Xiao Feng San: Herbal Relief for Itchy Skin Conditions
Hongji Medical- Jan 30
- 6 min read
Xiao Feng San, or Wind-Dispersing Powder, is a classic Chinese herbal formula from Surgery Authentic by Ming Dynasty physician Chen Shigong. Renowned in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating skin conditions like eczema and hives, this formula dispels wind, clears heat, removes dampness, and nourishes blood.
With a blend of herbs that soothe itching and calm rashes, Xiao Feng San remains a trusted remedy for acute skin issues, offering both ancient wisdom and modern therapeutic benefits.
What’s in Xiao Feng San?
Xiao Feng San combines thirteen herbs, structured by the TCM principle of monarch, minister, assistant, and messenger, to address skin inflammation and itching. The ingredients and their roles are:
Monarch Herbs
Black Mustard Seed (Jing Jie): Pungent and warm, black mustard seed dispels wind and relieves itching, clearing surface pathogens.
Saposhnikovia Root (Fang Feng): Pungent and warm, saposhnikovia expels wind and dampness, easing skin irritation.
Burdock Seed (Niu Bang Zi): Pungent and cold, burdock seed clears heat and wind, reducing rashes.
Cicada Molting (Chan Tui): Sweet and cold, cicada molting disperses wind and soothes itching, calming skin flare-ups.
Minister Herbs
Sophora Root (Ku Shen): Bitter and cold, sophora clears heat and dries dampness, reducing inflammation.
White Atractylodes (Bai Zhu): Warm and bitter, atractylodes dries dampness and strengthens the spleen, preventing fluid buildup.
Akebia Vine (Mu Tong): Bitter and cold, akebia promotes urination to clear damp-heat from the skin.
Assistant Herbs
Gypsum (Shi Gao): Cold and pungent, gypsum clears intense heat and purges fire, cooling inflamed skin.
Anemarrhena Root (Zhi Mu): Bitter and cold, anemarrhena clears heat and nourishes yin, balancing the formula’s drying effects.
Messenger Herbs
Angelica Root (Dang Gui): Sweet and warm, angelica nourishes and moves blood, preventing yin and blood damage.
Rehmannia Root (Sheng Di Huang): Sweet and cold, rehmannia nourishes yin and blood, moisturizing dry skin.
Black Sesame Seed (Hei Zhi Ma): Sweet and neutral, sesame nourishes the liver and kidneys, supporting blood and moisture.
Licorice Root (Gan Cao): Sweet and neutral, licorice detoxifies and harmonizes the formula, reducing irritation.
Preparation
Decoct the herbs in water and drink warm as a tea, or take as a powder or pills, with dosages adjusted based on the patient’s condition.
How It Works
Xiao Feng San targets wind-heat or wind-dampness invading the skin, a TCM condition where external pathogens (wind, heat, dampness) block qi and blood flow, causing itching, rashes, or oozing.
As the ancients said, “Itching comes from wind,” noting wind’s tendency to cause shifting, intense irritation. Heat triggers red rashes, while dampness leads to fluid exudation after scratching. The formula works by:
Dispelling Wind: Black mustard, saposhnikovia, burdock, and cicada clear wind to stop itching.
Clearing Heat: Sophora, gypsum, and anemarrhena cool inflammation and reduce redness.
Removing Dampness: Atractylodes and akebia dry dampness and promote urination, clearing excess fluid.
Nourishing Blood: Angelica, rehmannia, and sesame moisturize the skin, preventing dryness from wind and heat.
This approach, rooted in the TCM principle “treat wind by nourishing blood,” ensures comprehensive relief by addressing both symptoms and underlying imbalances.
What Does It Treat?
Xiao Feng San is used for acute skin conditions caused by wind-heat or wind-dampness, with symptoms including:
Itchy skin with red rashes or cloud-like spots
Oozing fluid after scratching
White or yellow tongue coating
Rapid, floating pulse
These symptoms are common in conditions like hives (urticaria), eczema, or allergic dermatitis, where external pathogens disrupt skin health.
Pathogenesis in TCM
In TCM, wind-heat or wind-dampness invades the skin, lodging between pores and muscles, blocking meridians and impairing qi-blood flow. This causes:
Itching: Wind’s mobile nature triggers shifting irritation.
Rashes: Heat inflames the skin, causing redness.
Oozing: Dampness leads to fluid leakage after scratching.
A white tongue coating signals wind, while yellow indicates heat. Xiao Feng San clears these pathogens while nourishing blood to prevent further damage, as “blood circulation dispels wind.”
Modern Applications
Modern research highlights Xiao Feng San’s immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects, with studies showing it reduces macrophage activity and allergic responses. Clinical uses include:
Acute Skin Conditions: Treats hives, eczema, allergic dermatitis, and drug-induced dermatitis by relieving itching and rashes.
