Xue Dan
In general She Xiang's main actions are as follows: "Opens the Orifices and awakens the spirit. Moves Blood and reduces inflammation and pain. Moves downward, assisting the delivery of late or stillborn babies."

In the context of Zi Xue Dan, it is used because it opens the orifices of the Heart and restore consciousness.
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Shi Gao
Shi Gao

Gypsum

Temperature Cold
Taste Pungent, Sweet
Organ Affinity Lungs, Stomach
Parts Used The mineral itself
Role in Zi Xue Dan
Shi Gao clears Fire and Heat from the Qi Level, causing the Heatto recede and encouraging the generation of Body Fluids. It thereby eliminates irritability and alleviates thirst.
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Han Shui Shi
Han Shui Shi

Calcitum

Temperature Cold
Taste Pungent, Salty
Organ Affinity Heart, Kidneys
Parts Used The powered mineral
Role in Zi Xue Dan
In general Han Shui Shi's main actions are as follows: "Clears Heat and drains Fire. Expels Summer-Heat. Cools Hot sores and burns. Reduces edema. "

In the context of Zi Xue Dan, it is used because it clears Heat and drains Fire to eliminate irritability and alleviate thirst.
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Hua Shi
Hua Shi

Talc

Temperature Cold
Taste Sweet
Organ Affinity Urinary Bladder, Stomach
Parts Used The mineral itself
Role in Zi Xue Dan
In general Hua Shi's main actions are as follows: "Encourages urination. Expels Damp-Heat from the Urinary Bladder. Dispels Summer Heat. Dries Dampness when applied topically."

In the context of Zi Xue Dan, it is used because it conducts Heat downward so that it can be eliminated through the urine.
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Xuan Shen
Xuan Shen

Ningpo figwort roots

Temperature Cold
Taste Bitter
Organ Affinity Large Intestine, Liver, Stomach
Parts Used Dried rhizome
Role in Zi Xue Dan
Xuan Shen is sweet, bitter, and slightly cold. It conducts Fire downward, enriches the Yin, and cools the Blood.
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Sheng Ma
Sheng Ma

Bugbane rhizomes

Temperature Cool
Taste Pungent, Sweet
Organ Affinity Large Intestine, Lungs, Spleen, Stomach
Parts Used Dried rhizome
Role in Zi Xue Dan
Sheng Ma is sweet, acrid, and slightly cold. It strengthen Ningpo figwort root's ability to clear Heat and resolve Toxicity while also venting the pathogen.
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Ci Shi
Ci Shi

Magnetite

Temperature Cold
Taste Salty
Organ Affinity Heart, Kidneys, Liver, Lungs
Parts Used The mineral power
Role in Zi Xue Dan
Ci Shi sedates the Heart and calms the Mind, which strengthens the formula's action in eliminating irritability.
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Mu Xiang
Mu Xiang

Costus roots

Temperature Warm
Taste Bitter, Pungent
Organ Affinity Gallbladder, Large Intestine, Liver, Lungs, Spleen, Stomach
Parts Used Dried root
Role in Zi Xue Dan
In general Mu Xiang's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Stagnation of Qi of the digestion in the Spleen, Stomach and Intestines. Relieves Qi Stagnation of the Liver and Gallbladder. Strengthens the Spleen and is used with tonifying herbs to prevent their potential cloying effects."

In the context of Zi Xue Dan, it is used because it promotes the Qi movement and assist Musk in opening the orifices.
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Chen Xiang
Chen Xiang

Agarwood

Temperature Warm
Taste Bitter, Pungent
Organ Affinity Spleen, Stomach, Kidneys, Lungs
Parts Used Wood shavings
Role in Zi Xue Dan
In general Chen Xiang's main actions are as follows: "Assists in the flow of Qi and relieves pain. Assists the Kidneys in grasping the Qi of the Lungs. Directs the flow of Qi downward and dispels Cold from the Spleen and Stomach."

In the context of Zi Xue Dan, it is used because it promotes the Qi movement and assist Musk in opening the orifices.
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Ding Xiang
Ding Xiang

Cloves

Temperature Warm
Taste Pungent
Organ Affinity Kidneys, Lungs, Spleen, Stomach
Parts Used Dried flower bud
Role in Zi Xue Dan
In general Ding Xiang's main actions are as follows: "Warms the Middle Warmer and directs the Qi downward. Warms the Kidneys and boosts Yang ."

In the context of Zi Xue Dan, it is used because it promotes the Qi movement and assist Musk in opening the orifices.
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Zhu Sha
Zhu Sha

Cinnabar

Temperature Cool
Taste Sweet
Organ Affinity Heart
Parts Used The mineral itself
Role in Zi Xue Dan
In general Zhu Sha's main actions are as follows: "Calms the spirit and Heart. Stops convulsions. Clears Heat and toxins."

In the context of Zi Xue Dan, it is used because it , with Magnetite, augments the Yin to reestablish communication between the Heart and Kidneys.
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Mang Xiao
Mang Xiao

Mirabilites

Temperature Cold
Taste Bitter, Salty
Organ Affinity Stomach, Large Intestine
Parts Used The rock crushed as a powder
Role in Zi Xue Dan
In general Mang Xiao's main actions are as follows: "Purges Stagnation in the Intestines caused by Heat and Dryness, Cools Heat and abates swelling"

In the context of Zi Xue Dan, it is used because it drains Heat and dissipate clumps, especially when combined with Ningpo figwort root.
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Xiao Shi
Xiao Shi

Niter

Temperature Warm
Taste Bitter, Salty
Organ Affinity Spleen, Heart
Parts Used The mineral
Role in Zi Xue Dan
In general Xiao Shi's main actions are as follows: "Promote urination and bowel movement. "

In the context of Zi Xue Dan, it is used because it drains Heat and dissipate clumps, especially when combined with Ningpo figwort root.
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Gan Cao
Gan Cao

Liquorice

Temperature Neutral
Taste Sweet
Organ Affinity Heart, Lungs, Spleen, Stomach
Parts Used Dried root and rhizome
Role in Zi Xue Dan
Gan Cao helps resolve toxicity, harmonize the Stomach, and protect it from injury by the heavy mineral ingredients.
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Jin Bo
Jin Bo

Gold leaves

Temperature Neutral
Taste Bitter
Organ Affinity Heart, Lungs
Parts Used The mineral sheet
Role in Zi Xue Dan
In general Jin Bo's main actions are as follows: "Sedates the Heart and calms the Mind. Clears Toxic-Heat. Stop convulsions. "

In the context of Zi Xue Dan, it is used because it sedates the Mind.
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Safety & Contraindications

Important safety information and precautions for Zi Xue Dan

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before using any TCM herbal formula.

Contraindications

Contraindicated during pregnancy and used with caution in the weak and debilitated. The use of this formula should be discontinued as soon as the symptoms of impaired consciousness improve. Overuse of the formula can easily injure the Original Qi and exhaust the Yin, which, in severe cases may lead to marked sweating, nausea and vomiting, cold extremities, a frozen affect, dyspnea, palpitations, dizziness, and vertigo. While taking this formula, spicy, rich, or greasy foods should be avoided.

Herb-Drug Interactions

Like many TCM formulas, Zi Xue Dan may interact with certain medications. If you are taking any prescription medications, we recommend consulting with a healthcare provider knowledgeable in herb-drug interactions.