Description
Su Mu Jian (Sappan Wood Decoction), from Concise Bonesetting (Jian Ming Zheng Gu).
Actions: Unblock the channels and quicken the collaterals, soothe, and promote the function of the joints. Indicated for the treatment of injury from fall in the later stage with stiffness of joint due to qi stagnation and blood stasis, with history of wound, stiffness of joint, inconvenient flexing and stretching, pain with swelling and blue color skin, dark tongue, thin and white coating, and choppy pulse (a.k.a. rough pulse)
Indications: Its use is cautious in patients with weak constitution
Source: Xi S, Gong Y. Essentials of Chinese Materia Medica and Medical Formulas: New Century Traditional Chinese Medicine. Academic Press/Elsevier, 2017, pp. 861–873.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Su Mu
as printed: Lignum Sappan (su mu) 30 g
|
30g | 16.95% | — | |
|
Xian He Cao
as printed: Herba Agrimoniae (xian he cao) 30 g
|
30g | 16.95% | — | |
|
Ai Ye
as printed: Folium Artemisiae Argyi (ai ye) 30 g
|
30g | 16.95% | — | |
|
Shen Jin Cao
as printed: Herba Lycopodii (shen jin cao) 30 g
|
30g | 16.95% | — | |
|
Ji Xue Teng
as printed: Caulis Spatholobi (ji xue teng) 30 g
|
30g | 16.95% | — | |
|
Qiang Huo
as printed: Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii (qiang huo) 9 g
|
9g | 5.08% | — | |
|
Huang Bai
as printed: Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis (huang bai) 9 g
|
9g | 5.08% | — | |
|
Niu Xi
as printed: Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae (niu xi) 9 g
|
9g | 5.08% | — |
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 (+0.46)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 5%, neutral 39%, warm 56%.
Small but decisive: Huang Bai 9g (cold, 5% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 25%
- sweet 16%
- sour 2%
- bitter 52%
- salty 6%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Liver 90%
- Spleen 68%
- Kidney 66%
- Lung 34%
- Heart 34%
- Large intestine 5%
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
Decoct the ingredients with water, then fumigate, and wash the affected area
Relationships
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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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