Herbs that Transform Expel Wind-Damp

Dú Huó

Angelicae Pubescentis Radix

“Self Reliant Existence”

Taste: Pungent, bitter

Temp: Warm

Channels: Kidney, UB (relates to low back and legs)


Actions:

• Dispels wind damp, alleviates pain – chronic or acute Bi pain in low back or legs

• Releases exterior for wind cold damp conditions (similar to Qiang Huo): fever/chills/headache/joint pain

• A very important Bi pain herb – part of the famous formula “Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang”

• Moves Qi and Blood stagnating in channels


Dose: 3-9 g

Contra: Yin deficiency with heat

Modern: Possible tranquilizing and hypnotic effect; topical for toothache (use 15-30 g)

Identification: Moist, smelly (kind of like its relation, Dang Gui) and yellowish brown – easily attacked by bugs, so freeze for 2 days when it arrives

Note: in the old days, Du Huo and Qiang Huo (“Notop”) were considered the same herb. They have similar properties and actions, but Qiang Huo travels upward to the neck and shoulders, while Du Huo travels downward to the low back (but also treats toothache)
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Wēi Líng Xiān

Clematidis Radix

“Awesome Spiritual Immortal”

Taste: Pungent, salty (this is new!)

Temp: Warm, slightly toxic

Channels: UB (and some say all 12 channels)


Actions:


• Dispels wind damp, unblocks channels, alleviates pain; especially useful when the chief complaint is stiffness, patient can’t bend or stretch

• Releases exterior and promotes qi movement in channels; the herb has a penetrating property

• Softens and dislodges fish bones stuck in throat (why it’s salty)

• Moves stagnation in middle jiao, reduces phlegm


Dose: 6-12 g (15-30 for fish bones)

Contra: Qi/blood deficiency

Cooking: For fish bones, make into a decoction with vinegar and brown sugar, swallow slowly. Do not use for large fish bones causing obstruction. This is not a joke – this really works for small bones!

Identification: Clematis is a fragrant vine in the buttercup family; this herb is the root of it



“Fierce and swift, clematis runs to eliminate obstruction in the 12 channels”

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Hǎi Tóng Pí

Erythrinae Cortex

courtesy of www.hort.net

Taste: Pungent, bitter

Temp: Neutral

Channels: Liver, Spleen, Kidney


Actions:

• Dispels wind damp, unblocks channels, esp lower back and knees; can be used for hot or cold patterns

• Promotes urination and reduces edema (damp-related) (as do many peels)

• Topical for skin lesions with itching (scabies, eczema)

• Gargle for toothache


Dose: 6-15 g

Contra: Blood deficiency

Modern: In vitro success against many bacterial pathogens

Identification:


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Mù Guā

Chaenomelis Fructus

“Wood Melon” (actually Chinese quince)

Taste: Sour, aromatic

Temp: Warm

Channels: Liver, Spleen

Actions:

• Relaxes sinews, unblocks channels – for damp type bi pain with severe cramping pain, weakness low back and lower extremities. REALLY RELAXES THE SINEWS

• Transforms dampness in stomach and relieves edema, esp “leg Qi” (beri-beri)

• Reduces food stagnation (similar to Shan Zha in properties and appearance)



Dose: 4.5-12 g (do not overdose)

Contra: Exterior disorders; can you think why?

Modern: Contains saponins, Vit C., flavanoids

Identification: Fruity and beautiful

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Sāng Jì Shēng

Taxilli Herba

“Mulberry Parasite”

Stem and branch of various members of Loranthaceae family, known as Asian mistletoe, an epiphytic parasite on mulberry, peach, willow, oak, maple and elm trees



Taste: Bitter

Temp: Neutral

Channels: Kidney, Liver



Actions:

• Also studied in the yin tonic category: tonifies liver and kidney yin for expelling wind damp Bi pain; joint pain, low back and knee soreness, numbness, atrophy of limbs

• Nourishes blood and calms fetus – can help stop uterine bleeding during pregnancy

• Benefits skin: dry skin, dry eczema, dermatitis

• Treats hypertension (like which other mulberry product?)

