Qi Li San
Star七厘散 (Seven-Thousandths of a Tael Powder)
Source: Liang Fang Yi Ye — Xie Yuan-Qing (1842)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Qi Li San (Seven-Thousandths of a Tael Powder), from the Liang Fang Yi Ye (Small Collection of Fine Formulas) by Xie Yuan-Qing.
Actions: Activates blood circulation and disperses blood stasis; Relieves pain and stops bleeding.
Presentation: External injuries and traumas: blood stasis with swelling and pain due to injuries to soft tissue or bone; and bleeding due to cuts, burns, and other external traumas.
Cautions:
- Contraindicated in pregnancy (many qi- and blood-moving herbs)
- Not for prolonged or high-dose use because Zhu Sha is potentially toxic
- Constipation is the most common side effect; allergic reactions (rash, itching, urticaria) in 2 of 200 fracture patients
- Zhu Sha is a toxic heavy metal and She Xiang comes from an endangered animal; most modern products remove or substitute them
Toxicology: Rare rash, itching and skin lesions, generally attributed to the Zhu Sha coating of the pellets.
Pharmacological effects reported:
- Anti-inflammatory: reduced inflammation and swelling in rats
- Analgesic: one study found no significant pain-relieving effect in mice
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 903.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Xue Jie
as printed: Xue Jie (Sanguis Draconis) 30g
|
30g | 54.53% | Jun (Chief) | dispels blood stagnation, relieves pain, stops bleeding |
|
Hong Hua
as printed: Hong Hua (Flos Carthami) 4.5g
|
4.5g | 8.18% | Chen (Deputy) | helps Xue Jie break up stasis and activate blood |
|
Ru Xiang
as printed: Ru Xiang (Gummi Olibanum) 4.5g
|
4.5g | 8.18% | Zuo (Assistant) | activates qi and blood, breaks stagnation, relieves pain and swelling |
|
Mo Yao
as printed: Mo Yao (Myrrha) 4.5g
|
4.5g | 8.18% | Zuo (Assistant) | activates qi and blood, breaks stagnation, relieves pain and swelling |
|
She Xiang
as printed: She Xiang (Moschus) 0.36g
|
0.36g | 0.65% | Zuo (Assistant) | aromatic; activates qi and blood and opens channels and collaterals |
|
Bing Pian
as printed: Bing Pian (Borneolum Syntheticum) 0.36g
|
0.36g | 0.65% | Zuo (Assistant) | aromatic; activates qi and blood and opens channels and collaterals |
|
Er Cha
as printed: Er Cha (Catechu) 7.2g
|
7.2g | 13.09% | Zuo (Assistant) | clears heat; astringent, helps stop bleeding and generate flesh |
|
Zhu Sha
as printed: Zhu Sha (Cinnabaris) 3.6g
|
3.6g | 6.54% | Zuo (Assistant) | tranquilizes the shen after trauma |
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 neutral (-0.03)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cool 20%, neutral 63%, warm 17%.
Taste
- pungent 17%
- sweet 34%
- bitter 22%
- salty 27%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Heart 100%
- Liver 80%
- Lung 22%
- Spleen 18%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
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
Source text: grind to fine powder, store sealed in porcelain with wax. For acute pain/bleeding take 0.22g with hot grain-based liquor internally, then apply a paste of powder and hot liquor topically. Today: fine powder in airtight container; internally 0.22-1.5g with warm liquor or water; externally as a liquor paste. One 'li' = 0.03124g; seven li (0.22g) is the standard dose.
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Formula family
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
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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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