Learn About Chinese Herbs -Mang Xiao (Miscanthus salt)-
Miscanthus salt with Xuanming powder
This product is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. It was originally published in "Shennong's Materia Medica", formerly known as Pu Ni.
Aliases: Pu Xiao, Pi Xiao, Ma Ya Xiao.
Source: Natrium Sulfuricum, a monoclinic natural sodium sulfate (aqueous) produced in inland salt lakes and coastal salt flats full of sodium ions and sulfate ions, and in soil containing sodium sulfate, symbiotic with rock salt, table salt, gypsum, and is produced after being processed and refined.
Origin: Mainly produced in China's coastal salt-producing areas and Sichuan, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and other inland salt lakes, salt wells, rock salt and other places.
Harvesting and processing: select natural crystalline soil nitrate or soil containing a large amount of sodium sulfate, add water to dissolve, place, filter after impurities are precipitated, collect the filtrate, heat and concentrate, or evaporate in the sun, so that the concentration of sodium sulfate in the filtrate is increased to 8~16 degrees of the Pomer's concentration meter, and then crystallize to generate miscanthus nitrate after cooling. Miscanthus nitrate is the peak crystallization period at a temperature of 10~15 °C (so there is a saying that salt is produced in summer and miscanthus nitrate is produced in winter). Natural soil nitrate and crude plain salt contain many impurities, which need to be refined and purified. The purification method is to dissolve the soil nitrate in clean water, add one-tenth of the fresh radish slices to cook together, then filter to remove the radish and impurities, take the filtrate and let it stand to cool, precipitate the crystals, and dry it to be pure miscanthus nitrate. The main ingredient contains sodium sulfate Na2SO4·10H2O。
Character identification: Pure miscanthus nitrate is prismatic or rectangular and small granular, all of which are colorless and transparent. The quality is brittle and easy to break, has no taste and tastes bitter and salty.
This product contains a large amount of crystal water accounting for about 56% of the weight, and the moisture is easy to evaporate and lose in warm and dry air, so it should be stored in a closed manner. If exposed to weather then it forms a white powder on the surface of the crystal (the powder would be a non-anhydrous sodium sulfate, and is called Xuan Ming Fen)
This product is soluble in water or glycerol (the solubility is the largest at 34 °C), insoluble in alcohol. Liquefaction at a temperature of 32.4°C. Continued heating at 100 °C can evaporate all the crystal water contained, and the remaining 44% anhydrous sodium sulfate (i.e., Xuan Ming Fen) will melt without decomposition when heated to 886 °C.
Take a little miscanthus and burn it in the flame, and the flame is yellow.
The aqueous solution of miscanthus nitrate and barium chloride solution immediately produce a white barium sulfate precipitate.
It is better to have blue-white translucent bulk crystals and no impurities.
Main ingredients: sodium sulfate (Na2SO4·), the main component of miscanthus nitrate10H2O), Xuan Ming Fen is pure sodium sulfate.
Pharmacological effects: mainly laxative. Because sodium sulfate is not easily absorbed by the intestinal wall, it is dissolved in water in the intestine to form a hypertonic salt solution, which makes the intestine retain a large amount of water, expands the intestine, and causes the intestinal peristalsis to enhance and defecation. Generally, bowel movements are performed 4~6 hours after taking the drug, and there are no side effects such as intestinal colic. The effect of Xuan Ming Fen is milder than that of Mang Xiao.
Preparation: Raw.
Taste: salty, bitter, cold.
Meridians: Goes into the stomach and large intestine meridians.
Function: Diarrhea and stomach are really hot, moisturizing and dry, soft and firm.
Indications: dry stools, crazy delirium. External use for the treatment of carbuncle swelling and sores, sore throat, mouth sores, red and swollen eyes.
Clinical application
（1） It is used for solid heat constipation, can moisten dryness, soften hard stool, cause diarrhea, and cleanse the solid heat stagnation of the stomach and intestines. It is often combined with Da Huang and other medicines, for example, when the patient's internal heat is blazing and there are manifestations such as ruffian (hard upper abdomen), full (full abdomen), dry (dry and hard feces), solid (hot accumulation constipation), etc., it must be combined with Da Huang, Hou Po, and Zhi Shi, such as used in the formula Da Cheng Qi Tang.
