INDIVIDUAL HERBS

NAME: SU MU - 蘇木 - LIGNUM SAPPAN

Pharmaceutical Latin: Lignum Sappan
Common English: Sappan Wood
Brazil Wood

CATEGORY

Herbs that Regulate Blood: Herbs that Invigorates Blood

PROPERTIES

Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Sweet
Salty
Acrid
(Slightly Acrid)
Neutral
Heart
Liver
Spleen
3-10g
Maximum dosage: 15g

ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS

Actions Indications/Syndromes

Invigorates Blood circulation, dispels Blood Stasis, reduces swellings, opens the channels and alleviates pain

Blood Stasis such as postpartum abdominal pain and amenorrhea

Pain and swelling due to Blood Stasis from fall, fractures, contusions or sprains

Stops bleeding

Excessive postpartum bleeding

*CONTRAINDICATIONS, INCOMPATIBILITIES AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated during pregnancy.
  • Contraindicated for those with menorrhagia.
  • Contraindicated for those without Blood Stasis.
  • Contraindicated for those whose lochia has been cleared.
  • Contraindicated for those with abdominal pain due to Blood Deficiency.
  • Extremely large doses can cause coma and death.
  • Do not store in an iron container.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

MAJOR COMBINATIONS

Olibanum
Ru Xiang
Myrrh
Mo Yao

or

Myrrh
Mo Yao
Sanguis Draconis
Xue Jie

Rz. Curcumae
E Zhu

Hb. Artemisiae Anomalae
Liu Ji Nu
Fr. Liquidamberis
Lu Lu Tong

Trauma-induced pain and swelling.

Strongly promotes the movement of Qi and Blood, breaks up Blood Stagnation and stops pain for abdominal pain from Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis.

Topically as a wash, for trauma-induced pain and swelling.

Rx. Codonopsis
Dang Shen
Tub. Ophiopogonis
Mai Men Dong

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Rx. Paeoniae Rubra
Chi Shao
Flos Carthami
Hong Hua

Flos Carthami
Hong Hua

Excessive postpartum bleeding with dizziness, blurred vision, vertigo and shortness of breath.

Blood Stasis causing dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea and postpartum abdominal pain.

Promotes the movement of Blood and unblocks menstruation.

Traumatic injury with painful, swollen bruises or hematomas.

Coronary Heart disease.

Ram. Mori
Sang Zhi
Flos Carthami
Hong Hua
Rx. Paeoniae Rubra
Chi Shao
Flos Carthami
Hong Hua
Pheretima
Di Long
Rz. Curcumae Longae
Jiang Huang
Arisaema cum Bile
Dan Nan Xing

Fr. Trichosanthis
Gua Lou
Bul. Allii Macrostemi
Xie Bai
 Lignum Santali Albi
Tan Xiang
Faeces Trogopterori
Wu Ling Zhi
Flos Carthami
Hong Hua
Pollen Typhae
Pu Huang
Rx. Polygalae
Yuan Zhi
Sm. Arecae
Bing Lang

 

Paralysis.

Hemiplegia.

Chest and abdominal pain.

 

NOTES

  1. This herb is usually used in formulas for Blood Stasis with pain.
  2. This is the heart wood of the Caesalpinia Sappan.
  3. Some sources say that this herb opens the channels and reduces inflammation.
  4. Some sources say that this herb expels Wind and harmonizes the Blood.
  5. Both Su Mu and Flos Carthami Hong Hua are similar in their actions. Hong Hua is slightly warm and harmonious while Su Mu is slightly cool.