She Xiang - 麝香 - Moschus
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Moschus |
| Common English: | Musk |
Category
Aromatic Substances that Open the OrificesProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Acrid | Warm (Hot) Aromatic | Heart Spleen Liver (All 12 Meridians) | 0.03-0.1g Tincture: 5-7 drops |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Strongly opens the Orifices and Luo vessels, revives the Spirit and unblocks closed disorders | Ying Stage Heat Attacks the Pericardium due to a Warm pathogen disease with convulsions, delirium, stupor and fainting Closed disorders (Yang Obstruction, Yin Obstruction, Phlegm Obstruction) Tetanic collapse Seizures |
Alleviates pain, Detoxifies, Dissipates masses, Invigorates the Blood, Opens the channels, Reduces swellings | Severe problems due to Blood Stasis including fixed palpable masses, toxic sores and carbuncles Obstructions of the channels and collaterals due to traumatic injury or painful obstruction Coronary artery disease |
Hastens delivery and facilitates the passage of stillborns (induces abortion) | Labor Dead fetus or placenta fail to descend |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Cornu Rhinoceri | Calculus Bovis | Cornu Saigae Tataricae |
Sudden loss of consciousness and coma due to extreme Heat or Wind-Stroke. | Closed disorders from Phlegm-Heat or Heat Sinking into the Pericardium. | Blazing Heat in the Pericardium stirring up Liver Wind with spasms and convulsions. |
| Calculus Bovis | Styrax | Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae |
Loss of consciousness and convulsions secondary to fevers in children. | Cold closed disorders usually due to Cold-Dampness or Phlegm-Turbidity. | Amenorrhea. |
| Hirudo | Rx. Aucklandiae | Olibanum Or Olibanum |
Severe Blood Stasis problems including fixed abdominal masses. | Sudden, severe chest and abdominal pain. Angina pectoris or arteriosclerosis due to Blood Stagnation in the chest. | Trauma induced injury and suppurating sores. |
Rx. Paeoniae Rubra | Margarita | Rx. Angelicae Pubescentis |
Immobile abdominal masses, and amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea due to Blood Stasis. Organomegaly. | Severe hot sores and ulcerations, especially of the throat. | Severe Wind-Damp Bi. |
Faeces Trogopterori | Cx. Cinnamomi | Styrax |
Scrofula and Phlegm nodules. | Hastens delivery of stillborns or the placenta. | Revives closed patterns of Wind-Stroke or Phlegm Collapse. Cramps and spasms in the channels due to miasmic Damp Qi of mountain mists. |
Calculus Bovis | Calculus Bovis | Concretio Bambusae Silicea |
Coma due to Heat. Sore throat. | Impaired consciousness due to Heat and Phlegm, stroke, convulsions and/or heat stroke. | Infantile convulsions. |
Cornu Saigae Tataricae | Styrax | Olibanum |
Tremors and convulsions. | Impaired consciousness due to Cold and Phlegm. | Carbuncles, sores and hot swellings. |
Notes
- Since the source animal is endangered and the herb is very costly, nearly all product sold commercially comes either from farmed deer or from synthetic muscone.
- Its strongly aromatic, penetrating quality makes this substance useful for a broad range of conditions in which consciousness is impaired.
- Paralysis of the Intestines is another condition it addresses.
- For immobile palpable masses or organomegaly, it may be given as a single herb.
- Prized for congestion of Blood and Phlegm, it appears in many patent medicines.
- Its uses include stimulating circulation and “removing filth”.
- According to one source, it is used for gastritis.
- Research indicates that it inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
- Tradition holds that it cures all kinds of diseases and dispels all kinds of foul odors.
- It is further said to activate all the senses and channels and to cure every sort of retention and abdominal mass.
- One source reports that stomatoma can be cured in three days by taking 3g of the powdered herb with water.
- Of all herbs in the Chinese materia medica, this one is the most intensely aromatic and penetrating.
- Both internal and topical use are possible.
- It is said that this herb must never be boiled.
- Its capacity to invigorate Blood, reduce swelling, unblock Stagnation, stop pain, prevent necrosis and reduce inflammation makes it highly effective for toxic swollen sores, abscesses, traumatic injuries, swelling and pain from stagnant Blood, mobile and fixed abdominal masses, and amenorrhea.
- She Xiang and Borneolum Bing Pian are both acrid, mobile and piercing, and both open the Orifices and awaken the Spirit. They are frequently paired for loss of consciousness, delirium accompanying febrile diseases, fainting from Summerheat, Wind-Stroke, and swollen sores from Heat toxin. She Xiang has a stronger action in opening the Orifices, awakening the Spirit, invigorating the Blood, unblocking the collaterals, and reducing and dispersing Qi and Blood Stagnation. It is used for hematomas, traumatic injury, and abdominal masses or amenorrhea from Blood Stasis. Bing Pian dissipates Fire constraint to reduce swelling and stop pain, and is used for sore red eyes, mouth ulcers and toothache.
- She Xiang and Styrax Su He Xiang share an acrid, warm, aromatic nature, and both open the Orifices and awaken the Spirit. She Xiang is the stronger of the two at opening the Orifices, awakening the Spirit and unblocking the channels and collaterals, so it is used for Qi and Blood Stagnation with swelling and pain. Su He Xiang is stronger at clearing filth and expelling Phlegm, so it is used for turbid, filthy Qi and for Wind-Stroke in which excess Phlegm causes loss of consciousness.
From Class
- Orifice-opening substances: She Xiang, Niu Huang, Su He Xiang, Bing Pian: Orifice-opening aromatics (She Xiang, Niu Huang, Su He Xiang, Bing Pian) arouse shen but deplete jing long-term — use only in emergencies, then rebuild jing. (Yuen)
- She Xiang / Niu Huang substitutes: Su He Xiang, Shi Chang Pu, Bing Pian: For closed (bi) syndrome in the dying: replace warming musk with styrax or acorus; replace cooling Niu Huang with tiny amounts of borneol. (Yuen)
- She Xiang San / Cinnabaris-Musk Powder: Golden Mirror formula for postnatal psychosis: Ren Shen, Huang Qi, Shan Yao, Fu Ling, Yuan Zhi, Fu Shen, Gan Cao, Jie Geng; replace illegal Zhu Sha with Long Chi 12 g. (Maciocia)