Environmental Dermatitis: Soothes rice field dermatitis or contact dermatitis caused by irritants.
Neurodermatitis: Reduces chronic itching and skin thickening by clearing wind and dampness.
Other Conditions: Supports psoriasis or acute flare-ups of chronic skin issues when wind-heat is present.
Its ability to calm immune overreactions makes it effective for allergic and inflammatory skin disorders.
Comparison with Dang Gui Yin Zi
Xiao Feng San and Dang Gui Yin Zi (Angelica Decoction) both treat skin diseases but differ in focus:
Xiao Feng San: Targets acute skin conditions (hives, eczema) with wind-heat or wind-dampness, emphasizing rapid wind dispersal, heat-clearing, and dampness removal. Symptoms: intense itching, red rashes, oozing.
Dang Gui Yin Zi: Suits chronic skin diseases (chronic eczema, psoriasis) with blood deficiency and wind-dryness, focusing on nourishing blood and moisturizing dryness. Symptoms: dry, scaly skin, mild itching.
Xiao Feng San is ideal for quick relief of acute flare-ups, while Dang Gui Yin Zi supports long-term healing of dry, chronic conditions.
Precautions
Contraindications: Avoid in cases of cold-deficiency skin conditions (pale, cold skin), as warming herbs may aggravate symptoms.
Dietary Restrictions: Avoid spicy, fishy, or greasy foods, alcohol, strong tea, and smoking to enhance efficacy.
External Care: Combine with gentle washing of affected areas using warm (not hot) water or TCM topicals for faster results.
Professional Guidance: Consult a TCM practitioner to ensure proper diagnosis and tailored use, especially for chronic or severe cases.
Conclusion
Xiao Feng San is a powerful Chinese herbal formula for relieving itchy, inflamed skin conditions like hives and eczema. With herbs like black mustard, sophora, angelica, and licorice, it dispels wind, clears heat, removes dampness, and nourishes blood, addressing both symptoms and root causes.
Backed by modern research for its immunosuppressive benefits, it excels in treating acute allergic and inflammatory skin disorders. When used under professional guidance, Xiao Feng San offers natural, effective relief, embodying the timeless wisdom of TCM for healthy, comfortable skin.
Chinese Name | 消風散 |
Phonetic | Xiao Feng San |
English Name | Wind-Dispersing Powder |
Classification | Wind-calming formulas |
Source | 《Orthodox Lineage of External Medicine》Wai Ke Zheng Zong《外科正宗》 |
Combination | Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Dang Gui) 1 qian (6g), Rehmanniae Radix (Sheng Di) 1 qian (6g), Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng) 1 qian (6g), Cicadae Periostracum (Chan Tui) 1 qian (6g), Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhi Mu) 1 qian (6g), Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (Ku Shen) 1 qian (6g), Cannabis Fructus (Hu Ma) 1 qian (6g), Schizonepetae Herba (Jing Jie) 1 qian (6g), Atractylodis Rhizoma (Cang Zhu) 1 qian (6g), Arctii Fructus (Niu Bang Zi) 1 qian (6g), Gypsum Fibrosum (Shi Gao) 1 qian (6g), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gan Cao) 0.5 qian (3g), Akebiae Caulis (Mu Tong) 0.5 qian (3g) |
Method | Prepare the ingredients as a decoction. |
Action | Scatters wind and eliminates dampness, clears heat and nourishes the blood. |
Indication | Xiao Feng San is indicated for rubella and eczema. The symptoms are itching skin, red rashes that affect a large part of the body, fluids that leak upon scratching, a white or yellow tongue coating, and a superficial, rapid pulse. |
Pathogenesis | This formula treats rubella and eczema caused by wind-heat or wind-dampness trapped between the skin, striae, and interstices. Wind, dampness, and heat invade the body and settle in the blood vessels where it is unable to vent externally or drain internally. The symptoms are itching skin, red rashes, fluids that leak upon scratching. The appropriate treatment is to scatter wind, clear heat, and eliminate dampness; scattering wind is the primary method and clearing heat and eliminating dampness are secondary. |
Application | 1. Essential pattern differentiation Xiao Feng San serves as the common formula used to treat rubella and eczema. This clinical pattern is marked by pruritus, red measles, floating pulse. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders when the patient shows signs and symptoms of wind-heat or wind-damp patterns: acute urticaria, eczema, allergic dermatitis, paddy field dermatitis, drug-induced dermatitis, and neurodermatitis. 3. Cautions and contraindications This formula should not be used to treat rubella due to deficient cold. During the course of treatment, patients are forbidden to take spicy, seafood, cigarettes, wine, or strong tea to ensure good efficacy. |
