Mu Li San — Oyster Shell Powder

On this page

1. Overview
2. TCM pattern
3. Key herbs
4. Formula actions
5. Conditions treated
6. Cautions

Overview

Mu Li San — the “Oyster Shell Powder” — is from the Song-dynasty Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang. It treats spontaneous and night sweating from combined Qi and Yin deficiency, where the Wei Qi cannot consolidate the exterior and the Yin is too depleted to hold the sweat. The formula uses oyster shell (Mu Li) and dragon bone (Long Gu) to astringe the leaking surface, Huang Qi to tonify Wei Qi and consolidate the exterior, and Fu Xiao Mai (light wheat) and Ma Huang Gen to specifically stop sweating.

I prescribe Mu Li San as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.

TCM pattern

Mu Li San is prescribed for Wei Qi and Yin deficiency with leaking sweat:

• Spontaneous sweating during the day at rest
• Night sweats
• Palpitations
• Easily startled, mild anxiety
• Susceptibility to colds, fatigue
• Possibly insomnia
• Tongue — pale or pale-red, thin coat
• Pulse — thin, weak

Key herbs

1. Mu Li (oyster shell, calcined) — chief; astringes sweat; calms Shen
2. Huang Qi — tonifies Wei Qi; consolidates the exterior
3. Fu Xiao Mai (light wheat) — specifically stops sweating; nourishes Heart Qi
4. Ma Huang Gen (ephedra root, not stem) — specifically stops sweating without dispersing Wei Qi

Formula actions

1. Astringes sweat
2. Tonifies Wei Qi; consolidates the exterior
3. Calms Shen

Conditions treated

1. Spontaneous sweating from Wei Qi deficiency
2. Night sweats with deficient pattern
3. Post-illness sweating during recovery
4. Post-partum sweating
5. Perimenopausal sweating with deficient pattern — see menopause
6. Anxiety with sweating and palpitations
7. Hyperhidrosis with deficient pattern
8. Sweating in chronic fatigue syndrome

Cautions

Ma Huang Gen is the root (not the stem) and does not have the dispersing or stimulant action of Ma Huang — the cautions for the stem do not apply.

Sweating with weight loss, fever, lymphadenopathy or other systemic symptoms needs medical assessment to exclude tuberculosis, lymphoma, hyperthyroidism or infection.

Not appropriate for Heat-pattern sweating (full sweat, thirst, red tongue) without Yin nourishment, or pure Yin deficiency without Wei Qi weakness.

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the RCHM.

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