Chinese: 十灰散
Pinyin: Shí Huī Sàn
Other names: Ten Partially-Charred Substances Powder
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that stop bleeding
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: BronchiectasisAcute gastritisBleeding peptic ulcer and four other conditions
- Cools the Blood and
- Stops bleeding
- Clears Heat and drains Fire
Contraindications: This formula treats the manifestation of bleeding and should thus be... This formula treats the manifestation of bleeding and should thus be discontinued as soon as the symptom stops. It should be prepared in advance and the patient must lie quietly during treatment. In severe cases, it may be necessary to combine biomedical and Chinese treatments. see more
Source date: 1348g
Source book: Miraculous Book ofTen Remedies for Consumption
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Shi Hui San is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Japanese Thistle (Da Ji) and Field Thistles (Xiao Ji) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1348g, it belongs to the category of formulas that stop bleeding. Its main actions are: 1) cools the Blood and and 2) stops bleeding.
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 Shi Hui San is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Heat in the Blood. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchiectasis or acute hemorrhagic esophagitis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the ten ingredients in Shi Hui San, we review the patterns and conditions that Shi Hui San helps treat.
The ten ingredients in Shi Hui San
Da Ji is a king ingredient in Shi Hui San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Japanese Thistle (Da Ji)
Da Ji is sweet and cooling. It is good at cooling the Blood and stopping bleeding, while also dispelling Stagnation.
Xiao Ji is a king ingredient in Shi Hui San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Field Thistles (Xiao Ji)
Xiao Ji is sweet and cooling. It is good at cooling the Blood and stopping bleeding, while also dispelling Stagnation.
He Ye is a deputy ingredient in Shi Hui San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Lotus Leaves (He Ye)
Part used: Dried leaf
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
He Ye , together with other deputy herbs, cools the Blood and stop bleeding. Together with the key herbs, it clear the Heat that is the source of the bleeding problem while also stopping the bleeding.
Ce Bo Ye is a deputy ingredient in Shi Hui San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Biota Twigs And Leaves (Ce Bo Ye)
Part used: Dried twigs and leaves
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: HeartLarge intestineLiverLung
Category: Herbs that stop bleeding
Ce Bo Ye , together with other deputy herbs, cools the Blood and stop bleeding. Together with the key herbs, it clear the Heat that is the source of the bleeding problem while also stopping the bleeding.
Bai Mao Gen is a deputy ingredient in Shi Hui San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Cogongrass Rhizomes (Bai Mao Gen)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: BladderLungStomach
Category: Herbs that stop bleeding
Bai Mao Gen , together with other deputy herbs, cools the Blood and stop bleeding. Together with the key herbs, it clear the Heat that is the source of the bleeding problem while also stopping the bleeding.
Qian Cao is a deputy ingredient in Shi Hui San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
6. Indian Madder Roots (Qian Cao)
Part used: Dried roots and rhizomes
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: Liver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Qian Cao , together with other deputy herbs, cools the Blood and stop bleeding. Together with the key herbs, it clear the Heat that is the source of the bleeding problem while also stopping the bleeding.
Zong Lu is a deputy ingredient in Shi Hui San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
7. Windmill Palm Bark (Zong Lu)
Part used: Dried petiole
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: Large intestineLiverLung
Category: Herbs that stop bleeding
Zong Lu is added for its astringent properties, which are very effective at stopping bleeding. Together with the key herbs, it clear the Heat that is the source of the bleeding problem while also stopping the bleeding.
Zhi Zi is an assistant ingredient in Shi Hui San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Cape Jasmine Fruits (Zhi Zi)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLungSanjiao
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
Zhi Zi drains Heat via the urine while Rhubarb via the stool. In this manner, the thrust of the upward rebellion is reversed, enabling the Qi and Fire to descend, the Liver to properly store the Blood, and the Blood to stay within its normal Channels.
Da Huang is an assistant ingredient in Shi Hui San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
9. Rhubarb (Da Huang)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomachLarge intestineLiverPericardium
Category: Purgative herbs that drain downward
Da Huang drains Heat via the urine while Rhubarb via the stool. In this manner, the thrust of the upward rebellion is reversed, enabling the Qi and Fire to descend, the Liver to properly store the Blood, and the Blood to stay within its normal Channels.
Mu Dan Pi is an assistant ingredient in Shi Hui San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
10. Mudan Peony Bark (Mu Dan Pi)
Part used: Root barks
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Mu Dan Pi matches with Rhubard to cool the Blood and eliminate Blood Stagnation. This enables the formula to clear the Heat and stop the bleeding without causing Blood Stagnation.
Shi Hui San is used to treat Heat in the Blood
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Shi Hui San is mostly used to treat the pattern "Heat in the Blood" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Heat in the Blood here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Pulmonary tuberculosis Bronchiectasis Acute hemorrhagic esophagitis Acute gastritis Bleeding peptic ulcer Hemorrhagic febrile diseases Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Shi Hui San treats pulmonary tuberculosis" for instance. Rather, Shi Hui San is used to treat Heat in the Blood, which is sometimes the root cause behind pulmonary tuberculosis.
Now let's look at Heat in the Blood, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Shi Hui San.
Blood (Xue) is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Blood in Chinese Medicine
Heat in the Blood
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu)
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Fever Thirst Eczema Anxiety Itching Insomnia Delirium Red face Tinnitus Dry mouth Dizziness Dark Urine Dry stools Dry throat Bloody nose Malar flush Bloody urine Irritability Restlessness Night sweats Constipation Bloody sputum Bloody stools Heavy periods Restlnessness Early periods Cough of blood Abdominal pain Scanty periods Feeling of heat Delirious speech Vomiting of blood Red skin eruptions Dark colored blood Pale color periods Thick menstrual blood Black and tarry stools Thin and watery periods Bitter taste in the mouth Frequent bleeding episodes Trickling blood after period Dark clots in menstrual blood Pre-menstrual breast distention Abdominal distention and fullness Flooding suddenly before schedule Thirst with an inability to swallow Frequent bleeding episodes in stools urine or vomit
Shi Hui San is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Heat in the Blood. This pattern leads to symptoms such as feeling of heat, red skin eruptions, thirst and frequent bleeding episodes. Patients with Heat in the Blood typically exhibit rapid (Shu) pulses as well as Red tongue.
The most common cause of Heat in the Blood is a Heat Pernicious Influence that has invaded the body and agitates the Blood. This results in accelerated blood flow which manifests itself in a rapid pulse, expanded and damaged Blood vessels and often heavy bleeding. The Blood will be fresh red or... read more about Heat in the Blood
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