INDIVIDUAL HERBS

NAME: WEI LING XIAN - 威灵仙 - RADIX CLEMATIDIS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Radix Clematidis
Common English: Clematis Root
Chinese Clematis Root
Six-Petal Clematis Root

CATEGORY

Herbs That Drain Wind-Dampness

PROPERTIES

Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Acrid
Salty
Warm
Urinary Bladder
(All twelve Channels)
3-16g
15-30g for fish bones stuck in the throat
Tincture: 2-4ml

ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS

Actions Indications/Syndromes

Dispels Wind-Dampness, unblocks the channels and alleviates pain

Wind-Damp painful obstruction (Bi) (especially useful for the whole body)

Intractable Bi blockage of Qi and Blood

Softens and transforms fish bones

Fish bones lodged in the throat

Reduces Phlegm and pathogenic water (regulates urination)

Accumulation and distention in the Middle Jiao

Cold Phlegm digestive problems

CONTRAINDICATIONS, INCOMPATIBILITIES AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated during pregnancy.
  • Caution with Qi and Blood Deficiency and the debilitated.
  • Do not take with tea or noodle soup.
  • Long term use or normal use in high dosages may cause a toxic reaction.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

MAJOR COMBINATIONS

Rz. seu Rx. Notopterygii
Qiang Huo

Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae
Niu Xi

Vinegar
Brown Sugar

Wind-Damp Bi causing joint pain. (especially in the upper joints)

Wind-Damp Bi causing joint pain. (especially in the lower joints)

Fish bones lodged in the throat.

Fr. Amomi
Sha Ren

Fr. Amomi
Sha Ren
Vinegar

Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao
Rx. Glycyrrhizae
Gan Cao
Fr. Chaenomelis
Mu Gua

Epigastric pain.

Fish bones lodged in the throat.

Alleviates pain and numbness associated with bone spurs of the neck, spine and heels.

Rx. Angelicae Pubescentis
Du Huo
Warm Rice Wine

Cx. Cinnamomi
Rou Gui
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui

 

Low back pain or leg pain.

Musculoskeletal pain caused by accumulation of Wind and Dampness.

External injuries.

 

NOTES

  1. This herb removes Wind from all 12 vessels and the Luo vessels (especially the lower limbs).
  2. It is widely used for superficial pain.
  3. It is especially useful for whole body pain.
  4. It works well because it both expels Wind and Promotes Qi movement.
  5. It is not effective for deeply lodged or larger bones.
  6. It is warm and therefore better for Cold conditions.
  7. This herb is very piercing and mobilizing. Excessive use will easily injure the righteous Qi.
  8. It can be taken alone as a powder with warm wine for lower back and leg pain.
  9. Some sources say that it can open menstruation.
  10. This herb will help expel the placenta.
  11. It is used in Chinese hospitals to induce labor.
  12. It is said that this herb along with Rz. Acori Shi Chang Pu are effective for male patients with ejaculation difficulties since they have penetrating effects to open closed orifices.
  13. Both Wei Ling Xian and Rx. Gentianae Macrophyllae Qin Jiao dispel Wind-Dampness, eliminate Dampness and treat restricted movement due to Wind-Dampness, especially in the lower limbs. It also softens hardness. Wei Ling Xian is better at treating Cold Bi, with marked pain, numbness, restricted movement and even paralysis. Qin Jiao primarily dispels Dampness and is better where pathogenic Wind and Dampness are accompanied by Heat and where Dampness predominates. It also cools Heat and clears steaming bones in disorders such as Damp-Heat  jaundice or steaming bones consumption.
  14. Wine-fried Clematis Root Jiu Chao Wei Ling Xian is better able to disperse Cold and unblock the collaterals and is used for both mobile painful obstruction due to Wind and intensely painful obstruction due to Cold.