Sang Piao Xiao 桑螵蛸 — Chinese Herbal Medicine

Sang Piao Xiao (桑螵蛸) At a Glance

• Herb: Sang Piao Xiao
• Chinese name: 桑螵蛸 (Sang Piao Xiao)
• Latin name: Ootheca Mantidis
• Nature: Neutral
• Taste: Sweet
• Meridian: Kidney
• Category: Stop Diarrhea astringent essence

Sang Piao Xiao (桑螵蛸) is the dried egg case of the praying mantis (Tenodera sinensis), collected from mulberry branches in autumn and winter. Classified among the astringent herbs that stabilize and bind, it targets the Kidney channel with a particular strength in securing essence and reducing urinary leakage. Its neutral nature and sweet taste make it well suited for tonifying kidney yang without generating excess heat.

Actions & Therapeutic Effects

• Tonifies kidney yang
• Secures essence and stops spermatorrhea
• Reduces urinary frequency and arrests enuresis
• Stops leukorrhea due to kidney deficiency
• Calms the heart and harmonizes heart-kidney communication (in formula)

Clinical Applications in TCM

• Enuresis and frequent nocturnal urination from kidney yang deficiency — Sang Piao Xiao San (桑螵蛸散, Bencao Yanyi)
• Nocturnal emission and spermatorrhea — combined with Long Gu (龙骨) and Sha Yuan Zi (沙苑子)
• Urinary incontinence in the elderly — paired with Yi Zhi Ren (益智仁) and Fu Pen Zi (覆盆子)
• Heart-kidney disharmony with urinary frequency, poor memory, and mental restlessness — Sang Piao Xiao San with Ren Shen, Fu Shen, Shi Chang Pu, Gui Ban
• Leukorrhea from kidney deficiency — combined with Qian Shi (芡实) and Lian Xu (莲须)
• Impotence and infertility from kidney yang insufficiency — used with Tu Si Zi (菟丝子) and Lu Rong (鹿茸)

Precautions & Safety

• Dosage: 5–10 g in decoction; 1.5–3 g as powder
• Contraindicated in bladder heat with dysuria or difficult urination
• Avoid in yin deficiency with internal heat or fire excess patterns
• Use with caution during pregnancy

Classical TCM Formulas

• Sang Piao Xiao San (桑螵蛸散): Sang Piao Xiao, Yuan Zhi, Shi Chang Pu, Long Gu, Ren Shen, Fu Shen, Dang Gui, Gui Ban — regulates Heart-Kidney, secures essence, and stops enuresis. Source: Ben Cao Yan Yi.
• Suo Quan Wan (缩泉丸): Yi Zhi Ren, Wu Yao, Shan Yao — reduces urination; Sang Piao Xiao often added for stronger astringent action. Source: Fu Ren Liang Fang.
• Shui Lu Er Xian Dan (水陆二仙丹): Qian Shi, Jin Ying Zi — secures essence; Sang Piao Xiao added for spermatorrhea.

Herb Combinations

• Sang Piao Xiao (桑螵蛸) + Long Gu (龙骨): the premier essence-securing pair — Sang Piao Xiao astringes Kidney essence, Long Gu anchors and secures. Source: Sang Piao Xiao San.
• Sang Piao Xiao (桑螵蛸) + Qian Shi (芡实) + Jin Ying Zi (金樱子): triple astringent for spermatorrhea and enuresis. Source: Shui Lu Er Xian Dan.
• Sang Piao Xiao (桑螵蛸) + Yi Zhi Ren (益智仁) + Wu Yao (乌药): warms Kidney and astringes urine for enuresis and frequent nocturnal urination. Source: Suo Quan Wan.
• Sang Piao Xiao (桑螵蛸) + Fu Pen Zi (覆盆子) + Tu Si Zi (菟丝子): astringes while tonifying Kidney — for enuresis and spermatorrhea with deficiency.

Pharmacology & Research

Androgen-like compounds: exert testosterone-mimicking activity supporting kidney yang tonification and reproductive function.
Protein and amino acids: provide nutritive substrate for tissue repair and essence replenishment.
Antidiuretic activity: smooth muscle modulation in the bladder reduces urinary frequency and urgency.
Immune polysaccharides: enhance macrophage phagocytosis and upregulate non-specific immune defense.

Classical Descriptions

• 《神农本草经》：”主伤中疝瘕，阴痿，益精生子，女子血闭腰痛，通五淋，利小便水道。”
• (Shennong Bencao Jing: “Governs damage to the middle with abdominal masses and hernial disorders, impotence; benefits essence to promote fertility; treats blood stasis and lumbar pain in women.”)
• Li Shizhen further notes in 《本草纲目》: “桑螵蛸，肝肾命门药也，功专收涩。” (“Sang Piao Xiao is a medicinal of the liver, kidney, and mingmen; its function specializes in astringing and binding.”)