Su He Xiang Wan
Star苏合香丸 (Liquid Styrax Pill)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Su He Xiang Wan (Liquid Styrax Pill), is used to regulate the Qi; transform phlegm; penetrate turbidity; open the orifices.
Presentation: cold type of locked-up syndrome.
Syndrome: Locked-up syndrome.
Composition strategy:
- contains warm substances, unlike the three heat-type pills
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 332.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Su He Xiang
as printed: Styrax (su he xiang) 15g
|
15g | 2.61% | Jun (Chief) | Vents the orifices and clears abnormal qi; opens phlegm collapse |
|
She Xiang
as printed: Moschus (she xiang) 30g
|
30g | 5.22% | Jun (Chief) | Breaks up turbidity, opens orifices, unblocks channels |
|
Bing Pian
as printed: Borneolum (bing pian) 15g
|
15g | 2.61% | Jun (Chief) | Breaks up turbidity, opens orifices, unblocks channels |
|
An Xi Xiang
as printed: Benzoinum (an xi xiang) 30g
|
30g | 5.22% | Jun (Chief) | Penetrates turbidity around the orifices, restores consciousness |
|
Mu Xiang
as printed: Aucklandiae Radix (mu xiang) 30g
|
30g | 5.22% | Chen (Deputy) | Moves qi, directs rebellious qi down, dispels cold |
|
Tan Xiang
as printed: Santali albi Lignum (tan xiang) 30g
|
30g | 5.22% | Chen (Deputy) | Moves qi; treats chest and abdominal pain and sudden turmoil |
|
Chen Xiang
as printed: Aquilariae Lignum resinatum (chen xiang) 30g
|
30g | 5.22% | Chen (Deputy) | Moves and directs qi downward |
|
Ru Xiang
as printed: Olibanum (ru xiang) 15g
|
15g | 2.61% | Chen (Deputy) | Moves qi and invigorates blood to relieve pain |
|
Ding Xiang
as printed: Caryophylli Flos (ding xiang) 30g
|
30g | 5.22% | Chen (Deputy) | Warms, disperses cold, moves qi |
|
Xiang Fu
as printed: Cyperi Rhizoma (xiang fu) 30g
|
30g | 5.22% | Chen (Deputy) | Moves qi, opens constraint |
|
Bi Ba
as printed: Piperis longi Fructus (bi ba) 30g
|
30g | 5.22% | Chen (Deputy) | Warms the middle, dispels cold, stops pain |
|
Shui Niu Jiao
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder preparation), not a single dose; modern substitute for rhinoceros horn (xi jiao); role: printed in square brackets; replaces 30g Rhinocerotis Cornu (xi jiao) of the original; as printed: Bubali Cornu (shui niu jiao) 200g
|
200g | 34.78% | Zuo (Assistant) | Resolves toxicity; penetrates turbidity without stagnation |
|
Zhu Sha
role: should no longer be used; as printed: Cinnabaris (zhu sha) 30g
|
30g | 5.22% | Zuo (Assistant) | Originally sedated the Heart and calmed the spirit |
|
Bai Zhu
as printed: Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma (bai zhu) 30g
|
30g | 5.22% | Zuo (Assistant) | Tonifies qi, strengthens Spleen, dries dampness, protects normal qi |
|
He Zi
as printed: Chebulae Fructus (he zi) 30g
|
30g | 5.22% | Zuo (Assistant) | Restrains leakage of qi |
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.
Both warm aromatic resins open the orifices and expel turbid filth, together reviving consciousness from cold-phlegm obstruction.
Warm aromatic opening of the orifices combined, dispelling cold and turbidity to revive consciousness in cold closed patterns.
Cold closed pattern; not for hot closed patterns or collapse.
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 (-0.30)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 35%, cool 8%, neutral 16%, warm 37%, hot 5%.
Pairs warm and cool. 42% of the weighed grams are warm or hot and 43% cool or cold — the net is their average, not the whole story.
Small but decisive: Bi Ba 30g (hot, 5% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 34%
- sweet 11%
- sour 3%
- bitter 35%
- salty 17%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Stomach 66%
- Heart 64%
- Liver 53%
- Spleen 50%
- Lung 18%
- Large intestine 16%
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
Patent pill form only
Relationships
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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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