INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae |
| Common English: | Achyranthes Root White Oxknee Root |
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
Bitter Sour |
Neutral |
Liver Kidney |
6-16g Tincture: 2-4ml |
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Invigorates the Blood and expels Blood Stasis |
Blood Stasis with dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea and retained lochia Pain due to trauma |
Nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin, strengthens the sinews and bones and benefits the joints |
Low back and knee pain and soreness due to Kidney and Liver Deficiency |
Descends Blood and Fire |
Blood Heat in the Upper Jiao with epistaxis, hematemesis and bleeding gums Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire Rising with toothaches Liver Yang Rising or Liver Fire with dizziness, headache and blurred vision |
Clears Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao |
Damp-Heat Pouring Downward with knee pain, or lower back painful obstruction As an auxiliary for painful urinary dysfunction (Lin) or vaginal discharge, especially for Stone Lin with lower back pain and bloody urine |
CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Olibanum |
Cx. Eucommiae |
|
Blood Stasis with late menstruation, dysmenorrhea or amenorrhea. |
Pain due to trauma. |
Low back and extremity pain and weakness due to Bi pain or Kidney Deficiency. |
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata or Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata |
Fr. Chaenomelis |
Gypsum Fibrosum
|
Weak lower back and extremities due to Liver and Kidney Deficiency. |
Lower extremity pain due to Wind-Dampness Invasion. |
Tooth, gum, and tongue swelling and pain. |
Rx. Rehmanniae |
Haematitum |
Ram. cum Uncis Uncariae |
Yin Deficiency with Heat signs causing pain and swelling of the gums. |
Dizziness and vertigo from Liver Yang Rising due to Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency. |
Liver Yang Rising with blurred vision, headache, and dizziness. |
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
Hb. Lysimachiae |
|
Difficult labor. |
Stone Lin with hematuria and low back pain. |
Hot, painful urinary dysfunction. |
Rx. Phellodendri or |
Rx. Rehmanniae |
Flos Carthami |
Red, swollen and painful joints of the lower extremities from Damp-Heat Pouring Downward. |
Powerfully clears Deficiency Fire Blazing Upward with pain and swelling of the gums, epistaxis, hematemesis and other hemorrhage in the upper body. Diabetes. |
Menstrual pain, irregular menstruation and postpartum pain. |
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
Hb. Cirsii |
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Blood Lin. (hot, painful urinary dysfunction) |
Hematemesis and epistaxis. |
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- This herb directs the effects of the formula to the lower body.
- One source considers this herb to be a Yin Tonic.
- Some sources say that this herb helps clear pus and regulates water metabolism.
- In prepared form, this herb breaks up Blood Stasis, unblocks menstruation and guides Blood downward to treat amenorrhea, mobile and fixed abdominal masses, postpartum abdominal pain due to Blood Stasis, difficult labor, retained placenta, swelling and pain from external injury and joint pain due to Bi Syndrome.
- In its prepared form, it tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, strengthens sinews and bones and is used for aching weakness of the lower back and knees and lack of strength in the sinews and bones.
- Both Niu Xi and Rz. Curcumae Longae Jiang Huang break up Blood Stasis, drive Blood downward, unblock menstruation, stop pain and affect the sinews. Niu Xi strengthens tendons and bones by tonifying the Liver and Kidneys which Jiang Huang does not do. Jiang Huang more powerfully breaks up Blood Stasis, promotes the movement of Qi, and affects the sinews by expelling Wind Bi.
- Dry-fried Achyranthes Chao Niu Xi has its slippery, downward-draining properties eliminated and has an enhanced ability to tonify the Liver and Kidneys.
- Salt-fried Achyranthes Yan Chao Niu Xi goes directly into the Kidney channel to tonify the Kidneys and nourish the sinews and bones. It is used for lower back ache and leg atrophy due to Kidney Deficiency and exhaustion of Jing.
- Wine-fried Achyranthes Jiu Niu Xi more strongly invigorates the Blood, unblocks the collaterals, stops pain and unblocks menstruation. It is used to treat mobile and fixed abdominal masses, difficult labor and retained placenta.
- Charred Achyranthes Niu Xi Tan is used to treat Deficiency Fire blazing upward with bleeding gums, nosebleed and toothache.
- Rx. Achyranthis Longifoliae (Aspera) Yu Niu Xi is bitter, sour, neutral, invigorates Blood, dispels Blood Stasis, clears Heat, eliminates toxins and promotes urination. It treats amenorrhea, arthritis, throat swelling and pain, diphtheria, edema of the lower extremities, hematuria and trauma-related pain. The dosage is 10-15g.