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Storax Pill

苏合香丸 〔蘇合香丸〕sū hé xiāng wán

Source: Hé Jì Jú Fāng 和剂局方

Ingredients:

Action: Opens the orifices and repels foulness; rectifies qì and relieves pain.

Indication: (a) Wind stroke with clouding collapse, clenched jaw, and loss of consciousness; (b) contraction of malign foul qì with painful fullness in the chest and abdomen, qì block due to phlegm congestion, and clouded spirit; (c) cholera (sudden turmoil) with pain and glomus in the chest and abdomen, with vomiting and diarrhea that fail to come, and in severe cases clouded spirit; (c) angina pectoris and myocardial infarction.

Category: Orifice-opening formulas / Warm opening

Dosage: Half to 1 pill 1–2 times a day. Swallow with water.

Warnings: Because this formula is warm in nature, it should not be used in block patterns attributable to depressed heat. It is also contraindicated in wind stroke patterns with clouded spirit that are attributable to desertion of right qì, and in pregnancy.

Rationale: Sū hé xiāng, ān xī xiāng, Shè xiāng, and Bīng piàn are aromatic turbidity-transforming agents that open the orifices and awaken the spirit. Xī jiǎo clears the heart and resolves toxin. Zhū shā settles the heart and quiets the spirit. These six agents all work to the common aim of opening the orifices and quieting the spirit. Tán xiāng, Dīng xiāng, Xiāng fù, Chén xiāng, Bì bō move qì and eliminate depression, as well as dispersing cold and transforming turbidity. Rǔ xiāng quickens the blood and moves stagnation. Bái zhú fortifies the spleen and transforms damp turbidity. Finally, Hē zǐ, which is warm and astringent, is added to prevent the dispersing nature of the aromatics from damaging right qì.

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