Sappan Wood – 1 lb (454 g)

Sappan Wood, known in Chinese as 苏木 (Sūmù) and scientifically as Lignum Sappan, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Sappan Wood carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Sappan Wood helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Sappan Wood provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Sappan Wood has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Sappan Wood, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Sufangmu, Zongmu, Chimu, and Hong Sumu. It is the heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan L., a leguminous plant. It is mainly produced in Guangxi, Guangdong, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces, with the Guangxi source considered the best quality. It can be harvested year-round, mostly felled in autumn. The white sapwood is removed, then it is cut into small sections; thicker pieces are halved lengthwise and sun-dried.

[Properties] Taste: sweet and salty; nature: neutral. Channels entered: Heart, Liver, Large Intestine.

[Actions] Invigorates blood and dispels blood stasis, reduces swelling and relieves pain.

[Applications]
1. Used for blood stasis causing amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and postpartum abdominal pain due to stasis. This herb treats abdominal pain from stasis; decocted in wine for oral administration is especially effective. Clinically often combined with Angelica sinensis (Danggui), Carthamus tinctorius (Honghua), Paeonia lactiflora (Chishao), Eupatorium fortunei (Zelan), and Corydalis yanhusuo (Yanhusuo). If postpartum qi deficiency with retained lochia and septicemia affecting the lungs causing asthma and urgency, it can be combined with Panax ginseng, as in the formula Erwei Shensu Yin. Currently, it is commonly used clinically for coronary heart disease angina pectoris, combined with Ligusticum chuanxiong and Salvia miltiorrhiza.
2. Used for traumatic injuries and fractures; can be used both internally and externally. Internally combined with Boswellia (Ruxiang), Commiphora myrrha (Moyao), and natural copper; externally combined with Angelica sinensis, Carthamus tinctorius, and Liuji Nu for decoction fumigation and washing of the injury site. For external bleeding wounds, powdered herb can be applied to the wound to stop bleeding.
3. Used for carbuncles, sores, redness, swelling, and pain; can be combined with Coptis chinensis (Huanglian), Phellodendron amurense (Huangbai), or Lonicera japonica (Jinyinhua), Forsythia suspensa (Lianqiao), and other herbs.
4. Used for tetanus; powdered and mixed with wine for oral administration as in the formula Dusheng San; can also be used externally by scraping fresh powder, boiling it to extract juice, and repeatedly irrigating the wound until yellow discharge appears, indicating effectiveness.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 3–10 g; or powdered. External use: appropriate amount of powdered herb sprinkled on bruises.

[Cautions] Not suitable for blood deficiency without blood stasis; use with caution in cases of excessive menstruation and during pregnancy.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: The heartwood contains brazilin, which oxidizes in air to brazilein. It also contains sappanchalcone and sappanone A. Additionally, it contains volatile oils, with main components being (+)-β-elemene and linalool. It also contains tannins, fatty acids, various proteins, and carbohydrates.
2. Pharmacological effects: Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Lignum Sappan can antagonize adrenaline-induced mesenteric microcirculation disorders, significantly improving microarterial blood flow and promoting microcirculation recovery; they increase coronary blood flow, reduce coronary resistance, and slow heart rate. Lignum Sappan injection significantly reduces blood viscosity and inhibits platelet aggregation. The aqueous extract exhibits cytotoxic effects, significantly inhibiting various tumor cell lines including human erythroleukemia K562 cells, and can inhibit cell mutation.