Xianmao Pills

[Formula] Curculiginis Rhizoma 1000g (soak in glutinous rice rinse water for five days to remove the reddish water, scrape off the skin with a copper knife, shred, take 500g; in summer, soak for only three days and air-dry away from sunlight), Atractylodis Rhizoma 1000g (soak in rice rinse water

Soak in water for 5 days or 3 days, remove the peel, bake until dry, take 500 g) Iris tectorum flower, Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum 250 g, Zanthoxylum bungeanum (red part) 1000 g (stir-fry with vinegar, take the red part 500 g), Rehmannia glutinosa (processed) 500 g (bake until dry, take 250 g), Platycladus orientalis seed 250 g

[Usage] Grind the above ingredients into a fine powder. Use vinegar-boiled paste to make pills the size of Sterculia platanifolia L. seeds (used here to describe pill size). Alternatively, wine can be used to make the pills. Take 30 to 40 pills, or 50 pills each time, with warm wine on an empty stomach before meals, twice a day. Gradually increase the dosage to 70 to 80 pills.

[Efficacy] Blackens the beard and hair.

[Indications] Graying of beard, hair, and eyebrows.

[Commentary] In this formula, curculiginis rhizoma (Xianmao) is the principal herb, chosen for its ability to warm the Kidney and assist yang, and blacken the beard and hair; rehmanniae radix preparata (Shudi) nourishes yin and replenishes blood, enriches essence and marrow, and blackens the beard and hair; biota tops (Baiziren) is moistening and nourishes the blood to enrich and nourish the beard and hair; atractylodis rhizoma (Cangzhu) and foeniculi fructus (Huixiang) are aromatic and dispel filth; zanthoxyli pericarpium (Jiaohong) inhibits fungi; iris tectorum flower (Malinhua) kills parasites and removes blood stasis; these four herbs are all used to protect the beard and hair. The decoction is boiled with vinegar to take advantage of vinegar’s ability to benefit the blood; it is taken with wine because wine promotes blood circulation and enhances the action of the herbs, facilitating the full expression of their therapeutic effects.

Q1: What are Xianmao pills used for?

A1: Xianmao pills, also known as Curculiginis Rhizoma formulas, are primarily used in traditional Chinese medicine to support kidney yang and strengthen bones and tendons. They are often prescribed for conditions such as impotence, cold pain in the lower back and knees, and frequent urination due to kidney yang deficiency.

Q2: What is the Xianmao pills ingredients list?

A2: The Xianmao pills ingredients list includes Curculiginis Rhizoma (Xianmao) 1000g (soaked in glutinous rice rinse water), Atractylodis Rhizoma (Cangzhu) 1000g (soaked in rice rinse water), Iris tectorum flower, Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum (sweet fennel) 250g, and Zanthoxylum bungeanum (Sichuan pepper, red part) 1000g stir-fried with vinegar. These herbs are prepared through specific soaking and processing methods to enhance their effects.

Q3: What are the benefits of Xianmao pills in traditional Chinese medicine?

A3: In traditional Chinese medicine, Xianmao pills offer benefits such as warming and strengthening kidney yang, expelling cold and dampness, and alleviating rheumatic pain. The formula is commonly used to treat symptoms like lower back and knee cold pain, impotence, and urinary frequency, leveraging Xianmao’s role as a premier yang-tonifying herb.

Q4: How do you take Xianmao pills according to the formula?

A4: The preparation of Xianmao pills involves soaking Curculiginis Rhizoma in glutinous rice rinse water for five days (three days in summer) to remove reddish water, then scraping, shredding, and air-drying. Atractylodis Rhizoma is similarly soaked. The other herbs are processed and combined; the pills are typically taken orally as directed by a TCM practitioner, often with warm water.

Q5: Can Xianmao pills help with kidney yang deficiency?

A5: Yes, Xianmao pills are specifically formulated to address kidney yang deficiency in traditional Chinese medicine. The primary ingredient, Curculiginis Rhizoma (Xianmao), is a potent yang tonic that helps restore vitality, relieve cold pain in the lower back and knees, and improve reproductive functions when combined with supportive herbs like Atractylodis Rhizoma and Zanthoxylum bungeanum.