INDIVIDUAL HERBS

NAME: QIANG HUO - 羌活 - RHIZOMA ET RADIX NOTOPTERYGII

Pharmaceutical Latin: Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii
Common English: Notopterygium Root
Chiang Huo

CATEGORY

Herbs that Release the Exterior: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior (Wind-Cold Diaphoretics)

PROPERTIES

Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Acrid
Bitter
Aromatic
Warm
Bladder
Kidney
3-10g
Maximum dosage: 30g
Tincture: 2-4ml

ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS

Actions Indications/Syndromes

Releases the Exterior and disperses Cold

Wind-Cold with chills, fever, headache, body aches and pains

Usually used when accompanied by Dampness with joint pain, a general feeling of heaviness, sleepiness or occipital pain

Expels Wind-Cold-Dampness, unblocks painful obstruction and alleviates pain

Wind-Cold-Damp Bi especially in the upper limbs and back

Guides Qi to the Tai Yang and Du channels

Directs the other herbs to the Tai Yang and Du channels

CONTRAINDICATIONS, INCOMPATIBILITIES AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for those with febrile disorders.
  • Contraindicated for those with Blood Deficiency.
  • Contraindicated for those with Blood Deficiency arthritis.
  • Contraindicated for those with Yin Deficiency.
  • Contraindicated for those with Yin Deficiency headaches.
  • Contraindicated for those with Exterior (Wei Qi) Deficiency.
  • Contraindicated for those with External Invasion with dry throat.
  • Contraindicated for those with Bi syndrome with a rd tongue with little or no coat.
  • Overdose may cause nausea and vomiting.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

MAJOR COMBINATIONS

Rz. Ligustici Chuanxiong
Chuan Xiong

Rx. Saposhnikoviae
Fang Feng

 

Rx. Angelicae Pubescentis
Du Huo

Headaches and generalized body aches and pains associated with the common cold or painful obstruction.

Pain due to External Wind-Dampness.

Wind-Dampness.

Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae
Bai Zhi

Rx. Platycodi
Jie Geng

Rx. Saposhnikoviae
Fang Feng
Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae
Bai Zhi
Hb. Asari
Xi Xin
(Rz. Chuanxiong)
(Chuan Xiong)

Headaches.

Skin conditions.

Wind-Cold with aversion to Cold, fever, headaches and muscle aches.

Rx. Saposhnikoviae
Fang Feng
Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae
Bai Zhi
Rz. Atractylodis
Cang Zhu

Rz. Curcumae Longae
Jiang Huang
 Rx. Saposhnikoviae
Fang Feng

Hb. Schizonepetae
Jing Jie
 Rx. Saposhnikoviae
Fang Feng

Wind-Cold.

Wind-Cold-Damp Bi.

Occipital headache from Wind-Cold without perspiration.

Rz. Atractylodis
Cang Zhu

Rx. Gentianae
Long Dan Cao
Rz. Coptidis
Huang Lian
Periostracum Cicadae
Chan Tui
Fr. Tribuli
Bai Ji Li

Rx. Saposhnikoviae
Fang Feng
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Rz. Curcumae Longae
Jiang Huang
Rx. Paeoniae Rubra
Chi Shao
Rx. Glycyrrhizae
Gan Cao

Heavy-headed sensation.

Red eyes from Wind-Heat attacking the head.

Muscle aches and joint pain due to Wind-Cold-Dampness.

Rz. Curcumae Longae
Jiang Huang
Ram. Cinnamomi
Gui Zhi
Rx. Saposhnikoviae
Fang Feng
Rz. Ligustici
Gao Ben
Rz. Ligustici Chuanxiong
Chuan Xiong
Rx. Angelicae Pubescentis
Du Huo
Ram. Cinnamomi
Gui Zhi
Rx. Paeoniae Rubra
Chi Shao
Flos Carthami
 Hong Hua
Rx. Clematidis
Wei Ling Xian

Arthritis of the upper body or upper limbs.

Wind-Damp headache.

General arthritis.

Rx. Angelicae Pubescentis
Du Huo
Ram. Cinnamomi
Gui Zhi
Rx. Paeoniae Rubra
Chi Shao
Flos Carthami
 Hong Hua
Rx. Clematidis
Wei Ling Xian
Rx. Saposhnikoviae
Fang Feng
Rz. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata
Zhi Fu Zi
Rz. Anemarrhenae
Zhi Mu
Lignum, Pini Nodi
Song Jie

 

 

Rheumatic arthritis.

Rheumatic fever.

Rheumatoid arthritis.

 

 

 

NOTES

  1. Some schemes include this herb in the anti-rheumatic category.
  2. This is one of the major pain relieving herbs for surface ailments (headaches, joint pains and painful sores and inflammations).
  3. This herb is best suited for Tai Yang or occipital headaches.
  4. This herb has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and analgesic properties.
  5. This herb is almost always combined with Rx. Angelica Dahuricae Bai Zhi for headaches and Rx. Platycodi Jie Geng for skin conditions.
  6. Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng is similar but more often used, due to its tonic properties.
  7. It excels at treating numbness and pain, especially in the upper back. It is good for upper respiratory infections with muscle aches and pains.
  8. Both Qiang Huo and Rx. Angelicae Pubescentis Du Huo expel Wind-Dampness, eliminate painful obstruction and alleviate pain. Qiang Huo is better for superficial Wind-Dampness and upper extremities. it is harsher and more appropriate for Wandering Bi. Du Huo is more moderate and is better for deeper Wind-Dampness and lower extremities and better able to regulate lurking Wind.
  9. Both Qiang Huo and Rz. Ligustici Gao Ben enter the Du channel. Qiang Huo expels Wandering Bi in the muscles and exterior, and is best for neck and shoulder pain and for freeing the joints by venting pathogens from between the sinews and bones. Its tendency to move upward is stronger than Gao Ben's which can reach the vertex but is better for lower body disorders.
  10. Both Qiang Huo and Ram. Cinnamomi Gui Zhi. dispel Wind-Cold. Qiang Huo is good at dispelling Wind-cold in the limbs, while Gui Zhi is better at expelling Wind-Cold from the upper back and neck.