Shi Xiao San
Star失笑散 (Sudden Smile Powder)
Source: Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang — Imperial Medical Department (1078)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Shi Xiao San (Sudden Smile Powder), from the Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (Imperial Grace Formulary of the Tai Ping Era) by Imperial Medical Department.
Actions: Activates blood circulation and removes blood stasis; Disperses stagnation and stops pain.
Presentation: Blood stasis in the body: sharp pain in the chest or abdomen, postpartum bleeding due to retention of lochia, irregular menstruation, and acute onset of pain in the lower abdomen.
Composition: Only bracketed decoction doses printed; source text uses equal amounts of both.
Cautions:
- Contraindicated in pregnancy
- Use with caution in patients with a weak or sensitive stomach
Pharmacological effects reported:
- Cardiovascular: lowered blood pressure and heart rate in frogs and rabbits
- Antiplatelet: marked effect in rats 4 hours after oral dosing, comparable to aspirin
- Uterine regulation: may stimulate uterine contraction to expel placental remnants postpartum, or relax smooth muscle to ease cramps in dysmenorrhea/PMS
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 911.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wu Ling Zhi
yan (ground) to small particles with liquor; as printed: Wu Ling Zhi (Faeces Trogopteri) [6g]
|
6g | 50% | activates blood, removes stagnation, relieves pain | |
|
Pu Huang
chao (dry-fried) until aromatic; as printed: Pu Huang (Pollen Typhae) [6g]
|
6g | 50% | activates blood, stops bleeding, relieves pain |
Dui Yao — Core Herb Pairs
The classical two-herb combinations at the heart of this formula, as recorded on the herbs' own pages — each pair has an action neither herb has alone.
The combination both invigorates blood and stops bleeding, dispelling stasis to relieve pain without leaving bleeding unchecked.
Blood-stasis pain of the chest and abdomen, dysmenorrhea and retained lochia. Wu Ling Zhi is traditionally listed as antagonising Ren Shen (Shi Jiu Wei). Avoid in pregnancy.
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 slightly warm (+0.50)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: neutral 50%, warm 50%.
Taste
- sweet 67%
- bitter 17%
- salty 17%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Liver 100%
- Spleen 50%
- Pericardium 50%
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 equal amounts to fine powder; cook 6g with vinegar into a paste, add 1 bowl of water and cook down to 70%, take warm before meals. Today: fine powder, 6g taken with grain-based liquor or vinegar; or decoct with the bracketed doses. Liquor enhances channel-warming and blood movement; vinegar enhances stasis-dispersing and analgesia.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang = this formula + Chi Shao, Chuan Xiong, Dang Gui, Gan Jiang, Mo Yao, Rou Gui, Xiao Hui Xiang and Yan Hu Suo
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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