• Part of Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang (Angelica Pubescens and Sangjisheng Decoction) to treat low back Bi pain due to deficiency; strengthens tendons and muscles



Dose: 9-30 g

Contra: Holmes says some chronic toxicity can occur in some people: loss of appetite, malaise, abd. distension, mild diarrhea; severe overdose will cause vomiting, diarrhea, death

Modern: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory; antihypertensive

Identification: Northern China uses the genus Viscum, which should be green leaves and twigs; Southern China uses Loranthus and others
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Wǔ Jiā Pí

Acanthopanacis Cortex

“Five Additions Bark”

Taste: Pungent, Bitter

Temp: Warm

Channels: Kidney, Liver


Actions:

• Dispels wind damp, strengthens sinews and bones (similar to a yang tonic, this herb is very good for elderly, weak and people with deficiency of Kidney (bones) and Liver (tendons) – a very useful herb for chronic bi)

• Transforms dampness, reduces swelling (diuretic)

• Adaptogenic (increases non-specific immunity)

• Contrast with Ci Wu Jia

Dose: 4.5 – 15 g

Contra: Caution in yin deficiency with heat

Cooking: Soak in wine for even more tonifying action

Other uses: Use as you might use ginseng for general debility

Identification:
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Qín Jiāo

Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix

Taste: Pungent, bitter

Temp: Sl Cold (use this herb for Heat Bi, since it is cold)

Channels: GB, Liver, Stomach (similar to its relative, Long Dan Cao)


Actions:

• Dispels wind/damp/heat with inflammation, and relaxes sinews (esp for cramping in extremities)

• If there is wind/damp/cold Bi pain, this can be combined with warming herbs from the same category

• Resolves dampness and reduces jaundice (liver/gb connection) – esp. acute cases in infants. Can be used alone to treat jaundice.

• Moistens intestines – helps balance drying herbs in this category

• Clears heat from yin deficiency – steaming bone, night fever – use with Di Gu Pi for this


Dose: 5-12 g

Contra: Frequent urination, diarrhea (because unblocks bowels)

Identification: Yellowish-twisted root pieces (very similar to its relative, Long Dan Cao, in appearance)
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Sāng Zhī

Mori Ramulus

White mulberry branch/twig

Taste: Bitter

Temp: Neutral

Channels: Liver

Actions:


• Dispels wind, unblocks channels, stops Bi pain, especially arms and shoulders

• A good combination: with Wei Ling Xian and Fang Ji

• Can reduce hypertension (by relaxing the liver)

• Sang Bai Pi (the root bark of this tree) also reduces hypertension

Dose: 10-30 grams

Modern: One study showed this herb promoted the production of lymphocytes to improve immune response; one might wonder about the use of this herb then in autoimmune disease such as lupus or RA



Identification: Pale woody chips, resembling Mu Tong, but smaller and lighter in color and weight
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Xī Xiān Cǎo

Siegesbeckiae Herba

Taste: Bitter

Temp: Cold

Channels: Kidney, Liver

Actions:


• Dispels wind damp, strengthens sinews (liver); for heat type Bi

• Calms spirit

• Clears heat and pacifies liver (rising liver yang causing headaches and hypertension)

• Transforms damp heat (sores, itching, rash)

• Hypertension (combine with Xia Ku Cao and other similar herbs)

Dose: 6-15 g

Contra: Yin/blood deficiency

Identification:
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Bái Huā Shé/Qí Shé

Agkistrodon/Bungarus

Taste: Sweet, salty, toxic

Temp: Warm

Channels: Liver



Actions:



• Powerfully unblocks channels and extinguishes wind; chronic wind damp with numbness and weakness

• Dispels wind from skin – ringworm, numbness, rash

• Dispels wind from sinews; facial paralysis or hemiplegia due to stroke

• SEVERE WIND DISORDERS



Dose: 3-10 g

Identification:
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Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang

Formula Analysis

Herb & Category Function

Du Huo

Expel Wind Damp Expel wind and dampness; bi pain

Xi Xin

Warming diaphoretic

Fang Feng

Warming diaphoretic

Qin Jiao

Expel Wind Damp

Sang Ji Sheng

Yin tonic Tonify liver and kidneys

Du Zhong

Yang tonic

Niu Xi

Invigorate blood Harmonize blood; tonify blood, invigorate blood, cool blood

Dang Gui

Tonify blood

Chuan Xiong

Invigorate blood

Sheng Di Huang

Cool blood, clear heat

Bai Shao

Nourish blood

Rou Gui

Warm Interior Warm kidneys

Ren Shen

Tonify Qi Strongly tonifies source qi

Fu Ling

Drain dampness Drains damp in joints

Zhi Gan Cao

Tonify Qi

Harmonize
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