Xiang Ru San
Star香薷散 (Mosla Powder)
Source: Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang — Imperial Medical Department (1078)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Xiang Ru San (Mosla Powder), from the Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (Imperial Grace Formulary of the Tai Ping Era) by Imperial Medical Department.
Actions: Dispels summer-heat; Releases exterior cold; Resolves dampness and harmonizes the middle jiao.
Presentation: Summer-heat syndrome with exterior cold and interior dampness: fever, aversion to cold, headache, lethargy; heavy sensations in the head and body, no perspiration, and stifling sensations in the chest; or nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain with a white, greasy tongue coating and a superficial pulse.
Cautions:
- Not for summer-heat with perspiration, summer-heat with wei qi deficiency and perspiration, or summer-heat with irritability and thirst
- Not for exterior wind-heat conditions
Pharmacological effects reported:
- Temperature regulation: temporarily lowered body temperature in rats with induced fever; more effective when a little alcohol was added during cooking to extract essential oils
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 436.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Xiang Ru
as printed: Xiang Ru (Herba Moslae) 480g [9g]
|
9g | 42.86% | Jun (Chief) | aromatic and warm; dispels exterior cold and resolves interior dampness ('summer Ma Huang') |
|
Bai Bian Dou
chao (dry-fried); as printed: Bai Bian Dou (Semen Lablab Album) 240g [6g]
|
6g | 28.57% | Chen (Deputy) | tonifies qi, strengthens the Spleen, dries dampness |
|
Hou Po
zhi (fried with ginger juice); as printed: Hou Po (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis) 240g [6g]
|
6g | 28.57% | Zuo (Assistant) | activates qi flow and dries interior dampness |
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.
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 warm (+1.00)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: warm 100%.
Taste
- pungent 57%
- sweet 29%
- bitter 14%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Stomach 100%
- Lung 71%
- Spleen 57%
- Large intestine 29%
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: grind to coarse powder; cook 9g with one large bowl of water plus a little grain-based liquor (~10% of volume) down to 70%; discard residue and cool before drinking. May be decocted today at bracketed doses, with or without liquor.
Click a node for details · double-click to expand it · Ctrl/⌘ + scroll or two fingers to zoom and pan.
Formula family
Full herb lists
- Liu He Tang = this formula + San Wu Xiang Ru Yin + Da Ban Xia Tang + Gan Cao, Chi Fu Ling, Chinese giant-hyssop, Mu Gua, Sha Ren and Xing Ren
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.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Xiang Ru San.
No notes yet.