Sang Piao Xiao San
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
桑螵蛸散 · Sāng Piāo Xiāo Sǎn
Formula for Kidney deficiency with insecurity of the Bladder and Essence, presenting with frequent urination, enuresis, spermatorrhea or cloudy urine, often with Heart-Kidney disharmony signs.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Astringent Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Kidney Yang Deficiency
- Primary Function
- Tonify Kidney, astringe Essence, stop leakage
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Tonify Kidney, astringe Jing and stop leakage (urine/sperm)
- Classical Source
- Ben Cao Yan Yi (Song dynasty) / traditional
- Available as Granules
- Yes
Formula Overview
Formula for Kidney deficiency with insecurity of the Bladder and Essence, presenting with frequent urination, enuresis, spermatorrhea or cloudy urine, often with Heart-Kidney disharmony signs.
Therapeutic Principle
Traditionally selected when Kidney deficiency leakage is accompanied by Heart-Kidney disharmony, with frequent urination alongside forgetfulness and restlessness — broader than Suo Quan Wan, which addresses urinary leakage alone, and less Essence-focused than Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan.
Composition: Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, Envoy
Every herb in the formula, grouped by the job it does in the classical hierarchy.
君SovereignTreats the main pattern
臣MinisterReinforces the sovereign
龍骨Long Gu15g
Dragon Bone / Fossilized Bone- astringes
- tranquilizes the heart and calms the mind
龜板Gui Ban15g
Tortoise Plastron- nourishes yin and anchors yang
佐/使Assistant & EnvoyTreats accompanying patterns, harmonises the whole
人參Ren Shen9g
Ginseng Root- strongly supplements the original qi
茯神Fu Shen9g
Poria with Pine Root- tranquilizes the heart and calms the mind
遠志Yuan Zhi9g
Polygala Root- tranquilizes the heart and calms the mind
當歸Dang Gui9g
Chinese Angelica Root- regulates and supplements heart blood
石菖蒲Shi Chang Pu6g
Grassleaf Sweetflag Rhizome- opens the orifices and calms the mind
Classical Composition
- Mantidis Ootheca (Sang Piao Xiao) 1 liang (30g)
- Polygalae Radix (Yuan Zhi) 1 liang (30g)
- Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma(Chang Pu) 1 liang (30g)
- Draconis Os (Long Gu) 1 liang (30g)
- Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Ren Shen) 1 liang (30g)
- Poria (Fu Shen) 1 liang (30g)
- Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Dang Gui) 1 liang (30g)
- Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum (Gui Jia) 1 liang (30g)
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Harmonizes and supplements the heart and the kidney
- consolidates essence and arrests emission and urination.
Indications
- Sang Piao Xiao San is indicated for a pattern of both heart and kidney deficiency.
- Signs and symptoms include frequent urination, turbid urine, enuresis, spontaneous seminal emission, absent-mindedness, poor memory, a pale tongue with white coating and a thready, thin pulse.
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- This pattern is caused by deficiency of both the heart and kidney and failure of the water and fire to interact.
- The kidney governs water and stores the essence.
- Therefore, when the essence is not contained due to kidney deficiency and the bladder fails to ensure retention, problems such as frequent urination and enuresis occur.
- When the essence is not stored and controlled properly due to kidney deficiency, disorders involving seminal emission, spontaneous seminal emission, or turbid colored urine will manifest.
- The consumption of kidney essence leads to kidney qi deficiency and fails to move upward and interact with the heart.
- This leads to heart deficiency.
- Together, these two circumstances cause malnourishment of the spirit and symptoms such as poor memory and forgetfulness.
- If this is not corrected in time, it will eventually impair the body’s essence, blood, and original qi.
Clinical presentation
- This type of deficiency is observed by a pale tongue body, a white tongue coating, and a deficient, weak pulse.
Treatment strategy
- The treatment is to harmonize and supplement the heart and kidney, consolidate essence, and arrest emission and urination.
How does this formula compare?
Clinical Perspective
Sang Piao Xiao San addresses leakage from Kidney deficiency with some Heart calming. Suo Quan Wan is simpler for enuresis/frequent urination. Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan focuses more on securing Essence. Si Shen Wan is for daybreak diarrhea from Kidney-Spleen Yang deficiency.
Clinical Differentiation
- Sang Piao Xiao San is commonly used to treat deficiency of the heart and kidney.
- This clinical pattern is marked by frequent urination or enuresis, absent-mindedness, pale tongue with white coating, thready and weak pulse.
Safety notes: It is not applicable for frequent urination, enuresis, seminal emission, or premature ejaculation caused by damp-heat accumulation in the lower jiao, or frenetic stirring of ministerial fire.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actions of Sang Piao Xiao San?
Sang Piao Xiao San has the actions of regulating and tonifying the Heart and Kidney, stabilizing Jing, and stopping leakage of urine and semen. It treats insecurity that comes from Heart and Kidney failing to communicate, not from Damp-Heat or empty Fire alone.
Which modern diseases is Sang Piao Xiao San suited to?
Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within Heart-Kidney deficiency, including pediatric enuresis of deficiency type, frequent or cloudy urination, seminal emission with forgetfulness, and neurasthenia or poor concentration accompanied by leakage of urine or Essence.
Is Sang Piao Xiao San suitable for improving frequent urination, cloudy urine, and poor memory together?
For presentations of frequent urination or urine that looks like rice-washing water, enuresis or seminal emission, absent-mindedness and poor memory, a pale tongue with white coating, and a thin weak pulse — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms Heart and Kidney deficiency — TCM commonly applies Sang Piao Xiao San as an adjunct. It cannot replace evaluation of urinary infection, diabetes, or neurological disease.
Related Products
Nong's Sang Piao Xiao San (Mantis Egg-Case Powder) 5:1 Concentrated Granules
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Sang Piao Xiao San: Classic TCM Formula for Heart & Kidney Deficiency, Frequent Urination & Enuresis
Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan: Classic TCM Formula for Kidney Deficiency, Spermatorrhea & Premature Ejaculation
Si Shen Wan: Classic TCM Formula for Kidney Yang Deficiency & Early Morning Diarrhea
Suo Quan Wan: Classic TCM Formula for Frequent Urination, Enuresis & Kidney Deficiency
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Medical Disclaimer
For general TCM education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified TCM practitioner or licensed healthcare provider before use, especially if pregnant, nursing, on medication, or managing a chronic condition.