Source: Chinese Medical Treatment for Epidemic Encaphalitis B (1955)
Category: Formulas that Expel Wind
Pattern: Heat in the Shaoyin causing stirring of internal Wind
Key Symptoms: Muscle twitches of the extremities, rigidity and spasms of the entire body, opistohotonos, trismus, convulsions, loss of consciousness
Secondary Symptoms: Stubborn headache, migraine, joint pain
Ingredients
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Quan Xie
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Pinyin: Quan Xie
Chinese: 全蝎
Pharmaceutical: Buthus Martensi
Taxonomy: Buthus Martensii
English: Scorpion |
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Tastes: Pungent, neutral, toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver |
Actions & Indications:
- Extinguishes Wind and stops tremors and convulsions
Liver Wind and Wind-Phlegm-Heat with spasms, acute or chronic childhood convulsions, tetany, opisthotonos, tics, muscular tetany, and seizures
- Tracks down Wind, unblocks the collaterals and stops pain
Stubborn headaches and Bipain
- Attacks and relieves Fire toxins and dissipates nodules and rashes
Topically for toxic sores, swellings scrofula (Chuang Yung) and cancer
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Standard Dosage: 2-5g in decoction.
Cautions: It is toxic, so large dose of it should not be used. It is contraindicated for pregnant women.
Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It is generally substituted with Gou Teng and Tian Zhu Huang. |
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Wu Gong
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Pinyin: Wu Gong
Chinese: 蜈蚣 / 吳公
Pharmaceutical: Scolopendrae
Taxonomy: Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans
English: Centipede |
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Tastes: Pungent, warm, toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver |
Actions & Indications:
- Extinguishes Wind and stops spasms and convulsions
Liver Wind with acute and chronic childhood convulsions, opisthotonis, lockjaw and seizures Facial paralysis due to Wind
- Attacks and relieves Fire toxins, relieves abdominal masses and dissipates nodules
Toxic nodules including sores, carbuncles and neck lumps Chuang Yung (topical)
Cancer
Snake bites
- Unblocks the collaterals and stops pain
Stubborn headaches including migraines Bipain
- Treats the Ghost Possession, Gu Toxins, and removes the Three Worms
Said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing that treats Ghost Possession, Gu Toxins, and snake, worm, and fish Toxins. It kills Ghostly Matters and Old Essences (鬼物老精) and removes the Three Worms. This refers to difficult to treat disorders thought to be of supernatural origin and may refer to chronic metabolic and inflammatory disorders caused by mitochondrial and/or microbiome disturbances. Treatment should be accompanied by fasting, meditation and exercise regimes.
Internally for Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
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Standard Dosage: 1-3g in decoction.
Cautions: It is toxic, so it should not be used in large dose. It is contraindicated for pregnant women.
Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It is generally substituted with Gou Teng and Tian Nan Xing. |
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Subsitutions:
Since both of these ingredients are toxic and animal derived they must both be substituted in the UK. Some possible substitutions are:
Quan Xie == Gou Teng + Tian Zhu Haung
Wu Gong == Gou Teng + Tian Nan Xing
In formulas where these are used this three herb substitution may suffice.
Preparation: Grind equal amounts into powder and taken in 0.9-1.5g doses 2-4 times per day with warm water.
Actions: Extinguishes Wind, relieves Spasms, alleviates Pain
Contraindications: Long term use and pregnancy due to toxicity of both ingredients
Research Links:
Reference Notes: (click to display)
Most formulas are found in Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet (2009): Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies and Chen & Chen (2015) Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications. Others are from translations of primary sources. It is recommended that the original material is cross-referenced for mistakes and additional information.
Substitutions have been taken from Ken Lloyd & Prof. Leung (2004): Mayway UK Substitution List or the above publications and are intended as suggestions to help navigate the tight restrictions in the UK quickly. More applicable substitutions may be appropriate in specific situations.
Individual herb information has initially been sourced from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted.
