Si Miao Wan
Star四妙丸 (Four-Marvel Pill)
Source: Cheng Fang Bian Du — Zhang Bing-Cheng (Qing, 1904)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Si Miao Wan (Four-Marvel Pill), from the Cheng Fang Bian Du (Convenient Reader of Established Formulas) by Zhang Bing-Cheng — a variation of Er Miao San.
Actions: Clears heat and dissolves dampness.
Presentation: Damp-heat affecting the lower half of the body: pain and swelling of the joints, muscle atrophy, leg numbness.
Composition: Er Miao San plus Niu Xi and Yi Yi Ren
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 1190.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Huang Bai
as printed: Huang Bo (Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis) [12g]
|
12g | 25% | — | |
|
Yi Yi Ren
as printed: Yi Yi Ren (Semen Coicis) [12g]
|
12g | 25% | — | |
|
Cang Zhu
as printed: Cang Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis) [12g]
|
12g | 25% | — | |
|
Niu Xi
as printed: Niu Xi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae) [12g]
|
12g | 25% | — |
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 cool (-0.50)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 25%, cool 25%, neutral 25%, warm 25%.
Pairs warm and cool. 25% of the weighed grams are warm or hot and 50% cool or cold — the net is their average, not the whole story.
Taste
- pungent 13%
- sweet 21%
- sour 8%
- bitter 46%
- bland 13%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Kidney 75%
- Large intestine 50%
- Stomach 50%
- Spleen 50%
- Liver 50%
- Lung 25%
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
Powder and form small water pills; take 6-9g per dose with warm water. Today may be decocted with bracketed doses.
Relationships
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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
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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