Mang Xiao (芒硝) — Glauber's Salt / Mirabilite (mineral)

Mang Xiao is a mineral salt (sodium sulfate decahydrate) used in Chinese medicine as a companion to Da Huang in the Cheng Qi purgative formulas. It softens hardened stool osmotically, allowing Da Huang’s purgative Heat-clearing action to work more effectively.

On this page

1. Overview
2. Properties
3. Actions and indications
4. Dosage
5. Cautions and incompatibilities
6. Key formulas
7. Treatment at my clinic

1. Overview

Mang Xiao (芒硝) — Glauber's Salt / Mirabilite (mineral) (Mirabilite (sodium sulfate decahydrate)) — is a Chinese herb in the Purgatives (downward-draining) category. I prescribe it as part of bespoke pharmaceutical-grade granule formulas from Sun Ten in Taiwan at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire and via online herbal consultations.

2. Properties

3. Actions and indications

Principal actions

1. Softens hardness and moistens dry stool (osmotic action)
2. Clears Heat and reduces swelling
3. Guides Fire out through the stool

Indications

1. Constipation with dry hard stool
2. Yang Ming Fu-organ Heat pattern
3. Adjunctive use in early appendicitis (with Da Huang)
4. External use for breast engorgement and mastitis (cold compress)

4. Dosage

6–15g dissolved in the strained decoction (not decocted)

5. Cautions and incompatibilities

1. Contraindicated in pregnancy
2. Not for Spleen-Cold or Qi deficiency patterns
3. Very cold — balance with warming or harmonising herbs in weak patients
4. Avoid concurrent use with high-dose potassium diuretics

6. Key formulas

• Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang
• Da Cheng Qi Tang

7. Treatment at my clinic

I prescribe Mang Xiao where its indications and TCM pattern match the patient’s presentation, always as part of a tailored formula. Return to the Chinese herbs directory or the Chinese herbal medicine main page.