Zi Xue Dan
Star紫雪 (Purple Snow Special Pill)
Source: Wai Tai Mi Yao — Wang Tao (752)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Zi Xue Dan (Purple Snow Special Pill), also called Zi Xue (Purple Snow), is used to intensively reduce excess heat / heat-toxin and open the orifices.
Presentation: closed-up syndrome with high fever, convulsions and mental confusion; Xue-level heat with disturbed mind (acute).
Syndrome: Syndrome of heat at the Ying level (Nutritive level).
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 80, 332.
Chen and Chen list it as Zi Xue (Purple Snow), from the Wai Tai Mi Yao (Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library) by Wang Tao.
Actions: Clears heat and opens the sensory orifices; Stops convulsions and calms the shen (spirit).
Presentation: Febrile disorders with heat attacking the Pericardium and rise of Liver wind: high fever, irritability, restlessness, altered consciousness, delirium, convulsions, thirst, dry lips, dysuria, constipation, infantile seizures, and epilepsy.
Cautions:
- Discontinue once the desired effect is achieved; prolonged or large-dose use may cause profuse sweating, nausea, vomiting, icy extremities, hurried breathing, palpitations, dizziness and vertigo
- Contraindicated during pregnancy
- Avoid spicy, pungent, oily and greasy foods while taking it
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 752.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Shui Niu Jiao
as printed: Cornu Bubali (shui niu jiao) 9 g
|
9g | 0.68% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Ling Yang Jiao
as printed: Cornu Saigae Tataricae (ling yang jiao) 4.5 g
|
4.5g | 0.34% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
She Xiang
as printed: Moschus (she xiang) 1.5 g
|
1.5g | 0.11% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Shi Gao
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder/plaster preparation), not a single dose; as printed: Gypsum Fibrosum (shi gao) 144 g
|
144g | 10.84% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Han Shui Shi
Xi's Latin reads Glauberitum; per Bensky, Materia Medica 3rd ed. (2004), Han Shui Shi (Calcitum) in use is red gypsum (northern China) or calcite (southern China and outside China); batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder/plaster preparation), not a single dose; as printed: Glauberitum (han shui shi) 144 g
|
144g | 10.84% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Hua Shi
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder/plaster preparation), not a single dose; as printed: Talcum (hua shi) 144 g
|
144g | 10.84% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Xuan Shen
as printed: Radix Scrophulariae (xuan shen) 48 g
|
48g | 3.61% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Sheng Ma
as printed: Rhizoma Cimicifugae (sheng ma) 48 g
|
48g | 3.61% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Ci Shi
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder/plaster preparation), not a single dose; as printed: Magnetitum (ci shi) 144 g
|
144g | 10.84% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Chen Xiang
as printed: Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum (chen xiang) 15 g
|
15g | 1.13% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Ding Xiang
as printed: Flos Caryophylli (ding xiang) 3 g
|
3g | 0.23% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Mang Xiao
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder/plaster preparation), not a single dose; as printed: Natrii Sulfas (mang xiao) 480 g
|
480g | 36.12% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Xiao Shi
as printed: Nitrum (xiao shi) 96 g
|
96g | 7.22% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae Praeparata cum Melle (zhi gan cao) 24 g
|
24g | 1.81% | Shi (Envoy) | — |
|
Qing Mu Xiang
as printed: Radix Aristolochiae (qing mu xiang) 15 g
|
15g | 1.13% | — | |
|
Zhu Sha
as printed: Cinnabaris (zhu sha) 9 g
|
9g | 0.68% | — |
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 cold (-1.84)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 89%, cool 8%, neutral 2%, warm 2%.
Small but decisive: Shui Niu Jiao 9g (cold, 1% of the grams), Ling Yang Jiao 4.5g (cold, 0% of the grams), Qing Mu Xiang 15g (cold, 1% of the grams), Xiao Shi 96g (cold, 7% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 20%
- sweet 16%
- bitter 24%
- salty 34%
- bland 5%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Stomach 88%
- Large intestine 40%
- Heart 33%
- Kidney 27%
- Lung 20%
- Spleen 14%
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
Crush the minerals (Shi Gao, Huang Jin, Han Shui Shi, Hua Shi, Ci Shi) and cook three times; add Xuan Shen, Mu Xiang, Chen Xiang, Sheng Ma, Zhi Gan Cao and Ding Xiang and cook three times; strain and reduce to a paste. Blend in powdered Xiao Shi and Po Xiao, dry and powder. Add powdered Xi Jiao, Ling Yang Jiao, shui fei-refined Zhu Sha and She Xiang; sieve. Take 1.5-3g twice daily; reduce for children.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Yi Yuan San + Ling Xi Bai Hu Tang + She Xiang, Han Shui Shi, Sheng Ma, Shi Gao, Xuan Shen, Chen Xiang, Ci Shi, Ding Xiang, Mang Xiao, Xiao Shi and Qing Mu Xiang
- This formula = Ling Xi Bai Hu Tang + Yi Yuan San + She Xiang, Han Shui Shi, Sheng Ma, Shi Gao, Xuan Shen, Chen Xiang, Ci Shi, Ding Xiang, Mang Xiao, Xiao Shi and Qing Mu Xiang
- This formula = Liu Yi San + Yi Yuan San + Ling Xi Bai Hu Tang + She Xiang, Han Shui Shi, Sheng Ma, Shi Gao, Xuan Shen, Chen Xiang, Ci Shi, Ding Xiang, Mang Xiao, Xiao Shi and Qing Mu Xiang
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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