Chinese: 苏合香丸
Pinyin: Sū Hé Xiāng Wán
Other names: Liquid Styrax Pill
Number of ingredients: 15 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that warm and open sensory orifices
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: HysteriaEpilepsyEncephalitis and five other conditions
- Warms and aromatically opens the sensory orifices
- Promotes the movement of Qi
- Transforms turbidity
Contraindications: Because the formula is very acrid and aromatic and thus has a very dispersing... Because the formula is very acrid and aromatic and thus has a very dispersing effect, the dosage should be carefully monitored. Contraindicated during pregnancy or for hot closed disorders. see more
Source date: 752 AD
Source book: Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library
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.
Su He Xiang Wan is a 15-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Styrax (Su He Xiang), Musk (She Xiang), Borneol (Bing Pian) and Benzoin (An Xi Xiang) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 752 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm and open sensory orifices. Its main actions are: 1) warms and aromatically opens the sensory orifices and 2) promotes the movement of Qi.
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 Su He Xiang Wan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Phlegm Misting the Heart. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as cerebrovascular accident, encephalitis or hysteria for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the fifteen ingredients in Su He Xiang Wan, we review the patterns and conditions that Su He Xiang Wan helps treat.
The fifteen ingredients in Su He Xiang Wan
Su He Xiang is a king ingredient in Su He Xiang Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Styrax (Su He Xiang)
Part used: The dried resin
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenHeart
Category: Herbs that open the Orifices
Su He Xiang aromatically opens the sensory orifices, dispels Cold, regulates Qi, penetrates through and transforms turbidity. It is powerful in treating Wind and Phlegm affecting the head. The strong, aromatic properties of the key and deputy ingredients release and eliminate the Qi and Blood Stagnation.
She Xiang is a king ingredient in Su He Xiang Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Musk (She Xiang)
Part used: Musk gland of the deer
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: SpleenHeartLiver
Category: Herbs that open the Orifices
She Xiang break up turbidity, open the sensory orifices, as well as unblock the channels and collaterals throughout the body. It is powerful in treating Wind and Phlegm affecting the head.
Bing Pian is a king ingredient in Su He Xiang Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
3. Borneol (Bing Pian)
Part used: Organic compound obtained from plant extracts
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: SpleenHeartLung
Category: Herbs that open the Orifices
Bing Pian break up turbidity, open the sensory orifices, as well as unblock the channels and collaterals throughout the body. It is powerful in treating Wind and Phlegm affecting the head.
An Xi Xiang is a king ingredient in Su He Xiang Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
4. Benzoin (An Xi Xiang)
Part used: The dried resin
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: SpleenHeartLiver
Category: Herbs that open the Orifices
An Xi Xiang penetrates through the turbidity surrounding the sensory orifices, opens closed disorders and restores consciousness. It is powerful in treating Wind and Phlegm affecting the head.
Tu Si Zi is a deputy ingredient in Su He Xiang Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Cuscuta Seeds (Tu Si Zi)
Part used: Dried ripe seeds
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Yang Deficiency
Tu Si Zi is acrid, dispersing, warm, and moving in nature. It promotes the Qi movement, directs Rebellious Qi downward, removes Stagnation, dispels Cold, and transforms turbidity.
Tan Xiang is a deputy ingredient in Su He Xiang Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
6. Sandalwood (Tan Xiang)
Part used: The wood
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomachHeartLung
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
Tan Xiang is acrid, dispersing, warm, and moving in nature. It promotes the Qi movement, directs Rebellious Qi downward, removes Stagnation, dispels Cold, and transforms turbidity. It is specifically treats both chest and abdominal pain as well as sudden turmoil disorder. The strong, aromatic properties of the key and deputy ingredients release and eliminate the Qi and Blood Stagnation.
Chen Xiang is a deputy ingredient in Su He Xiang Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
7. Agarwood (Chen Xiang)
Part used: Wood shavings
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomachKidneyLung
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
Chen Xiang is acrid, dispersing, warm, and moving in nature. It promotes the Qi movement, directs Rebellious Qi downward, removes Stagnation, dispels Cold, and transforms turbidity.
Ru Xiang is a deputy ingredient in Su He Xiang Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
8. Frankincense (Ru Xiang)
Part used: An aromatic resin obtained from boswellia trees
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenHeartLiver
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
Ru Xiang is acrid, dispersing, warm, and moving in nature. It promotes the Qi movement, directs Rebellious Qi downward, removes Stagnation, dispels Cold, and transforms turbidity. Therefore this herb helps alleviate pain.
