Class 1~2: Herbs and Formulas that Extinguish Wind

Xianhui Li

• Cornus Saigae Tataricae (Ling yang jiao) • Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis (Gou teng) • Rhizoma Gastrodiae (Tian ma) • Fructus Tribuli (Bai ji li) • Concha Haliotidis (Shi jue ming) • *Lumbricus (Di long) • Buthus martensi (Quan xie) • Scolopendra (Wu gong) • Bombyx Batryticatus (Jiang can)

Herbs that Extinguish Wind

Cornus Saigae Tataricae (Ling yang jiao)

• Taste and property: Salty and cold• Meridian Tropism: Liver and heart• Actions: Calm the endogenous wind, clearing liver heat to improve

eyesights, clearing heat and removing toxic materials• Application:

– Convulsion due to epilepsy or other diseases: This herb is an important herb for convulsion due to endogenous wind. It can also clear heat, so often used to treat high fever with convulsion. Often used with Gou teng, Ju Hua and Sheng Di, i.e. Ling Yang Gou teng Tang

– Dizziness and vertigo due to hyperactivity of liver yang: Used with Ju Hua and Shi Jue Ming

– Headache and red eyes due to flaring up of the liver fire, used with Jue Ming Zi, Huang Qin and Long Dan Cao, i.e. Ling Yang Jiao San

– High fever, coma, delirium and mania in epidemic febrile diseases, used with Shi Gao, Xi Jiao, i.e. Zi Xue Dan

• Dosage: 1-3g. Powder: 0.3-0.5g

Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis (Gou teng)

• Taste and Property: Sweet and slightly cold• Meridian Tropism: LV, PC• Actions: Calm endogenous wind to relieve convulsion,

clear liver heat and calm hyperactive liver yang• Application:

– Convulsion: Used with Tian ma, Shi Jue Ming and Quan Xie– Headache, distending pain in the head due to heat in the liver

meridian or dizziness, and vertigo due to hyperactivity of the liver yang, used with Xia Ku Cao, Huang Qin

– Hypertension: This is a very effective herb for hypertension due to liver heat

• Dosage: 10-15g. Not decocted long

Rhizoma Gastrodiae (Tian ma)

• Taste and Property: Sweet and neutral• Meridian tropism: Liver• Actions: Calm endogenous wind, relieve convulsion, suppress

hyperactive liver yang• Application:

– Convulsion due to endogenous wind: This herb can be used for both cold or heat patterns

• Infantile convulsion: Used with Gou Teng, Ling Yang Jiao and Quan Xie• Chronic infantile convulsion: Used with Ren Shen, Bai Zhu and Jiang Cang,

i.e Xing Pi San• Spasm in tetanus: Dan Nan Xing, Fang Feng and Bai Zhu, Yu Zhen San

– Hyperactivity of the liver yang marked by dizziness and headache: Used with Gou Teng, Huang Qin and Niu Xi—Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin, Dizziness due to up-stirring of wind phlegm—Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tan, for migraine, used with chuan xiong, i.e. tian ma wan

– Disperse wind dampness and relieve arthralgia—used with Qin Jiao, Qiang Huo, Niu Xi and Sang Ji Sheng

• Dosage: 3-10g. Powder: 1-1.5g

Fructus Tribuli (Bai ji li)• Taste and Property: Acrid, bitter and neutral• Meridian tropism: Liver• Actions: Calms the liver and anchors the yang, breaks up

stagnation of qi and blood, expels wind, brightens the eyes• Application:

– For headache, vertigo, or dizziness from ascendant liver yang, used with gou teng, zhen zhu mu, niu xi

– For pain and distention in the chest or flanks, irregular menstruation, or insufficient lactation, from constrained liver qi, used with chai hu, xiang fu, qing pi

– For red, swollen and painful eyes as well as increased tearing, used with ju hua, jue ming zi, gan cao

– For any kind of skin lesion with significant itching, such as hives, used with chan tui, fang feng

• Dosage: 6-15g

Concha Haliotidis (Shi jue ming)• Taste and Property: Salty and cold• Meridian: Liver• Actions: Suppress the liver, calm yang, clear liver and improve

eyesight• Applications:

