Baltic Amber — Classic Formulas
Xi Hu Po · Succinus
Primary Actions
- Quiets the Spirit and calms the Heart (An Shen) — palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, and nightmares from Heart Shen disturbance; Xi Hu Po (Western/Baltic amber) was historically regarded as the highest-quality grade of amber in Chinese TCM, imported via Silk Road trade; same principal Spirit-calming actions as domestic Hu Po (herb #98)
- Activates Blood and dissolves Blood Stasis — amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and Blood Stasis in the Liver channel; descending Blood-moving action reaches the lower jiao
- Promotes urination and dissolves Bladder Stagnation — dysuria, haematuria, and urinary Lin strangury; classical use for Blood Lin and Stone Lin patterns
Classic Formulas
- Xi Hu Po An Shen Wan variant — high-grade insomnia and palpitation formula specifying Xi Hu Po rather than generic Hu Po; combined with Suan Zao Ren, Long Yan Rou, Ren Shen, and Fu Ling; in contemporary practice the Xi/domestic distinction is rarely made as authentic Baltic amber of historical quality is difficult to source
- Hu Po San (琥珀散) — urinary strangury formula; Xi Hu Po used interchangeably with Hu Po in this formula; see herb #98 for formula details
Classical Text References
- Ben Cao Gang Mu (Li Shizhen): distinguishes several grades of Hu Po — 'Xi Hu Po (western amber) is imported from the Western Ocean via Guangdong; golden-yellow, transparent, and of larger crystal size; regarded as the best medicinal grade — the same properties as domestic Hu Po but greater potency; domestic amber from Yunnan and Guangxi is of lower grade'
- PROVENANCE NOTE: Xi Hu Po (西琥珀, 'Western amber') designates Baltic or Middle Eastern amber imported into China via Silk Road trade routes, historically arriving through Central Asia or via Canton (Guangzhou) maritime trade; Baltic amber (succinite, from the Baltic Sea region of northern Europe) has a higher succinic acid content (3–8%) and different resin acid profile than Southeast Asian and Chinese domestic ambers; the XLSX source filed two entries for Succinus — Hu Po (#98, domestic) and Xi Hu Po (#99, Western/imported grade); in modern TCM pharmacy the distinction is rarely observed in clinical dispensing.