Ding Xiang is a deputy ingredient in Su He Xiang Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
9. Cloves (Ding Xiang)
Part used: Dried flower bud
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Ding Xiang is acrid, dispersing, warm, and moving in nature. It promotes the Qi movement, directs Rebellious Qi downward, removes Stagnation, dispels Cold, and transforms turbidity.
Xiang Fu is a deputy ingredient in Su He Xiang Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
10. Coco-Grass Rhizomes (Xiang Fu)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSanjiaoSpleen
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
Xiang Fu is acrid, dispersing, warm, and moving in nature. It promotes the Qi movement, directs Rebellious Qi downward, removes Stagnation, dispels Cold, and transforms turbidity.
Bi Ba is a deputy ingredient in Su He Xiang Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
11. Long Peppers (Bi Ba)
Part used: Dried nearly ripe fruit-spike
Nature: Hot
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: Large intestineStomach
Bi Ba reinforces the actions of warming the Middle Burner, dispelling Cold, arresting pain, and opening up areas of Stagnation.
Shui Niu Jiao is an assistant ingredient in Su He Xiang Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
12. Water Buffalo Horns (Shui Niu Jiao)
Part used: The horn, as a powder or as thin scrapes
Nature: Cold
Meridian affinity: StomachHeartLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Shui Niu Jiao resolves toxicity. Although cold in nature, its clear, aromatic properties enable it to penetrate the turbidity without causing
stagnation.
Zhu Sha is an assistant ingredient in Su He Xiang Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
13. Cinnabar (Zhu Sha)
Part used: The mineral itself
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: Heart
Category: Herbs that anchor and calm the Spirit
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 Su He Xiang Wan, it is used because it sedates the Heart and calm the Mind.
Bai Zhu is an assistant ingredient in Su He Xiang Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
14. Atractylodes Rhizomes (Bai Zhu)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Bai Zhu's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Fortifies the Spleen Yang and dispels Damp through urination. Tonifies Qi and stops sweating. Calms restless fetus when due to Deficiency of Spleen Qi."
In the context of Su He Xiang Wan, it is used because it tonifies Qi, strengthens the Spleen, dries Dampness, and transforms turbidity.
He Zi is an assistant ingredient in Su He Xiang Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
15. Terminalia Fruits (He Zi)
Part used: Dry ripe fruits
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: StomachLarge intestineLung
Category: Herbs that stabilize and bind
He Zi restrains the leakage of Qi. It prevents the acrid, aromatic properties of the other ingredients from consuming or dispersing the normal Qi.
Su He Xiang Wan is used to treat Phlegm Misting the Heart
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 Su He Xiang Wan is mostly used to treat the pattern "Phlegm Misting the Heart" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Phlegm Misting the Heart here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Cerebrovascular accident Encephalitis Hysteria Epilepsy Hepatic coma Postconcussion syndrome Angina pectoris Allergic rhinitis
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Su He Xiang Wan treats cerebrovascular accident" for instance. Rather, Su He Xiang Wan is used to treat Phlegm Misting the Heart, which is sometimes the root cause behind cerebrovascular accident.
Now let's look at Phlegm Misting the Heart, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Su He Xiang Wan.
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm Misting the Heart
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Thick coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
Symptoms: Coma Aphasia Vomiting Dull eyes Paralysis Slurred speech Unconsciousness Mental confusion Staring at walls Sudden blackouts Incoherent speech Mental depression Muttering to oneself Rattling sound in the throat Lethargic and withdrawn state Abnormal and foolish behavior
Su He Xiang Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Phlegm Misting the Heart. This pattern leads to symptoms such as mental confusion, unconsciousness, lethargic and withdrawn state and incoherent speech. Patients with Phlegm Misting the Heart typically exhibit slippery (Hua) pulses as well as Thick sticky slippery white coating, swollen tongue, midline crack until the tip of the tongue.
This pattern is also called 'Cold Phlegm or Mucus Obstructing the Heart Orifices'. It is similar to the pattern of 'Phlegm Fire harassing the Heart' (also called 'Hot Phlegm or Mucus Obstructing the Heart orifices'), but it is a Cold Pattern here.
Children can have this pattern and it is often... read more about Phlegm Misting the Heart
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