This formula is a variation of Xiao Feng San. It is more directed to clearing heat and less for histamine responses. Like Xiao Feng San it does four things that all support healthy skin. They work together to address the internal organs as well as the external skin.

1. Nourish the blood to moisturize the skin.
   • This is often the root cause of rashes or dry skin. “Nourishing the blood” doesn’t necessarily mean that you have anemia. The secretions of oil in the skin are considered a subset of the blood. So dry skin is addressed through the blood.
2. Extinguish wind to eliminate itching.
   • When “wind” is said to enter the skin, it may produce the sensation of an insect crawling on the skin, or simply cause itching. This formula includes a few herbs to “extinguish wind” for this reason.
3. Dry damp to address wet or weeping rashes.
   • Dampness arises from a fluid metabolism disregulation in the body. When you are humid inside, it is easy for oozing rashes and sores to arise in your skin. Some itchy rashes also feel wet after you scratch them. This too is dampness.
4. Clear heat to protect the blood and remove redness.
   • Whenever we see redness on the body, we assume that there is “heat” involved. Usually red things are warm to the touch too. So, another goal with red rashes is to locate the heat and remove it.

Ingredients

Dang Gui 當歸 tangkuei, Chinese angelica root Radix Angelicae Sinensis [supports pregnancy]

Sheng Di Huang 生地黃 Chinese foxglove root, rehmannia (fresh),Rehmannia root Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

Jing Jie 荊芥 schizonepeta stem or bud Herba seu Flos Schizonepetae Tenuifoliae

Bai Ji Li – Fr. Tribuli – Dispels Wind and stops itching. – With Dang Gui, Jing Jie and Chan Tui, for eczema with itching.

Chan Tui (when available) – Periostracum Cicadae – Disperses Wind, clears Heat, vents rashes and relieves itching

Ku Shen 苦參 sophora root, flavescent sophora root Radix Sophorae Flavescentis [supports pregnancy]

Zhi Mu 知母 anemarrhena rhizome Rhizoma Anemarrhenae Asphodeloidis

Shi Gao 石膏 gypsum Gypsum Fibrosum

• These two herbs address another potential cause for red rashes, which is internal heat. The shi gao is a mineral that is commonly used in a construction material called “dry wall”. Place your hand on any dry wall you may have around you. It feels cold! Shi gao clears heat from the stomach and the “qi level” which is more body-wide than just the stomach. Zhi mu also clears heat internally, but also nourishes the body fluids which is smart, because heat tends to damage the body fluids. In fact, these two herbs come from “Gypsum Combination” for high fever with great thirst.

Gan Cao 甘草 licorice root Radix Glycyrrhizae [caution]

• As usual, licorice root is added to prevent side-effects or harsh actions of the other ingredients, also helps them to blend like leaving left-over soup in the fridge overnight.