Purple Snow Special Pill
Chinese Prescription: Zi Xue Dan
English Translation: Purple Snow Special Pill
Formula Type: Clear Heat and Open the Orifices
Actions: Clears heat, opens the sensory orifices, controls spasms & convulsions, & extinguishes wind.
Indications: High fever, irritability & restlessness, delirious speech, impaired consciousness, muscle twitches, spasms, convulsions, thirst, parched lips, dark urine, constipation, a scarlet red tongue with a dry, yellow coat, & a forceful, wiry, & rapid pulse. Also used for febrile convulsions in children.
Contraindications: Contraindicated during pregnancy & used with caution in the weak & debilitated. The use of this formula should be discontinued as soon as the symptoms of impaired consciousness improve. Overuse of the formula can easily injure the source qi & exhaust the yin, which, in severe cases may lead to marked sweating, nausea & vomiting, cold extremities, a frozen affect, dyspnea, palpitations, dizziness, & vertigo. While taking this formula, spicy, rich, or greasy foods should be avoided.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
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view: Shi Gao |
Gypsum | 15g |
view: Han Shui Shi |
Red Gypsum | 15g |
view: Hua Shi |
Talcum | 15g |
view: Shui Niu Jiao |
Water Buffalo Horn | 5g |
view: Ling Yang Jiao |
Antelope Horn | *not available* 5g |
view: She Xiang |
Musk | *not available* 0.37g |
view: Xuan Shen |
Scrophularia | 15g |
view: Ci Shi |
Magnetite | 15g |
view: Sheng Ma |
Chinese Black Cohosh | 10g |
view: Zhi Gan Cao |
Honey-fried Licorice | 24g |
view: Mu Xiang |
Aucklandia / Saussurea | 15g |
view: Chen Xiang |
Aquilaria | 15g |
view: Ding Xiang |
Clove | 3g |
view: Zhu Sha |
Cinnabar | toxic |
view: Mang Xiao |
Glauber's Salt | 10g |
view: Xiao Shi |
Saltpeter | *not available* toxic |
view: Huang Jing |
Polygonatum Rhizome | Siberian Solomon' Seal - 30g |
Shi Gao / Gypsum | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Acrid • Temperature: Very Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Drain Fire | |||
Dosage9-30g, up to 90g for high fevers. Brake up & cook for 20-30 minutes before adding other herbs. |
Actions1. Clears heat & drains fire: for high fever without chills, irritability, intense thirst, profuse sweating, a flooding & big pulse, & a red tongue with yellow coating. This condition is identified as one of excess in the qi level of the four levels of disease, or the yang brightness channel stage of the six stages of disease.2. Clears excessive heat from the Lungs: for cough & wheezing with fever & thick, viscous sputum. 3. Clears blazing Stomach fire: for headache, toothache, or swollen & painful gums due to Stomach fire. 4. For eczema, burns, & ulcerated sores: usually applied topically in powdered form after being calcined & mixed with other herbs. |
MeridiansLung, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated for patients with weak stomachs, or when the pulse is minute, or in cases of yang deficiency or heat from yin deficiency. |
Han Shui Shi / Gypsum, Red | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Salty • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Drain Fire | |||
Dosage9-30g |
Actions1. Drains fire & expels summerheat: for high fever, irritability, thirst, & a yellow tongue coating assocaited with summerheat warm -febrile disease.2. Used for burns & sores: applied topically for burns & such problems as sore throat & oral ulcers. |
MeridiansHeart, Stomach, Kidney |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of cold from deficiency of the Spleen or Stomach. |
Hua Shi / Talcum | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Bland • Temperature: Cold • Category: Drain Damp • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage9-18g |
Actions1. Promotes uriantion & drains heat from the Bladder: an important substance in treating hot painful urinary dysfunction or any condition with dark, painful, burning, & scanty urine. Also used for damp-heat generated diarrhea.2. Clears heat & releases summerheat: for summerheat disorder with fever, urinary difficulty, irritability, & thirst. 3. Absorbs dampness: applied topically for damp skin lesions. 4. Expels damp-heat through the urine: used adjunctively for heat in the qi level with dampness manifested in uremitting fevers, a heavy feeling in the body, thirst, & a yellow tongue coating. |
MeridiansStomach, Bladder |
CautionsContraindicated for Spleen qi deficiency or spermatorrhea, for depleted fluids due to a warm-febrile disease, & for excessive urination. Use with caution during pregnancy. Toxicity: can stimulate the growth of granulomas in the colon & vagina. |
Shui Niu Jiao / Water Buffalo Horn, ribboned | |||
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Taste: • Temperature: • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Cool Blood | |||
Dosage |
Actions |
Meridians |
Cautions |
Ling Yang Jiao / Antelope Horn | |||
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Taste: Salty • Temperature: Cold • Category: Extinguish Wind • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage0.9-3g pwdr or pill taken directly, 1.5-4.5g decoction (cook for 1 hour) |
