Shi Xiao San 失笑散
Sudden Smile Powder
or, “Powder for those who lost the ability to Laugh”
Tradition:
TCM
Source / Author:
Imperial Grace Formulary of the Tai Ping Era (Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang)
|
Herb Name |
Latin |
Amount |
|---|---|---|
|
Trogopterus xanthipes | ||
|
Typha angustifolia |
equal parts |
Preparation:
Powder
It may be prepared as a decoction using 6 grams of each medicine.
Function:
Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis, Eases Pain
Use:
1. Irregular Menstruation
2. Dysmeorrhea
3. Endoemtriosis
4. Retention of the Placenta
5. Postpartum Abdominal Pain
6. Severe, fixed pain of the Chest, epigatrium or lower abdomen
7. Coronary Heart Disease
Dose:
Powder: 6 grams, twice daily with wine
As a decoction, it is divided into 3 equal doses to be taken over the course of a day.
Cautions:
1. Not used during Pregnancy
Modifications:
1. If there is Cold, add fried Ginger (Pao Jiang), Mugwort (Ai Ye)
2. Severe Dysmenorrhea, add Cyperus Xiang Fu, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo
3. Irregular Menstruation, take with Si Wu Tang
4. Postpartum Abdominal Pain, add Motherwort (Yi Mu Cao)
5. Angina Pectoris, add Paeonia Chi Shao Yao, Salvia Dan Shen, Saffloiwer (Hong Hua)
“The ‘powder for those who lost the ability to laugh.’ It serves to cure, in males and females, old and young, lower abdominal pain, small intestinal elevation-illness qi, when all kinds of medications have not shown an effect. It is able to stimulate passage, and to stop [passage]. For pain in the heart of pregnant women, for pain in the heart following childbirth, for abdominal pain, and pain resulting from blood and qi, it is especially wondrous. Take equal amounts of flying squirrel droppings and cattail pollen, and grind them to powder. Then mix the powder with two cups of vinegar, and heat this to generate a paste. This is given into a small cup of water, which is to be boiled until seven fen are left. Ingest this medication while it is still hot. If the disease has not ended after one dose ingest it again. In another recipe wine is used instead of vinegar. In yet another recipe, pills are prepared with vinegar and flour. They are to be ingested with boys’ urine and wine. He ji ju fang.” (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
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