Xiao Luo Wan消瘰丸
Reduce Scrofula Pill
Ingredients3 herbs
Indications
Phlegm-fire nodules on a background of yin deficiency. The lumps are the visible endpoint of fluids thickened by simmering fire, so enriching yin is part of the treatment rather than an afterthought.
Clinical Manifestations
- Beaded nodules along the sides of the neck
- Phlegm nodules under the skin
- Thyroid nodules in a yin-deficient heat pattern
- Dry throat with a red tongue and slippery pulse
- Long-term management of soft, mobile lumps once diagnosed
Health Categories
Modern Applications
Common adjustments
- Nodules firm and long-standing — Xia Ku Cao 夏枯草 and Lian Qiao 连翘 are added
- Liver constraint with rib-side distension and mood changes — Chai Hu 柴胡 and Xiang Fu 香附 are added
- Marked yin deficiency with night sweats and afternoon heat — Sheng Di Huang 生地黄 and Mai Men Dong 麦门冬 are added
- Heat toxin with redness and tenderness over the node — Pu Gong Ying 蒲公英 and Jin Yin Hua 金银花 are added, and the diagnosis is reviewed
Contraindications
Not for nodules from cold-phlegm in a patient with a pale tongue and weak digestion — the bitter cold and rich Xuan Shen will not suit. Use cautiously where the Spleen is weak and stools are loose, as Xuan Shen and Mu Li are both heavy. Not combined with // preparations, since is a partner of aconite. Most importantly: a lump in the neck that is hard, fixed, growing, or accompanied by weight loss, night sweats or fever must be investigated medically before any herbal treatment is considered.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.
Pregnancy
Use in pregnancy only on a practitioner's decision. None of the three herbs is a strong abortifacient, but the formula is cold and Xuan Shen and Mu Li are heavy on a pregnant digestion, and nodules found during pregnancy need a medical diagnosis first. It is not a formula to start in pregnancy on one's own initiative.
References
Source Yi Xue Xin Wu 《医学心悟》 · Qing
- Classical source (public domain) — 《医学心悟》, Qing dynasty, 程国彭.
2. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— 祛痰剂·清热化痰, pattern analysis cross-checked.
3. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
4. Chinese Pharmacopoeia monographs on 浙贝母, 玄参 and 牡蛎 — dose ranges and the 十八反 note on 贝母.
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.