【Chinese Name】 |
蘇合香丸
|
【Phonetic】 |
Su He Xiang Wan
|
【English Name】 |
Storax Pill |
【Classification】 |
Resuscitative formulas |
【Source】 |
《Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library》Wai Tai Mi Yao《外臺秘要》 |
【Combination】 |
Styrax (Su He Xiang) 0.5 liang (15g), Borneolum Syntheticum (Bing Pian) 0.5 liang (15g), Olibanum (Ru Xiang) 0.5 liang (15g), Moschus (She Xiang) 1 liang (30g), Benzoinum (An Xiang Xi) 1 liang (30g), Aucklandiae Radix (Mu Xiang) 1 liang (30g), Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiang Fu) 1 liang (30g), Santali Albi Lignum (Bai Tan Xiang) 1 liang (30g), Caryophylli Flos (Ding Xiang) 1 liang (30g), Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum (Chen Xiang) 1 liang (30g), Piperis Longi Fructus (Bi Ba) 1 liang (30g), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Bai Zhu) 1 liang (30g), Chebulae Fructus (He Zi Pi) 1 liang (30g), Cinnabaris (Zhu Sha) 1 liang (30g), Bubali Cornu (Xi Jiao) 1 liang (30g) (Note: 65g shui niu jiao is used in place of xi jiao.) |
【Method】 |
First, grind zhu sha with water. Then grind an xi xiang, ru xiang, mu xiang, xiang fu, bai tan xiang, ding xiang, chen xiang, bi ba, he zi pi, she xiang, bing pian, and shui niu jiao into powder. Second, mix all the powders together and grind once more. Then sift the powder. At this time, warm the su he xiang with water. Third, make pills using honey and water dried at a low temperature. Or prepare the pills using only honey. Each pill should weigh 3g. Take 1 pill once daily with warm water. The dosage should be reduced for children. The formula may be administered nasally in those patients who are unconscious or unable to swallow the pills. |
【Action】 |
Aromatically opens the orifices, moves qi and relieves pain. |
【Indication】 |
Su He Xiang Wan is indicated for cold blockage. The symptoms are sudden fainting and locked jaw, unconsciousness, a white tongue coating, and a slow pulse. It is also indicated for sudden pain in the heart and abdomen as well as syncope due to cold blockage. |
【Pathogenesis】 |
This is a pattern caused by cold blockage. Symptoms of sudden fainting, locked jaw and unconsciousness are caused by obstruction and clouding of the clear orifices due to qi blockage resulting from an accumulation of cold-phlegm and turbidity. The white tongue coating and slow pulse are caused by excessive internal cold. Chest pain is caused by congealed cold accumulation in the chest causing stagnation of qi and blood. Intolerable, distending epigastric and abdominal pain is caused by pathogenic accumulation in the middle jiao causing qi constraint. Cold and turbidity obstructing the orifices is the pathomechanism causing this pattern. The appropriate therapeutic method is to open the orifices using aromatic medicinals combined with medicinals that warm the interior, dissipate cold, move qi, activate blood, dispel filth and resolve turbidity, because pathogens of cold, qi constraint, filth and turbidity are involved. |
【Application】 |
1. Essential pattern differentiation Su He Xiang Wan is a typical warm formula that open the orifices, also a common formula to treat cold blockage, or pain in the heart and abdomen caused by qi stagnation due to congealing cold. This clinical pattern is marked by sudden fainting, unconsciousness, locked jaw, white coating, slow pulse. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders when the patient shows signs of either cold block or qi stagnation due to congealing cold: acute cerebrovascular disease, hysterical syncope, epilepsy, senile dementia, epidemic encephalitis B, hepatic coma, coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, and myocardial infarction. 3. Cautions and contraindications This formula is commonly used in emergencies and for relieving pain. It should not be taken for a long time because it may consume zheng qi. It is not applicable for desertion or heat blockage. This formula contains a lot of aromatic and acrid medicinals and may damage the fetus, so it is prohibited during pregnancy. |
【Additonal formulae】 |
1. Guan Xin Su He Wan (Coronary Heart Storax Pill 冠心蘇合丸) [Source]《Chinese Pharmacopoeia》Zhong Guo Yao Dian《中國藥典》 [Ingredients] Su he xiang 50g, bing pian 105g, ru xiang 105g, tan xiang 210g, mu xiang 210g [Preparation and Administration] Grind ru xiang, tan xiang and mu xiang into fine powder and sift; grind bing pian into powder; then mix all the powders and sift. Put su he xiang in warm honey and mix well. Then add in all the ground medicinals and make 1000 pills. Take 1 pill 1-3 times daily or by doctor’s instruction. Chew the pill and swallow it. [Actions] Regulates qi, relaxes the chest, and relieves pain. [Applicable Patterns] Chest bi caused by qi stagnation due to congealing cold and blockage of heart vessels. Symptoms include: chest distress, precordial pain, coronary heart disease and angina pectoris. 2. Zi Jin Ding (Purple Colden Pastille 紫金錠) [Source]《Further Discourses on Teachings of [Zhu] Dan-xi》Dan Xi Xin Fa《丹溪心法》 [Ingredients] Shan ci gu 200g, hong da ji 150g, qian jin zi shuang 100g, wu bei zi 100g, she xiang 30g, zhu sha 40g, xiong huang 20g [Preparation and Administration] Grind zhu sha and xiong huang with water, grind shan ci gu, wu bei zi, hong da ji into powder, grind she xiang into powder, then mix all of the medicinal and sift. Steam 320g of glutinous rice flour with water and mix in the other medicinals. Prepare as pastille, and dry it at a low temperature. Take 0.6-1.5g once daily. For external application, mix with vinegar and apply in the affected area. [Actions] Dispels filth, resolves toxins, resolves phlegm and opens the orifices, relieves swelling and pain. [Applicable Patterns] Epidemics in the summer, and phlegm syncope. Symptoms include: abdominal distension and pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, dysentery, a moist tongue, and a thick, greasy or dirty, greasy coating. External use for: furuncles, sores, swellings, insect bites, mumps, erysipelas, and acute throat troubles. |
【Remark】 |
1. Incense Tree (Aquilaria sinensis) is listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix II. Its trade is allowed but subject to licensing controls. 2. Aucklandia lappa is l |
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