Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan活络效灵丹
Fantastically Effective Pill to Invigorate the Collaterals
Ingredients4 herbs
Indications
Qi and blood congealed in the collateralswith pain as the leading sign. The location varies; what is constant is fixed, stabbing pain that refuses pressure and a purplish tongue.
Clinical Manifestations
- Fixed stabbing pain in the chest, epigastrium or abdomen
- Pain and swelling after a blow or sprain
- Aching limbs from stasis in the collaterals
- Breast lumps and nodules
- Non-healing sores and chronic swellings
Health Categories
Modern Applications
Common adjustments
- Traumatic injury with marked bruising — add Su Mu 苏木 and Hong Hua 红花
- Sores or swellings with heat and redness — add Pu Gong Ying 蒲公英 and Tian Hua Fen 天花粉
- Abdominal masses that are hard and long-standing — add San Leng 三棱 and E Zhu 莪术, avoiding both if the patient takes anticoagulants
- Weak stomach that cannot tolerate the resins — reduce Ru Xiang and Mo Yao and take the decoction after food
Contraindications
Not for pain of deficiency that eases with pressure, and not where there is active bleeding or an ulcer in the stomach — Ru Xiang and Mo Yao are irritant and often cause nausea. Undiagnosed lumps must be investigated before they are treated as stasis.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.
Pregnancy
Contraindicated in pregnancy. Ru Xiang and Mo Yao are classically forbidden to pregnant women, and Dan Shen with Dang Gui adds further blood-moving force; together they can stimulate the uterus. The formula also increases bleeding tendency alongside warfarin, direct oral anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs, and Dan Shen in particular is known to potentiate warfarin — that combination should be avoided unless a physician is monitoring it.
Related Formulas
References
Source Yi Xue Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu 《医学衷中参西录》 · Republican China
- Zhang Xi-chun. 《医学衷中参西录》, early twentieth century — original prescription; no quotation reproduced here.
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— 理血剂 · 活血祛瘀, pattern and 配伍 analysis cross-checked.
Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.