HERB FORMULAS

QU HAN BI TANG - 祛寒痺汤 - DISPERSE COLD RHEUMATISM DECOCTION

English: Disperse Cold Rheumatism Decoction
Also Known As:

HERBS AND ACTIONS

Pharmaceutical Latin
Pin Yin
Dosage
Actions
Rx. Aconiti Preparata Zhi Chuan Wu 6g Expels Wind-Dampness, disperses Cold, warms and activates the channels and stops pain.
Rx. Aconiti Kusnezoffii Preparata Zhi Cao Wu 6g Expels Wind-Dampness, disperses Cold, warms and activates the channels and stops pain.
Rz. Typhonii Preparatum Zhi Bai Fu Zi 6g Dries Dampness, expels Wind, stops spasms, expels Wind-Cold-Dampness from the Upper Jiao and alleviates pain.
Ram. Cinnamomi Gui Zhi 10g Releases the Exterior, warms the channels to relieve pain, disperses Cold, unblocks Yang, transforms Qi, warms and facilitates the flow of Blood and releases the muscle layer.
With Ma Huang, for Wind-Cold Bi.
With Bai Shao, warms and tonifies the Middle Jiao.
With Zhi Chuan Wu and Zhi Cao Wu for chills, painful extremities and backache due to Yang Deficiency with Wind-Cold-Damp Bi.
Hb. Ephedrae Ma Huang 6g Releases the exterior and disperses Cold.
With Zhi Chuan Wu, for Wind-Cold Bi.
With Gui Zhi for Wind-Cold-Damp Bi.
Hb. cum Rx. Asari Xi Xin 3g Releases exterior Wind and Cold, disperses Internal Cold and alleviates pain.
With Ma Huang, alleviates Wind-Cold-Damp Bi pain.
Sm. Strychni Preparata Zhi Ma Qian Zi 1g Unblocks the channels and alleviates pain.
Olibanum Ru Xiang 3g Invigorates Blood, regulates Qi, relaxes the sinews, opens the channels and alleviates pain.
 With Mo Yao for Blood Stasis obstructing the channels.
Myrrh Mo Yao 3g Invigorates the Blood, dispels Blood Stasis and alleviates pain.
Flos Carthami Hong Hua 3g Invigorates the Blood, dispels Blood Stasis and alleviates pain.
Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao 10g Alleviates pain and nourishes Blood.
With Gan Cao, for muscle spasms especially in the calf, due to Blood Deficiency.
With Dang Gui, nourishes Yin and Blood.
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui 10g Tonifies, invigorates and harmonizes the Blood, disperses Cold and alleviates pain.
With Bai Shao, regulates and harmonizes Qi and Blood.
Fr. Chaenomelis Mu Gua 6g Relaxes sinews, unblocks the channels and transforms Dampness
 With Dang Gui and Bai Shao, for Blood Deficiency causing muscle spasms.
Honey-Prepared Rx. Glycyrrhizae Mi Zhi Gan Cao 3g Tonifies the Spleen , tonifies Qi, alleviates pain and moderates and harmonizes the properties of the other herbs.
With Bai Shao, for spasms of the calf or other muscles.

FORMULA ACTIONS

  • Warms the Channels
  • Dispels Cold
  • Circulates the Blood
  • Alleviates pain

SYNDROMES

  • Wind-Cold Dampness invades the Channels with predominance of Cold.
  • Cold Bi

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

  • Aversion to Cold
  • Cold extremities
  • Coldness of the affected area
  • Cold pain
  • Pain better with warmth
  • Pain aggravated by Cold
  • Sharp, stabbing pain
  • Shoulder pain
  • Neck pain
  • Elbow pain
  • Low back pain
  • Hand pain
  • Hip pain
  • Knee pain
  • Foot pain
  • Lack of thirst
  • Limited joint movement
  • T: Pale or Purple
  • C: Thin, white or Greasy white
  • P: Wiry and tight

TREATS

CONTRAINDICATIONS AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for those with Damp-Heat.
  • Contraindicated for those with Yin Deficiency.
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

NOTES

  • Zhi Chuan Wu should be decocted first for about thirty to sixty minutes to reduce its toxicity, before adding the other ingredients.

MODIFICATIONS

For heaviness of the extremities due to Dampness: For moving pain due to Wind:
+ 10g Cx. Acanthopanacis Wu Jia Pi + 10g Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng
+ 10g Ram. Mori Sang Zhi + 10g Zaocys Wu Shao She
For a greasy tongue coat:
    
+ 10g Rz. Atractylodes Cang Zhu    
+ 10g Rx. Stephaniae Han Fang Ji