Actions1. Extinguishes wind & controls spasms & convulsions: for the spasms & convulsions associated with childhood convulsions & seizures disorders. Because it also clears heat, it may be used for recalcitrant high fevers & internal movement of wind due to intense heat. It is an important substance for treating internal movement of Liver wind. Commonly used for childhood convulsions due to high fever.2. Calms the Liver & anchors the yang: an important & effective substance for ascendant Liver yang. Symptoms include dizziness, headaches, blurred vision, red eyes, photophobia, spasms, & convulsions. 3. Clears the Liver & improves the vision: for headache & red eyes due to blazing Liver fire. 4. Drains heat & relieves fire toxicity: for warm-febrile diseases with high fever, delirium, manic behavior, & in extreme cases, loss of consciousness. 5. Clears damp-heat: also used for wind-damp-heat painful obstruction. |
MeridiansHeart, Liver |
CautionsNone. |
Dosage information not currently available
Xuan Shen / Scrophularia Root | |||
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Taste: Salty, Sweet, Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Cool Blood | |||
Dosage9-30g |
Actions1. Clears heat & cools the blood: used when heat has entered the blood level of warm-febrile diseases, causing bleeding, fever, dry mouth, & a purplish tongue.2. Nourishes the yin: especially for the sequelae of warm-febrile diseases with such symptoms as constipation & irritability. 3. Drains fire & relieves toxicity: for swollen or red eyes, & especially in extreme cases of sore throat. 4. Softens hardness & dissipates nodules: for neck lumps due to phlegm-fire as well as severe throat pain & swelling. |
MeridiansKidney, Lung, Stomach |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of Spleen or Stomach dampness, or diarrhea due to Spleen deficiency. According to some traditional sources, this herb antagonizes huang qi, gan jiang, da zao, & shan zhu yu. It is also considered to be incompatible with li lu. |
Ci Shi / Magnetite, powdered | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Salty • Temperature: Cold • Category: Calm Shen • Sub Category: Anchor & Settle Shen | |||
Dosage9-30g |
Actions1. Anchors & calms the spirit: for restlessness, palpitations, insomnia, or tremors, especially in patients with yin deficiency & ascendant yang. Also used for dizziness or vertigo in patients with similar patterns. Another application is convulsions in children caused by fear.2. Nourishes the Kidneys, auguments the Liver, & improves hearing & vision: for impaired hearing or deafness, tinnitis, or visual disturbances due to Liver & Kidney deficiency. 3. Aids the Kidneys in grasping the qi: for chronic asthma due to the Kidneys' failure to grasp the qi. |
MeridiansKidney, Liver |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of weak Spleen or Stomach. May antagonize Mu Dan Pi. |
Sheng Ma / Black Cohosh Rhizome (Chinese) - True | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Acrid • Temperature: Cool • Category: Exterior Releasing - Cool • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1.5-9g |
Actions1. Releases the exterior & vents measles: for headache due to exterior wind-heat or the early stages of measles.2. Clears heat & relieves toxicity: for various manifestations of fire toxin in the upper or superficial aspects of the body. It is commonly used for sore teeth, swollen or painful gums, ulcerated lips or gums, canker sores, painful & swollen throat, sores, or blotches from warm-febrile diseases. 3. Raises the yang & lifts the sunken: for middle qi deficiency leading to such symptoms as shortness of breath, fatigue, & prolapse. Also used as a messenger to guide the effects of other herbs upward. |
MeridiansLarge Intestine, Lung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of heat due to yin deficiency, & for patterns where the upper is excessive & the lower is deficient. Also contraindicated in cases of fully erupted measles, & in patients with breathing difficulty. Toxicity: Overdose in humans causes headaches, dizziness, vomiting, tremor, gastroenteritits, & pathogenic erections. |
Zhi Gan Cao / Licorice Root, honey-baked | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage2-12g |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: commonly used for Spleen deficiency with shortness of breath, lassitude, & loose stools. Also for qi or blood deficiency patterns with an irregular or intermittent pulse & /or palpitations.2. Moistens the Lungs & stops coughing: for coughing & wheezing. Because of its neutral properties, it can be used for either heat or cold in the Lungs. 3. Clears heat & relieves fire toxicity: used raw for carbuncles, sores, or sore throat due to fire toxin. For this purpose, it can be taken internally or applied topically. 4. Moderates spasms & alleviates pain: for painful spasms of the abdomen or legs. 5. Moderates & harmonizes the characteristics of other herbs: by virtue of its sweet, neutral, & moderating properties, this herb moderates hot & cold herbs, & mitigates the violent properties of other herbs. Since it is said to enter all 12 primary channels, it can lead & conduct other herbs into the channels. 6. Used as an antidote for a variety of toxic substances, both internally & topically. 7. The raw root clears heat & relieves toxicity, the honey-fried tonifies the middle & moderates spasms. |
