Notably, deer musk, also known as moschus or She Xiang in Pinyin, comes from musk deer. It is a commonly used Chinese herb, whose first record as a medicine was found in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (The Holy Husbandman's Classic on Roots and Herbs). It is classified as one of resuscitation-inducing aromatic herbs that can stimulate central nervous system if taken orally or relieve pain and reduce swelling in external application. More than just an amazing drug, it has long been used as an incense material and perfume fixative. Actually in many parts of the world musk deer perfume is very popular since ancient time. In recent years, the use of natural musk is keeping decreasing with the increasing popularity of synthetic alternative. Admittedly this is good news to the predicament of this endangered species today.

It can refer to any or all members in the genus Moschus of the family Moschidae. Actually Moschus, the sole one of the family Moschidae, has 7 species. Hence, medicinally musk mainly refers to the dried secretions from a gland situated between the navel and genitals of the mature male Moschus berezovskii Flerov, Moschus sifanicus Przewalski, Moschus moschiferus Linnaeus, siberian musk deer, etc. Other common names of this herb include Navel Gland Secretions of Musk Deer, Moschus, Musk secretion, Secretio Moschus, and more. In China it is primarily produced in provinces of Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Gansu, and Inner Mongolia. Wild species are mostly hunted and killed for the glands from winter to following spring. After that, the deer musk glands, also called "the deer musk pod", is cut and placed in the shade to dry. When in use, it needs to split the pod, remove the shell, and obtain the so-called "musk grain", namely the black granular material. In terms of the species in captivity, the grain can be collected directly from the pod and dried in the shade. By the way, this herb should be stored in an airtight container in order to keep away from moisture, heat, and sunlight.

Moschus

MUSK RECIPES ON HERBAL REMEDIES
From the review of the Chinese Materia Medica, it is believed acrid in flavor and warm in nature. It goes to meridians of heart, liver, and spleen. Crucial functions are inducing resuscitation, activating blood circulation, resolving hardness, and relieving swelling and pain. Prime deer musk uses and indications include unconsciousness due to fever, coma due to blocking of the respiratory system in stroke, a sudden blackout caused by Qi stagnation, a sudden coma because of noxious pathogen attack, stasis-induced Amenorrhea, gynecological mass in abdomen, acute pain in chest and abdomen, traumatic injury, arthralgia and numbness, Carbuncle and boils, pharyngitis, mouth sores, ulcerative gingivitis, and suppurative otitis media. Recommended dosage is from 0.03 to 0.1g in pills or powder. In addition, you can also buy other deer musk products like deer musk spray, extract, essential oil, perfume oil, and more.

1) Bai Jin San from Xiao Er Wei Sheng Zhong Wei Fang Lun (Treatise on Formulas for Infantile Health Care). It is combined with Bai Jiang Can (Bombyx Mori), Tian Zhu Huang (Siliceous Secretions of Bamboo), Niu Huang (Ox Bezoar), and Long Nao (Borneolum) to treat infantile convulsions, hectic fever, coma, Epilepsy, etc.

2) She Xiang Wan from Tai Ping Sheng Hui Fang (Taiping Holy Prescriptions for Universal Relief). It is formulated with A Wei (Ferula assafoetida), Gan Xie (Dried scorpion), and Tao Ren (Peach Seed) to cure frequent pain in chest and abdomen due to qi attack and accumulated cold in kidney.

3) She Xiang Tang from Sheng Ji Zong Lu (Complete Record of Holy Benevolence). It is matched with Mu Xiang (Costus), Peach Seed, Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia Fruit), and Bing Lang (betel nut) to heal precordial pain with cold limbs.

4) She Xiang Gao from Qian Jin Fang (Thousand golden essential prescriptions). It is equipped with Xiong Huang (realgar), Fan Shi (aluminite), and Luru to treat ulcer, carbuncle on the back, and other malignant sores.

5) She Xiang Wan from Taiping Holy Prescriptions for Universal Relief. It is coupled with Ba Dou (Croton Seed) and Xi Xin (Herba Asari) to cure toothache.