– Dizziness and vertigo: • Dizziness due to hyperactivity of the liver yang, used with Sheng Di, Bai

Shao and Mu Li• That caused by hyperactivity with heat manifestations-used with Xia Ku Cao,

Gou teng and Ju Hua– Redness, swelling and pain of eyes, nebula and blurred vision: This is

one of the most important herb for clearing liver heat and improving eyesight, used with Jue Ming Zi and Ju Hua. For nebula, used with Mi Meng Hua and Gu Jing Cao. For blurred vision due to liver blood deficiency, used with Tu Si Zi and Shu Di, i.e. Shi Jue Ming Wan

• Dosage: 15-30g. Decocted first in the form of decoction

Di long (Earthworm) • Taste and Property: salty, cold• Meridian tropism: urinary bladder, liver, lung and spleen• Actions: drains heat, extinguishes wind, stops spasms and

convulsions; calms wheezing; unblocks the collaterals; facilitates urination

• Applications:– For extremely high fever leading to changes in consciousness,

incoherent speech, convulsions and seizures, used with gou teng, bai jiang can, or with huang qi, dang gui, chuang xiong, bu yang huan wu tang

– For swollen and painful joints with reduced range of motion, used with han fang ji, qin jiao

– For wheezing, especially due to lung heat, used with ma huang, xing ren– For hot painful urinary dribbling, edema, used with che qian zi, mu tong– For hypertention: used with huang qin, xia ku cao, shi jue ming

• Dosage: 4.5-15g

Buthus martensi (Quan xie) • Taste and Property: Pungent, neutral and toxic• Meridian tropism: Liver• Actions: Calm wind to relieve convulsion, detoxicate, dissipate nodules,

remove obstruction from collpaterals to relieve pain• Applications

– Acute or chronic convulsion, facial paralysis in stroke and convulsion in tetanus: Used with Wu Gong in powder, i.e. Zhi Jing San

» Infantile acute convulsion: with Tian ma, Gou Teng and Shan Yang Jiao• Chronic convulsion due to spleen deficiency: With Dang Shen, Bai Zhu and Tian Ma• Deviation of eyes and mouth: With Bai Fu Zi and Jiang cang, Qian Zhen San• Tetanus: Wth Tian nan Xing and Chan Tui, Wu Hu Zhui Feng San

– Carbuncles or scrofula: It is a commonly used herb for detoxicating, dissipating nodules and removing obstruction from collaterals and relieving pain

– Intractable headache or arthralgia: Used alone in powder or with Wu Gong and Jiang Can

• Dosage: 2-5g. In powder 0.6-1g• Attention: Over dosage should be avoided. Not suggested for endogenous

wind due to blood deficiency

Scolopendra (Wu gong)• Taste and Property: Acrid, warm and toxic• Meridian tropism: Liver• Actions: Calm wind to relieve convulsion, detoxicate, dissipate

nodules, unblocks collaterals to relieve pain• Applications

– For acute or chronic convulsion, opisthotonos, lockjaw, and seizures, used with quan xie in powder, i.e. Zhi Jing San

– Used topically for toxic nodules in general including sores, carbunckes, and neck lumps, also used for poisonous snakebite, used with gan cao together

– For stubborn headache and painful obstruction, used with du huo, wei ling xian

• Dosage: 1-3g. In powder 0.6-1g• Attention: Over dosage should be avoided. Not suggested for

pregnancy

Bombyx Batryticatus (Jiang can) • Taste and Property: Salty, pungent and neutral• Meridian Tropism: Liver and lung• Actions: Calm the wind to relieve convulsion, disperse wind to relieve pain

and detoxicating and dissipating nodules• Applications:

– Convulsion or epilepsy due to endogenous wind or exuebrance of phlegm heat, used with Quan Xie, Tian Ma and Dan Nan Xing, i.e. Qian Jin San. For convulsion due to spleen deficiency, used with Dang Shen, bai Zhu, Tian Ma, i.e. Xing Pi San

– Headache, red eyes, sore throat or toothache due to wind heat or liver heat• Headache due to wind heat marked by tearing on exposing to wind, with Jing Jie, Sang

Ye and Mu Zei, i.e. Bai Jiang Can San• Sore throat due to wind heat, with Jie Geng, Fang feng, Gan Cao, ie. Liu Wei tang

– Scrofula, furuncle, erysipelas, etc, used with Zhe Bei Mu, Xia Ku Cao and Lian Qiao

– Disperse wind to relieve itching, used with Bo He and Chan Tui for urticaria• Dosage: 3-10g or 1-1.5g in powder. Used raw for dispersing wind heat.

