羌活胜湿汤

Name

Decoction of Notoperygium for Rheumatism

Source

The book Net Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun

Ingredients

• Qiang Huo (Rhizoma seu Radix Notopterygii) 6 g,
• Du Huo (Radix Angelicae Pubescentis) 6 g,
• Gao Ben (Rhizoma Ligustici) 3 g,
• Fang Feng (Radix Saposhinkoviae) 3 g,
• Zhi Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata) 3 g,
• Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong) 3 g,
• Man Jing Zi (Fructus Viticis) 2 g.

Explanation

Qiang Huo: One of the principal drugs, being pungent and bitter in flavor and warm in nature, taking a particular role in removing wind-dampness, in the upper of the body, working together with Du Huo to expel wind-dampness throughout the body and the joints so as to treat arthralgia.

Du Huo: The other principal drug, being pungent and bitter in flavor and slightly warm in nature, playing an active part in removing wind-dampness in the lower of the body, working together with Qiang Huo to expel wind-dampness throughout the body and the joints so as to treat arthralgia.

Fang Feng, Gao Ben and Man Jing Zi: Eliminating wind-dampness and relieving headache.

Chuan Xiong: Promoting the circulation of blood, removing wind, relieving pain.

Gan Cao: Tempering the actions of all the other ingredients.

Effect

Dispelling wind to remove dampness.

Indications

Syndrome due to wind-dampness in the superficies of the body, marked by pain of the shoulders and back which makes the head impossible turn backward, headache, heavy sensation of the body, or soreness of the loins and back bone which makes turning sideward impossible, whitish tongue coating, and floating pulse; including such diseases with the above symptoms as common cold, rheumatic arthritis, nervous headache, etc.

Administration

Decocted in water for oral dose to be taken twice.