Da Cheng Qi Tang formula is a powerful laxative, and its effect is stronger than that of Xiao Cheng Qi Tang. Experiments have proved that Da Cheng Qi Tang can significantly increase the propulsive peristalsis of the digestive tract, so it can promote defecation, and in rabbit experiments, it was observed that Da Cheng Qi Tang can significantly promote the return of artificial intussusception. In recent years, Chinese medical workers have applied Jia Wei Da Cheng Qi Tang (such as Da Cheng Qi Tang with the addition of Lai Fu Zi, etc.) in the non-surgical treatment of acute intestinal obstruction (mainly dynamic intestinal obstruction), it has obtained good results. However, it should be noted that the diagnosis must be accurate, the pathology is indeed hot, and it is only used for those with severe abdominal pain, constipation, fever, red urine, abdominal refusal to press, pulse Chen Shu, and with a yellow coating on the tongue.
If the patient's internal heat and dry stool are light, you can use Mang Xiao with Da Huang and Gan Cao, such as in the formula Tiao Wei Cheng Chi Tang.
（2） It is used for acute laryngitis in children. When there is a sore throat, it is prepared with Bing Pian, Peng Sha, etc., and after making it a fine powder you can blow or spray it on the affected area.
In addition, Mang Xiao can promote uterine contraction while causing diarrhea, so it is also used for stillbirth, and 24g of Mang Xiao can be used With Ping Wei San formula (Cang Zhu, Hou Po, Chen Pi, Gan Cao) to promote the discharge of stillbirths.
Precautions for use:
（1） Those who have no solid heat should not use Mang Xiao, and constipation caused by old age and weakness should not use Mang Xiao or Xuan Ming Fen. If it is constipation caused by general chronic diseases and physical weakness, when it is necessary to use it, it is only suitable to be used in combination with herbs which tonify and reduce patient weakness.
（2） To treat habitual constipation, Mang Xiao, Xuan Ming Fen is generally not used. However, if it is necessary to strengthen the laxative effect, you can add Xuan Ming Fen on top of the use of Ma Ren, Lou Ren, and Xing Ren.
Dosage: The usual amount is 2.4~12g. Punch suit. 2.4~4.5g for small doses, 9~12g for large doses, if you want to strengthen the laxative effect, you can use 15~24g if necessary.
Prescription examples:
（1） Da Cheng Qi Tang (from "Shan Han Lun"): 12g of raw Da Huang (entered last), Hou Po 9g, Zhi Shi 9g, Xuan Ming Fen 9g (powder entered after decoction), decoction in water.
（2） Jia Wei Da Cheng Qi Tang (from “Tianjin Nankai Hospital”): Chuan Pu 15~30g, Chao Lai Fu Zi 15~30g, Zhi Ke 15g, Tao Ren 9g, Chi Shao 15g, Da Huang 15g (entered last), Mang Xiao 9~15g (powder entered after decoction), decoction in water.
（3） Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang (from "Shan Han Lun"): raw Da Huang 9g (entered last), raw Gan Cao 3g, Xuan Ming Fen 6g (powder entered after decoction), decoction in water.
Xuan Ming Fen (Fen meaning powder)
Aliases: Yuan Ming Fen, Feng Hua Xiao (Meaning weathered nitrate).
Source: Sodium anhydrous sulfate (Na2SO4) formed by weathering and losing crystalline water.
Character identification: white granular crystalline powder. It can be completely dissolved in water into a clear solution. The aqueous solution is added with barium chloride test solution to produce a white precipitate, and the gas is tasteless and salty. The effect is the same as that of Mang Xiao (miscanthus salt).
Note: Huo Xiao (Nitrate), also known as Xiao Suan Jia (saltpeter), is potassium nitrate (KNO3), which is the raw material for making gunpowder, which is different from Mang Xiao (sodium sulfate). It cannot be mixed. This product is an orthorhombic crystal system. Needle-like or hair-like aggregates, sometimes sublimated. White or off-white. It does not contain moisture and does not change in the air.
Case Study: Drinking Ku Ding Tea for High Blood Pressure
Patient： Portia， Female
TCM Diagnosis: Patient complains of High Blood Pressure, last measured at 152/90 before beginning treatment.
TCM Treatment: Only recommended using Ku Ding Tea for adjusting body condition, after 3 days blood pressure measured at 127/72. Patient herself reports not having seen such great numbers since being 39，currently the patient is instructed to continue taking Ku Ding Tea while their progress is monitored.
Disclaimer: All above articles are for reference only. If patients are interested, please consult a professional practitioner Traditional Chinese Medicine for a consultation.