Formulas that Extinguish Wind

• Formulas that release wind from the skin and channels– Eliminate Wind Powder from True Lineage (xiao feng san) – Minor Invigorate the Collaterals Special Pill (xiao huo luo dan) – Lead to Symmetry Powder (qian zheng san)

• Formulas that extinguish internal wind– Sedate the Liver and Extinguish Wind Decoction (zhen gan xi

feng tang) – Antelope Horn and Uncaria Decoction (ling jiao gou teng tang) – Gastrodia and Uncaria Decoction (tian ma gou teng yin)

Eliminate Wind Powder from True Lineage (xiao feng san)

Ingredients: Jing jie, Fang feng, Niu bang zi, Chan tui, Cang zhu, Ku shen,

Mu tong, Shi gao, Zhi mu, Sheng di huang, Dang gui, Hei zhi ma, Gan cao

Actions and indications of the formula

• Actions– Disperse wind, eliminate dampness, clear

heat and cool blood.

• Indications– Weepy, itchy, red skin lesions over a large

part of the body, a white or yellow tongue coating, and a forceful, floating, and rapid pulse.

Analysis of Formula• Chief: Jing jie, Fang feng, Niu bang zi, Chan dui

– unblock the interstices and pores, and disperse external wind. • Depute: Cang zhu, ku shen, mu tong:

– drain damp heat through the urine – Shi gao, Zhi mu: clear heat from Qi level.

• Assistant: – Sheng di huang: cool blood– Dang gui, Hei zhi ma:nourish blood and moisten

• Envoy: Gan cao– clear heat, relieve toxicity and harmonize the action of other

herbs.

Modern application and attentions

• Modern application: – Urticaria, eczema, psoriasis, contact

dermatitis, tinea infection

• Attentions: – Can be taken orally or applied topically– Should not be used for marked qi or blood

deficiency

Minor Invigorate the Collaterals Special Pill (xiao huo luo dan)

Ingredients: Zhi cao wu, Zhi chuan wu, Tian nan xing, Mo yao,

Ru xiang, Di long

Actions and indications of the formula

• Actions– Invigorate blood, unblock the collaterals,

dispel wind dampness and transform phlegm.

• Indications– Pain, weakness and numbness due to

obstruction of wind, fixed or migrating pain in the bones and joints with reduced range of motion due to wind, cold and dampness. Pain and cold is the predominant factor. The tongue coating is white and moist

Analysis of Formula

• Chief: Zhi cao wu, Zhi chuan wu– strongly warming the channels

• Depute: Tian nan xing– strongly expel wind and scour out phlegm.

• Assistant: Ru xiang, Mo yao– invigorate blood and relieve pain

• Envoy: Di long– open the collaterals and invigorate the blood .

Modern application and attentions

• Modern application: – Hemiplegia, rheumatoid arthritis,

osteoarthritis, and peripheral nervous disorders

• Attentions: – This formula is only used for patient with

strong constitution. It is contraindicated for patients with yin deficiency or during pregnancy

Lead to Symmetry Powder (qian zheng san)

Ingredients: Bai fu zi, Jiang can, Quan xie

Actions and indications of the formula

• Actions– Dispel wind, transform phlegm, and stop

spasm.

• Indications– Sudden facial paralysis with deviation of the

eyes and mouth and facial muscle twitch.

Analysis of Formula

• Chief: Bai fu zi– dispel wind and transform phlegm

• Depute: Jiang can– extinguish internal wind.

• Assistant: Quan xie– extinguish wind and stop spasm

Modern application and attentions

• Modern application: – Sequela of cerbrovascular accident, Bell’s

palsy, trigeminal neuralgia, peripheral neuritis.

