Sappan Wood … Classic Formulas
Su Mu · Lignum Sappan
Primary Actions
- Invigorates blood and dispels stasis ... Su Mu is used for amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, postpartum retained lochia, and fixed pain from blood stasis.
- Reduces swelling and alleviates pain after trauma ... fractures, contusions, and sprains are among the classic injury contexts for this red heartwood medicine.
- Opens the collaterals and helps restore circulation through damaged tissue ... especially when bruising, swelling, and pain coexist.
Classic Formulas
- Postpartum blood-stasis combinations with Dang Gui, Tao Ren, and Hong Hua ... common traditional logic for retained lochia and pain.
- Trauma formulas pairing Su Mu with Ru Xiang and Mo Yao ... a standard strategy for bruising, fracture, and swelling.
- Amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea prescriptions ... Su Mu appears when clotted, fixed, or stasis-type pain predominates.
Classical Text References
- Traditional Chinese herbology places Su Mu among the blood-invigorating woods used for traumatic injury, postpartum stagnation, and painful blood stasis.
- Its red color and heartwood identity are repeatedly linked in classical commentary to blood-level movement and swelling reduction.
- Modern teaching generally describes Su Mu as gentler than some stronger stasis-breakers while still being clearly pregnancy-cautioned.