What are the effects and functions of Qianghuo?

Many times when we have some diseases, we will choose traditional Chinese medicine for treatment, especially when we are treating children. Traditional Chinese medicine has few side effects, and children’s fragile bodies cannot withstand the ravages of antibiotics. Today, I will introduce you to a traditional Chinese medicine - Notopterygium wilfordii.

1. Efficacy and function of Notopterygium wilfordii

① "Materia Medica": It is used to treat wind-induced paralysis, aphonia, itching and bloody leprosy, paralysis of hands and feet, facial deformity, and stubborn numbness all over the body.

② "Bencao Gangmu" (Bencao Gangmu): It can treat all kinds of wind and qi, cramps in muscles and bones, weak limbs, dizziness, red and painful eyes, water vapor in the eyes, five kinds of fatigue and seven kinds of injuries, deficiency and cold, soreness and pain in joints, and promote the functioning of the five internal organs.

③ "Pearl Capsule": It can relieve headaches caused by the Taiyang meridian, pain in bones and joints, and can also warm the gallbladder.

④ "Pin Hui Jing Yao": It is used to treat pain in all joints of the body, eight wind evils on the skin, new and old rheumatism, and carbuncle.

⑤ "Bencao Beiyao": It can relieve liver qi, search for liver wind, treat rheumatism, headache due to this meridian (Tai Yang), disease of the Governor Vessel, stiffness and fainting of the spine, rigid and soft spasms, aphasia due to stroke, dizziness and red eyes.

⑥ "Hui Yue Yi Mirror": Treats evil retention, aversion to cold, high fever without sweating.

2. Additional prescription

①For the treatment of cold, fever and tonsillitis: 4-5 qian of Qianghuo, 1 liang each of Isatis root and Taraxacum mongolicum. Decoction in water, one dose per day, divided into two doses. (Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine)

②Treatment of solar typhoid fever without sweating: Qianghuo, Duhuo, Jingjie, Fangfeng, Guangpi, and Gancao. Decoction. ("Medical Grade" Qianghuo Decoction)

③ Relieve teeth cold: Qianghuo, Fangfeng, Atractylodes, Asarum, Chuanxiong, Angelica dahurica, Rehmannia glutinosa, Scutellaria baicalensis, and Licorice. Decoction: If you want to induce sweating quickly, take it with soup or porridge. If you want to induce sweating slowly, take it warm without soup. (Zhang Yuansu Nine-flavor Qianghuo Decoction)

④Treat headache caused by Taiyang meridian: 2 fen of Saposhnikovia divaricata, 3 fen of Qianghuo, and 2 red beans. Grind it into powder and inhale it into the nose. (The Secret Meaning of Jade Machine)

⑤To treat symptoms of exogenous cold invading the brain, headache with teeth, cold hands and feet, and cold breath in the mouth and nose: one qian of Qianghuo, five fen each of Fuzi and Ganjiang, and eight fen of roasted Gancao. Decoction in water. (Qianghuo Fuzi Decoction from "Medical Insights")

⑥ Treat rheumatism, body aches, cramps and pain that make it impossible to bend or stretch, or slight swelling and numbness of the body: Qianghuo (without the stem), Fuzi (blasted, with the skin and navel removed), Baizhu, and Gancao (roasted) in equal parts. Take four grams each time, add one and a half cups of water and five slices of ginger, boil until seven parts are left, remove the residue, and take it warm at any time. (Qiangfu Decoction from Jisheng Fang)