Xiao Xu Ming Tang, Minor Prolong Life Decoction, is Ma Huang, Chuan Xiong, Guang Fang Ji, Xing Ren, Fang Feng, Sheng Jiang, Ren Shen, Zhi Fu Zi, Rou Gui, Shao Yao, Huang Qin and Gan Cao. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that release Wind from the skin and channels.

Herb

Amount

3 g

3 g

6 g

9 g

9 g

150 g

3 g

3 g

3 g

6 g

4.5 g

3 g

Actions and indications

Dispels Wind and warms the channels

Windstroke from outside Wind-Cold striking the channels of someone with weak Upright Qi, Yang and Blood; Wind-Damp-Phlegm
Sudden one-sided paralysis, facial asymmetry with deviated mouth and eyes, and slow, slurred speech or stiff tongue
Fever and chills

Unblocks Yang and relaxes spasms

Stiff neck, stiff body, convulsions and muscle spasm, with limited joint movement
Numb muscles and skin, and low back pain
Clouded or lost consciousness, or mild disorientation

Supports the Upright Qi

Tongue pale with a thin white coat; pulse floating and deficient, tight, or wiry and tight

Modern uses

Windstroke, apoplexy and stroke (cerebrovascular accident, cerebral thrombosis, cerebromalacia) and its after-effects
Hemiplegia
Monoplegia
Paralysis
Aphasia
Convulsions
Numbness
Facial paralysis, central and peripheral
Neuralgia
Neuritis
Migraine
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid spondylitis
Chronic gouty arthritis
Hyperplastic arthritis
Arthritis
Arthralgia and panarthralgia
Rheumatism
Wind-Damp and wandering painful obstruction
Low back pain
Hypertension
Edema
Fever
Urticaria
Asthma

Modifications

Tai Yang Windstroke, no sweating, dislikes cold: + ma huang, + xing ren, + fang feng

Tai Yang Windstroke, no sweating, dislikes wind: + gui zhi, + bai shao, + xing ren

Yang Ming Windstroke, fever without sweating: + shi gao, + zhi mu, − zhi fu zi

Yang Ming Windstroke, fever with sweating: + huang qin, + ge gen

Tai Yin Windstroke, cold body without sweating: + zhi fu zi, + gan jiang

Shao Yin Windstroke, fever without sweating: + rou gui, + zhi fu zi, + gan cao

Windstroke not clearly in one channel, touching Shao Yang and Jue Yin, with numb or cramping limbs: + qiang huo, + lian qiao

Disorientation: + fu shen, + yuan zhi

Nagging bone pain with fever: + bai shao, − zhi fu zi

Facial asymmetry: + wu gong

Heavy sweating and dislike of cold: + huang qi, − ma huang

Joint pain worse at night: + dang gui, + tao ren, + huang qi

Show all 18 modifications

Constipation: + zhi shi, + da huang
Slurred speech: + shi chang pu, + zhu li
Nausea: + zhi ban xia
Aching body with convulsions: + qiang huo
Dryness of mouth and tongue: + shi gao, + zhi mu
Migraine: + gan jiang

Cautions

contraindication Windstroke from internal stirring of Liver Wind or rising Liver Yang with Heat

contraindication Hot painful obstruction

caution Ma Huang: not with high blood pressure, heart rhythm disorders, spontaneous sweating or Yin-deficient Heat; it is restricted in some countries

caution Fu Zi is toxic raw; use only properly processed Fu Zi, correctly dosed and cooked, under a qualified practitioner

caution Guang Fang Ji contains aristolochic acid, which damages the kidneys and causes cancer; use Han Fang Ji instead

pregnancy In pregnancy it is best avoided; if used at all, only under close watch by a professional, because it holds Ma Huang, Fu Zi and Rou Gui

caution Stroke is a medical emergency; the formula does not replace emergency care

Pinyin

xiao xu ming tang

English Name

Minor Prolong Life Decoction

xiao xu ming tang

About xiao xu ming tang

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Dispels Wind and warms the channels

Unblocks Yang and relaxes spasms

Supports the Upright Qi

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification