Notopterygium Decoction to Overcome Dampness
Chinese Prescription: Qiang Huo Sheng Shi Tang
English Translation: Notopterygium Decoction to Overcome Dampness
Formula Type: Dispel Wind-Dampness
Actions: Expels wind & dampness.
Indications: A heavy painful head, generalized sensation of heaviness, back pain or generalized pain, stiffness of the neck, difficulty in rotating or bending the trunk, mild fever, chills, a white tongue coating, & a floating pulse.
Contraindications: Use with caution in patients with constitutional yin deficiency, or for any condition with heat.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
---|---|---|
view: Qiang Huo |
Notopterygium | 3g |
view: Du Huo |
Angelica Dahurica | 3g |
view: Gao Ben |
Ligusticum Sinensis | 1.5g |
view: Fang Feng |
Siler Root | 1.5g |
view: Chuan Xiong |
Sichuan Lovage Rhizome / Ligusticum Wallichi | 1.5g |
view: Man Jing Zi |
Vitex | 0.9g |
view: Zhi Gan Cao |
Honey-fried Licorice | 1.5g |
Qiang Huo / Notopterygium Rhizome | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Exterior Releasing - Warm • Sub Category: Aromatic | |||
Dosage6-15g |
Actions1. Releases the exterior & disperses cold: for exterior cold patterns with such symptoms as chills, fever, headache, & body aches & pains. Most commonly used when accompanied by dampness with joint pain, a general feeling of heaviness, sleepiness, or when there is pain in the occipital region.2. Unblocks painful obstruction & alleviates pain: for wind-cold-damp painful obstruction, especially in the upper limbs & back. 3. Guides qi to the greater yang channel & governing vessel: to direct other herbs in a prescription to the areas served by these two channels. |
MeridiansBladder, Kidney |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of blood deficiency, yin deficiency, & exterior deficiency. Overdosage may cause nausea & vomiting. |
Du Huo / Angelica Root (Pubescent) | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Dispel Wind-Damp-Cold • Sub Category: Pain Relieving | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Dispels wind-dampness & alleviates pain: for such disorders as wind-cold-damp painful obstruction, especially in the lower back & legs. Can be used for both acute & chronic conditions.2. Disperses wind-cold-dampness & releases the exterior: for exterior wind-cold together with dampness. 3. Also used for lesser yin stage headache & toothache. |
MeridiansKidney, Bladder |
CautionsContraindicated for yin deficiency with heat signs. |
Gao Ben / Ligusticum or Lovage Root, Chinese | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Exterior Releasing - Warm • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
ActionsExpels wind & alleviates pain: for externally contracted wind-cold, & especially for headache. Also for any wind pattern that presents with pain at the vertex, or pain that travels from the vertex down to the cheeks & teeth. Also for acute lower back pain due to invasion of wind-cold, as it treats both ends of the governing vessel. |
MeridiansBladder |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of blood or yin deficiency because it is very drying. |
Fang Feng / Siler Root, (Ledebouriella Root) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Acrid, Sweet • Temperature: Slightly Warm • Category: Exterior Releasing - Warm • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Releases the exterior & expels wind: for headache, chills, & body aches due to externally contracted wind-cold.2. Expels wind-dampness & alleviates pain: for exterior wind-damp painful obstruction, especially when wind is predominant. 3. Expels wind: as an auxiliary herb to alleviate trembling of the hands & feet & tetany. Also for intestinal wind due to imbalance between the Spleen & Liver manifested in recurrent, painful diarrhea with bright blood in the stool. Also for migraine headaches. |
MeridiansBladder, Liver, Spleen |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of blood deficiency with spasms, & for yin deficiency with heat signs. According to some traditional texts, this herb antagonizes gan jiang & li lu, & counteracts bei xie. |
Chuan Xiong / Lovage Root (Ligusticum) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Regulate Blood • Sub Category: Invigorate Blood | |||
Dosage3-6g, up to 9g for irregular menstruation |
Actions1. Invigorates the blood & promotes the movement of qi: for any blood stasis pattern. This is an important herb in gynecology & is used for such problems as dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, difficult labor, or lochioschesis. It is also indicated for patterns of stagnant qi & blood stasis with pain & soreness in the chest, flanks, & hypochondria.2. Expels wind & alleviates pain: a leading herb for any externally contracted wind disorder characterized by headache, dizziness, or painful obsstruction. Also used for a variety of skin problems caused by wind. 3. Headaches: moves the qi upward & alleviates pain. Depending with which other herbs it is combined, it can be used for headaches due to wind, heat, cold, or blood deficiency. |
MeridiansLiver, Gallbladder, Pericardium |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs, headaches due to ascendant Liver yang, qi deficiency, or excessive menstrual bleeding. Vomiting & dizziness may occur from overdosage. May antagonize shan zhu yu & huang qi, may counteract hua shi & huang lian, & may be incompatible with li lu. |
Man Jing Zi / Vitex Fruit | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Acrid • Temperature: Cool • Category: Exterior Releasing - Cool • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage6-12g |
Actions1. Disperses wind & clears heat: for externally contracted wind-heat, especially when the major complaint is headache or eye pain.2. Clears & benefits the head & eyes: for Liver channel wind-heat manifesting as excessive tearing, red, painful, or swollen eyes, or spots in front of the eyes. 3. Drains dampness & expels wind: as an auxiliary herb for wind-dampness in the limbs causing stiffness, numbness, cramping, or heaviness. |
MeridiansBladder, Liver, Stomach |
CautionsUse with caution for headaches or eye problems due to yin or blood deficiency, &in cases of Stomach qi deficiency. May antagonize wu tou & shi gao. |
Zhi Gan Cao / Licorice Root, honey-baked | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage2-12g |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: commonly used for Spleen deficiency with shortness of breath, lassitude, & loose stools. Also for qi or blood deficiency patterns with an irregular or intermittent pulse & /or palpitations.2. Moistens the Lungs & stops coughing: for coughing & wheezing. Because of its neutral properties, it can be used for either heat or cold in the Lungs. 3. Clears heat & relieves fire toxicity: used raw for carbuncles, sores, or sore throat due to fire toxin. For this purpose, it can be taken internally or applied topically. 4. Moderates spasms & alleviates pain: for painful spasms of the abdomen or legs. 5. Moderates & harmonizes the characteristics of other herbs: by virtue of its sweet, neutral, & moderating properties, this herb moderates hot & cold herbs, & mitigates the violent properties of other herbs. Since it is said to enter all 12 primary channels, it can lead & conduct other herbs into the channels. 6. Used as an antidote for a variety of toxic substances, both internally & topically. 7. The raw root clears heat & relieves toxicity, the honey-fried tonifies the middle & moderates spasms. |
MeridiansAll 12 channels (principally the Heart, Lung, Spleen, & Stomach) |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of excess dampness, nausea, or vomiting. May be in compatible with jing da ji, yuan hua, gan sui, & hai zao, & may antagonize yuan zhi. The toxicity of gan cao is very low, but if taken long-term it may cause hypertension &/or edema. Glycyrrhetinic acid has been reported to cause a reduction in the activity of the thyroid & a reducation in the basal metabolic rate. |