Nu Shen San
Star女神散 (Goddess Powder)
Source: Formulary and Mnemonics from 'No Mistake' Pharmacy (1956)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Nu Shen San (Goddess Powder), from Formulary and Mnemonics from 'No Mistake' Pharmacy (1956).
Associated formula of Yue Ju Wan.
Usage: Japanese (Kampo) formula for 'blood pathway' disorders: psychosomatic symptoms such as depression, anxiety, hot flushes, dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, often with menstrual irregularity; treats qi stagnation with heat from constraint in the context of qi and blood deficiency, draining heat more than the principal formula.
Category: Formulas that Promote the Movement of Qi.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 511.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dang Gui
dose printed as 3-4g; as printed: Angelicae sinensis Radix (dang gui) 3-4g
|
g | — | — | |
|
Chuan Xiong
as printed: Chuanxiong Rhizoma (chuan xiong) 3g
|
3g | 50% | — | |
|
Bai Zhu
as printed: Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma (bai zhu) 3g
|
3g | 50% | — | |
|
Xiang Fu
dose printed as 3-4g; as printed: Cyperi Rhizoma (xiang fu) 3-4g
|
g | — | — | |
|
Gui Zhi
dose printed as 2-3g; as printed: Cinnamomi Ramulus (gui zhi) 2-3g
|
g | — | — | |
|
Huang Qin
dose printed as 2-4g; as printed: Scutellariae Radix (huang qin) 2-4g
|
g | — | — | |
|
Ren Shen
dose printed as 1.5-2g; as printed: Ginseng Radix (ren shen) 1.5-2g
|
g | — | — | |
|
Bing Lang
dose printed as 2-4g; as printed: Arecae Semen (bing lang) 2-4g
|
g | — | — | |
|
Huang Lian
dose printed as 1-2g; as printed: Coptidis Rhizoma (huang lian) 1-2g
|
g | — | — | |
|
Mu Xiang
dose printed as 1-2g; as printed: Aucklandiae Radix (mu xiang) 1-2g
|
g | — | — | |
|
Ding Xiang
dose printed as 0.5-1g; as printed: Caryophylli Flos (ding xiang) 0.5-1g
|
g | — | — | |
|
Gan Cao
dose printed as 1-1.5g; as printed: Glycyrrhizae Radix (gan cao) 1-1.5g
|
g | — | — | |
|
Da Huang
dose printed as 0.5-1g; as printed: Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (da huang) 0.5-1g
|
g | — | — |
Energetics dose-weighted
The formula's overall nature, taste balance and channel reach, weighted by each herb's dose. Classical formulas often pair warm and cool herbs on purpose, so a net figure summarises the mix — it doesn't describe every herb in it.
Nature
Net warm (+1.00)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: warm 100%.
Taste
- pungent 50%
- sweet 25%
- bitter 25%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Stomach 50%
- Spleen 50%
- Pericardium 50%
- Gallbladder 50%
- Liver 50%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
11 herbs without a dose in grams, so left out of every figure above: Dang Gui, Xiang Fu, Gui Zhi, Huang Qin, Ren Shen, Bing Lang, Huang Lian, Mu Xiang, Ding Xiang, Gan Cao, Da Huang.
Dose-weighted from each herb's recorded nature, taste and channels (missing values are left out, never counted as neutral). It describes the composition — it is not a recommendation.
Preparation
Decoction. Omit rhubarb during pregnancy and when constipation is not prominent.
Relationships
Full-screen graph →Click a node for details · double-click to expand it · Ctrl/⌘ + scroll or two fingers to zoom and pan.
Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Gui Zhi Ren Shen Tang without Gan Jiang + Xie Xin Tang + Xiang Lian Wan + Bing Lang, Chuan Xiong, Dang Gui, Ding Xiang and Xiang Fu
- This formula = Xie Xin Tang + Gui Zhi Ren Shen Tang + Xiang Lian Wan + Bing Lang, Chuan Xiong, Dang Gui, Ding Xiang and Xiang Fu
- This formula = Da Huang Huang Lian Xie Xin Tang + Gui Zhi Ren Shen Tang + Xie Xin Tang + Xiang Lian Wan + Bing Lang, Chuan Xiong, Dang Gui, Ding Xiang and Xiang Fu
- This formula = Xiang Lian Wan + Gui Zhi Ren Shen Tang + Xie Xin Tang + Bing Lang, Chuan Xiong, Dang Gui, Ding Xiang and Xiang Fu
Each entry reads as the larger formula written out: “+” adds its other catalogue cores, then the herbs none of them hold. A catalogue formula counts as a core only when at least 80% of its herbs are present, no more than 1 is absent, and the absent herb is not its chief.
Formula Network
Formulas that share herbs with this one — the closer to the centre, the stronger the match. Click a node to explore.
Similar Formulas by composition
Match score combines dosage-weighted composition (cosine, 70%) with shared-herb overlap (Jaccard, 30%).
Traditional formula information is for educational purposes only. Herbal formulas should be prescribed by a qualified practitioner — dosages and combinations are individualized and can interact with medications.
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