MeridiansAll 12 channels (principally the Heart, Lung, Spleen, & Stomach) |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of excess dampness, nausea, or vomiting. May be in compatible with jing da ji, yuan hua, gan sui, & hai zao, & may antagonize yuan zhi. The toxicity of gan cao is very low, but if taken long-term it may cause hypertension &/or edema. Glycyrrhetinic acid has been reported to cause a reduction in the activity of the thyroid & a reducation in the basal metabolic rate. |
Mu Xiang / Saussurrea or Aucklandia Root | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Regulate Qi • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1.5-9g |
Actions1. Promotes the movement of qi & alleviates pain: for Speen or Stomach stagnant qi with such symptoms as lack of appetite, epigastric or abdominal pain or distention, nausea, & vomiting. Also used for stagnant Liver or Gallbladder qi with such symptoms as flank pain, distention, or soreness.2. Adjusts & regulates stagnant qi in the Intestines: for diarrhea & dysentric disrders, or for abdominal pain & tenesmus. Because of its slightly astringent property, this is a common herb for treatnig tenesmus. 3. Strengthens the Spleen & prevents stagnation: used with tonifying herbs to ameliorate their side effects. Especially useful when the transformative & transportive functions of the Spleen are weak. |
MeridiansGallbladder, Large Intestine, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency or depleted fluids. |
Chen Xiang / Aquilaria Resin, Aloeswood (High) | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Regulate Qi • Sub Category: Aromatic | |||
Dosage1.5-3g |
Actions1. Promotes the movement of qi & alleviates pain: for stagnant qi patterns with such symptoms as distention, pain, or a feeling of pressure in the epigastric or abdominal region. Especially useful for problems due to cold from deficiency or blood stasis.2. Directs rebellious qi downward & regulates the middle: for rebellious qi wheezing of either the excessive or deficient type, or vomiting, belching, or hiccoughs due to cold from deficiency of the Stomach or Spleen. 3. Aids the Kidneys in grasping the qi: for asthma & wheezing due to Kidney deficiency. |
MeridiansKidney, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of prolapse due to qi deficiency, & in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs. |
Ding Xiang / Clover Flower Bud | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warms • Category: Warm Interior & Expel Cold • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1.5-4.5g, or 0.5-1g when taken directly as pwdr |
Actions1. Warms the middle burner & directs rebellious qi downward: for Stomach cold with vomiting, hiccough, abdominal pain, & diarrhea, & for Spleen or Stomach cold from deficiency with lack of appetite, vomiting, & diarrhea.2. Warms the Kidneys & aids the yang: for impotence or clear vaginal discharge due to yang deficiency of the Kidneys. This type of vaginal discharge is regarded as a manifestation of womb cold from deficiency & is usually accompanied by weakness in the legs. |
MeridiansKidney, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of febrile diseases & yin deficiency. Do not combine with yu jin. |
Dosage information not currently available
Mang Xiao / Mirabilite, Glauber's Salt | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Bitter, Salty • Temperature: Very Cold • Category: Downward Draining • Sub Category: Purgative | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Purges accumulation & guides out stagnation: for heat in the Stomach & intestines with constipation, this substance moistens dryness & softens hardness.2. Clears heat & reduces swelling: for red, swollen, painful eys; painful, swollen, ulcerated mouth or throat; & red, swollen skin lesions including breast problems. |
MeridiansStomach, Large Intestine |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of heat excess, Spleen deficiency, in the elderly, during pregancy, post partum, & during menstruation. |
Dosage information not currently available
Huang Jing / Polygonatum Rhizome, Siberian Solomon Seal | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage6-18g |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen qi & augments the Spleen yin: for Spleen & Stomach qi deficiency with lassitude, fatigue, & loss of appetite. Also for Spleen & Stomach yin deficiency with dry mouth, loss of appetite, loss of taste, dry stools, & a dry, red tongue.2. Moistens the Lungs: for dry cough with little sputum production due to Lung qi & yin deficiency. Also for coughs due to consumption. 3. Tonifies the Kidneys & augments the essence: for Kidney deficiency & waning essence with lower back pain, lightheadedness, & weakness of the lower extremities. 4. Also used for wasting & thirsting disorder. |
MeridiansKidney, Lung, Spleen |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of Spleen deficiency with dampness, or in cases of poor digestion. |