She Xiang
Moschus berezovskii Flerov, Moschus sifanicus Przewalski, Moschus moschiferus Linnaeus
☯ TCM Properties
Opens the Orifices and Revives Consciousness; Invigorates Blood and Unblocks the Channels and Collaterals; Reduces Swelling and Alleviates Pain; Resolves Toxicity and Dissipates Nodules; Facilitates delivery and expels stillbirth
Botanical Description
She Xiang is musk, the dried secretion of the preputial musk gland of mature male musk deer (genus Moschus, especially M. moschiferus, M. berezovskii, and M. chrysogaster), small solitary nocturnal ungulates inhabiting forested mountains across the Himalayas, Tibetan Plateau, and northern East Asia. Adult males possess a unique sac-like gland located between the navel and the genitals which fills with a reddish-brown waxy secretion during the rutting season; once dried this hardens into dark brown-black granules with an intensely penetrating, animalic-sweet aroma owing chiefly to the macrocyclic ketone muscone. Musk-deer species are CITES Appendix I or II listed and are critically threatened by poaching. Synthetic muscone and cultured-gland musk now substitute in most contemporary preparations. This is an animal product, not a plant.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| powder | 0.3-1g | Daily | — | — | — |
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional Chinese Uses
She Xiang (musk, moschus) is one of the most intensely aromatic and penetrating substances in Chinese medicine, used to open the orifices, revive consciousness, and invigorate Blood in emergency situations. It is applied for sudden loss of consciousness, coma from stroke, and cardiac events from Phlegm-Blood obstruction. Its Blood-activating and channel-opening properties address pain from traumatic injury and Blood stasis. It is also used topically for localized pain and carbuncles, and plays a role in calming the fetus. Due to musk deer's endangered status, synthetic alternatives are now commonly used.
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.