Su He Xiang (苏合香) — Styrax Resin | TCM Herb Guide

At a Glance

• Herb: Su He Xiang
• Chinese name: 苏合香 (Sū Hé Xiāng)
• Latin name: Styrax
• Nature: Warm
• Taste: Acrid / Sweet
• Meridian: Heart / Spleen
• Category: Herbs that Open the Orifices
• Introduction: Su He Xiang (苏合香), Styrax, is the balsamic resin from the trunk of Liquidambar orientalis, imported from Turkey and the Middle East. A warm aromatic orifice-opener, it is the chief herb for cold-type collapse patterns — cold phlegm obstructing the orifices presenting as sudden loss of consciousness with cold limbs and absence of fever. It also moves qi, disperses cold, and relieves pain. Its cinnamic acid esters and styrene compounds exhibit cardioprotective, anti-platelet, and antimicrobial properties in modern research.

Action

• Opens orifices and revives consciousness (cold-type)
• Moves qi and disperses cold
• Relieves pain from cold-qi stagnation
• Resolves phlegm and removes turbidity

Clinical Application

• Cold-type orifice obstruction (闭证寒闭): sudden unconsciousness with cold limbs, pale face, no fever — chief herb in Su He Xiang Wan
• Chest pain and angina from cold-phlegm and qi stagnation — combines with She Xiang, Bing Pian
• Abdominal pain from cold-qi obstruction — combines with Mu Xiang, Ding Xiang, Xiao Hui Xiang
• Epilepsy from cold-phlegm disturbing the orifices — combines with Ban Xia, Tian Nan Xing
• Cold-damp chest bi (chest obstruction) — combines with Gui Zhi, Zhi Shi

Precautions

• Dosage: 0.3–1 g per dose in pills; not suitable for decoction
• Contraindicated in pregnancy
• Contraindicated in heat-type orifice obstruction (use Angong Niuhuang Wan instead)
• Contraindicated in yin deficiency with heat or deficiency fire
• Aromatic warm nature — avoid in febrile patients or those with exuberant heat
• Must differentiate cold-type (寒闭) from heat-type (热闭) collapse before use

Formula

• Su He Xiang Wan (苏合香丸): Su He Xiang, She Xiang, Bing Pian, An Xi Xiang, Mu Xiang, Ding Xiang, Xiang Fu, Bai Zhu, Zhu Sha, Ru Xiang, He Zi, Tan Xiang, Chen Xiang — opens orifices for cold-type collapse; the paired formula to Angong Niuhuang Wan
• She Xiang Bao Xin Wan: Su He Xiang combined with She Xiang and Ren Shen — modern angina formula
• Guan Xin Su He Wan (冠心苏合丸): Su He Xiang, Bing Pian, Ru Xiang, Tan Xiang, Mu Xiang — treats angina pectoris

Combinations

• Storax (苏合香) + Musk (麝香) + Benzoin (安息香) → Su He Xiang Wan (苏合香丸): warm orifice opening; cold-phlegm stroke and sudden fainting
• Storax (苏合香) + Borneol (冰片) + Sandalwood (檀香) → warm the orifices, move qi; cold-type chest pain and epigastric pain with fainting

Pharmacological Effects

• Cns stimulant
  • opens orifices — cold-type syncope, stroke
• Bronchodilatory and expectorant
  • cinnamic acid derivatives
• Anti-inflammatory; antimicrobial
  • broad spectrum
• Cardioprotective
  • improves coronary blood flow — used for angina
• anticonvulsant; antifungal; warming and moving — for cold-type blockage patterns

Classic Description

• Ming Yi Bie Lu (《名医别录》): ‘Governs repelling malevolence, killing malignant spirit entities, warm malaria, parasite toxin, epileptic spasms, removing the three parasites, eliminating pathogenic qi, and preventing nightmares.’
• Ben Cao Gang Mu (《本草纲目》): ‘Storax moves and penetrates; opens all orifices and organs; treats phlegm reversal with sudden collapse, wind stroke, qi stroke, malevolent stroke, ghost confusion, and warm malaria.’
• Ben Cao Bei Yao (《本草备要》): ‘Moves and penetrates; opens all orifices; repels foul and turbid qi; opens depression and disperses stagnation; treats sudden fainting, phlegm reversal, qi reversal, and stroke patterns.’