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Cura x Cura

Zi Xue紫雪

Purple Snow Powder

Opening the Orifices 开窍剂Cool Opening 凉开

Ingredients13 herbs

黄黄金3.1kg
寒Han Shui Shi寒水石1.5kg臣 DeputyCold and heavy; clears heat and eases restlessness with Shi Gao石Shi Gao石膏1.5kg臣 DeputyAcrid and very cold — clears blazing heat from the qi level磁Ci Shi磁石1.5kg佐 AssistantHeavy and settling; anchors a floating spirit and calms fright滑Hua Shi滑石1.5kg臣 DeputyLeads heat out through the urine玄Xuan Shen玄参500g臣 DeputyCools the nutritive level and protects the fluids the heat is consuming羚Ling Yang Jiao羚羊角屑150g君 ChiefCools the Liver and extinguishes the wind behind the convulsions — the action that sets this formula apart
犀Shui Niu Jiao犀角水牛角代，屑150g君 ChiefCools the blood and clears heat from the Pericardium; replaces the banned rhinoceros horn of the original
升Sheng Ma升麻500g臣 DeputyResolves fire toxin and vents heat outward沉Chen Xiang沉香150g佐 AssistantAromatic; moves qi and directs the heavy minerals downward丁Ding Xiang丁香30g佐 AssistantA small warm aromatic that settles the stomach against so much cold青青木香150g佐 Assistant甘Gan Cao甘草炙240g佐使 Assistant–EnvoyHarmonizes a harsh formula and protects the stomach from the minerals

Indications

Clears heat and resolves toxicityOpens the orifices and restores consciousnessExtinguishes wind and stops convulsionsDrains heat downward through the bowel

Heat toxin sunk into the Pericardium with extreme heat stirring Liver wind. The distinguishing feature against the other two treasures is the convulsion: rigidity, arching of the back, clenched jaw and twitching limbs on top of the loss of consciousness.

Clinical Manifestations

  • High fever with coma and convulsions
  • Febrile convulsions in children with rigidity
  • Delirium in severe warm-disease with constipation
  • Heat stroke with spasm and clouded consciousness
  • Mouth and throat ulceration from blazing fire toxin
TongueCrimson with a dry yellow coating
PulseWiry and rapid, or rapid and forceful

Health Categories

Heart & CirculationCognitive & Memory SupportCold & Flu Relief

Modern Applications

Febrile seizuresEncephalitisMeningitisHeat strokeDeliriumConvulsions

Common adjustments

  • Phlegm rattling and heavy breathing dominate over the spasm — Zhi Bao Dan addresses the turbid phlegm more directly; where a decoction can be given, Dan Nan Xing 胆南星 is added
  • Heat toxin blazing without much wind sign — An Gong Niu Huang Wan is the stronger heat-and-toxin choice of the three
  • Fluids visibly damaged — parched tongue, no urine — fluid-generating herbs are given alongside, e.g. Xuan Shen 玄参 in an accompanying decoction
  • Loose stools already present — the mineral salts must be reduced or the formula reconsidered — this preparation purges, and it is unsuited to a patient already emptying downward

Contraindications

Contraindicated in collapse patternsand in any clouded state arising from deficiency or cold rather than heat. Its salts purge, so it is wrong for a patient with diarrhoea, and wrong for the frail elderly or the postpartum without a physician's explicit decision. The cinnabar it contains means it cannot be repeated in overlapping courses or used as a routine fever medicine — mercury accumulates. Do not combine it with other cinnabar-containing preparations, and use particular care in known kidney impairment. As with the whole chapter, this treats a crisis; it does not replace emergency medical assessment.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Contraindicated in pregnancy. She Xiang musk is a classical abortifacient, Zhu Sha cinnabar carries mercury across to the fetus, and the mineral salts purge strongly enough to threaten a pregnancy on their own. Not for use while breastfeeding. Any convulsive crisis in pregnancy is an obstetric emergency to be managed medically, not with this formula.

Related Formulas

References

Source 苏恭方，录自《外台秘要》 · Tang

  1. Classical source (public domain) — 《外台秘要》, Tang dynasty, also carried in 《太平惠民和剂局方》.
    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）— pattern analysis cross-checked.
    4. CITES Appendices (rhinoceros, musk deer, saiga antelope) and regulatory withdrawals of aristolochic-acid herbs — substitution notes.

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.