• Attentions: – This formula is only used for patient with

strong constitution. It is contraindicated for patients with yin deficiency or during pregnancy

Sedate the Liver and Extinguish Wind Decoction (zhen gan xi

feng tang)

Ingredients: Huai niu xi 30g, Dai zhe shi 30g, Long gu 15g, Mu li 15g, Gui ban 15g, Xuan

shen 15g, Tian men dong 15g, Bai shao 15g, Yin chen hao 6g, Chuan lian zi 6g, Mai ya 6g,

Gan cao 4.5g

Actions and indications of the formula

• Actions– Sedate the liver, extinguish wind, nourish yin

and anchor yang.

• Indications– Dizziness, vertigo, a feeling of distention in

the eyes, tinnitus, feverish sensation in the head, headache, irritability, flushed face, and a wiry, forceful pulse.

Analysis of Formula• Chief: Huai niu xi

– conduct the circulation of blood downward • Depute:

– dai zhe shi: direct qi downward and control its rebelliousness. Calm the liver and anchor the yang.

– Long gu, Mu li: sedate liver, extinguish wind, anchor yang and direct rebellious qi downward.

• Assistants:– Gui ban, Tian dong, Xuan shen, Bai shao: nourish yin and fluids, control

yang– Yin chen hao, chuan lian zi, mai ya: clear and drain the excessive liver

yang, soother the liver• Envoy: Gan cao

– harmonize stomach and the action of other herbs.

Modern application and attentions

• Modern application: – hypertension, hypertensive encephalopathy,

epilepsy, cerebral arteriosclerosis, cerebrovascular accident.

• Attentions: – Not suitable for spleen qi deficiency.

Antelope Horn and Uncaria Decoction (ling jiao gou teng

tang)

Ingredients: Ling yang jiao 4.5g, Gou teng 9g, Sang ye 6g, Ju hua 9g, Bai shao 9g,

Sheng di huang 15g, Chuan bei mu 12g, Zhu ru 15g, Fu shen 9g, Gan cao 2.4g

Actions and indications of the formula

• Actions– Cool the liver, extinguish wind, increase fluids

and relax the sinews.

• Indications– Persistent high fever, irritability, restlessness,

dizziness, vertigo, twitching and spasm of extremities, red dry tongue with prickles, a wiry and rapid pulse.

Analysis of Formula• Chief: Ling yang jiao, Gou teng

– pacify the liver, extinguish wind and clear heat• Depute:

– Sang ye, Ju hua: dispel wind and clear heat. • Assistant:

– Bai shao, Sheng di huang: nourish yin and fluids, soften liver and relax the sinews.

– Bei mu, zhu ru: clear heat and transform the phlegm– Fu shen: calm down the spirit

• Envoy: Gan cao– harmonize the action of other herbs. Strengthen yin, relax the

sinews.

Modern application and attentions

• Modern application: – hypertension, hypertensive encephalopathy,

encephalitis, meningitis, puerperal convulsions

• Attentions: – Contraindicated in cases due to with wind due

to internal deficiency.

Gastrodia and Uncaria Decoction (tian ma gou teng yin)

Ingredients: Tian ma, Gou teng, Shi jue ming, Zhi zi, Huang qin, Yi mu cao, Chuan niu xi, Du zhong, Sang ji sheng,

Ye jiao teng, Fu shen

Actions and indications of the formula

• Actions– Sedate the liver, extinguish wind, clear heat,

invigorate blood, and tonify liver and kidneys.

• Indications– Dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, a sensation

of heat rushing to the head, insomnia, a red tongue, and a wiry, rapid pulse.

Analysis of Formula

• Chief: Tian ma, Gou teng, Shi jue ming– Calm the liver and extinguish wind

• Depute: Zhi zi, Huang qin– Clear heat and drain fire.

• Assistant: – Yi mu cao: invigorate blood to support proper blood circulation– Chuan niu xi: conduct the blood downward– Du zhong, Sang ji sheng: tonify and nourish the liver and

kidneys. – Ye jiao teng, Fu shen: calm the spirit and steady the will

Modern application

• Modern application: – hypertension, hypertensive encephalopathy,

epilepsy, cerebrovascular disease, transitory ischemic attacks.