Herbs that Dispel Wind- Dampness

Question 1

What do Wind-Damp dispelling herbs do?

Answer 1

Dispel wind-dampness from muscles, sinews, joints, and bones, alleviates painful obstructions (bi) and invigorates collaterals.

Wind is migratory and causes pain.
Damp is heavy and swollen.
Can involve blood stasis and phlegm.

Most herbs are drying and can injure yin and blood.

Question 2

du huo overview

Answer 2

Pharama name: Angelicae pubescentis Radix
English: angelica root
Properties: Bitter, Acrid, Warm
Channels: Kidney, Bladder
Characteristics:
treats painful obstructions in lower body
dispels wind in Kidneys
Caution: Can injure yin or those with blood deficiency

CHRONIC AND ACUTE

Acrid- dispersing, Bitter- drying, warming to expel pathogenic cold, promote qi and blood flow, dispels wind, prevails dampness, disperses cold, unblocks painful obstruction

Question 3

du huo

Answer 3

Angelicae pubescentis Radix
Angelica Root
Bitter, Acrid, Warm
Kidney, Bladder
CHRONIC AND ACCUTE
WARMING HERB

Treats painful obstructions in the lower body
Dispels Wind in Kidneys
Warming, drying, dispersing
Promotes qi and bloodflow
Drys dampness
Lesser yin stage headache and toothache

Caution: can injure yin or those with blood deficiency. Not for those with wind caused by the external.

Question 4

Hai tong pi overview

Answer 4

Pharmaceutical name: Erythrinae Cortex
English name: coral-bean bark
Channels: Liver, spleen, kidneys
Key characteristics: treats wind dampness in lower half of the body, excels at alleviating pain

Bitter, neutral, downward directing

Internally: unblocks collaterals, alleviate lower body pain form wind-damp obstruction, leg qi, and gout.

Externally: transforms dampness, skin disorders such as scabies, toothache from cavities

Most associated with hot painful obstructions or damp heat in lower burner
Treats damp heat diahrrea and dysentary

Question 5

hai tong pi actions, indications, contraindication

Answer 5

Used for hot or cold
Dispels wind dampness
Unblocks channels and collaterals for wind damp painful obstructions
Promotes urination and reduce edema
Itchy skin lesions
Gargle for toothache

Acrid- dispersing, mobilization, warms unblocking, promotes flow in channels, favors lower body

Contraindications:
Lower back pain not from wind dampness
those with lack of blood or accumulated fire

Question 6

wei ling xian overview

Answer 6

Pharmaceutical name: Clematidis Radix
English: celmatis root
Properties: acrid, salty, warm
Channels: Bladder
Contraindications: piercing and mobilizing, excessive use will injure qi. Caution with qi or blood deficiency.

Question 7

wei ling xian actions and indications

Answer 7

Dispels wind dampness
unblocks channels
alleviates pain - especially with obstruction
releases the exterior
promotes movement of qi in channels
softens and transforms fish bones
focal distention and accumulation in middle burner
reduces phlegm and pathogenic water

Degree of toxcicity

Question 8

mu gua overview

Answer 8

Pharma name: Chaenomelis Fructus
English: quince fruit
Properties: sour, warm, aromatic
Channels: Liver, Spleen
Key Characteristics: transforms dampness, harmonizes spleen and stomach, alleviates cramping
warm without drying

Contraindication:
those with internal constrained heat and scanty dark urine
hyperchlorhydria
if weakness in lower back is from insufficient essence, blood, or true yin

Question 9

mu gua actions and indications

Answer 9

relaxes sinews and unblocks channels for damp painful obstructions in extremities (especially with severe cramping and weakness in lower back and lower extremities)

VERY effective for relaxing sinews

harmonizes stomach and transforms dampness

Reduces food stagnation and indigestion

Question 10

Can sha overview

Answer 10

Pharm name: Bombycis Faeces
English: silkworm feces
Properties: sweet, acrid, warm
Channels Entered: liver, spleen, stomach
Key characteristics: dried dampness, expels wind
No contraindications
MILD Good for deficient patients

Question 11

Can sha Actions and indications

Answer 11

Dispels wind
eliminates dampness
painful obstructions or damp itchy rashes
harmonizes stomach and transforms turbid dampness (vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, abdominal pain, spasms in calf)

Question 12

sang ji sheng overview

Answer 12

Pharma name: Taxilli Herba
English: mulberry mistletoe stems
Properties: bitter, sweet, neutral
Channels: Kidney, Liver
Key Characteristics: tonifies Liver and Kidneys, nourishes tin and blood, expells wind dampness, quiets fetus in pregnancy
Used for chronic painful obstruction disorders

TONIFIES

Question 13

sang ji sheng actions and indications

Answer 13

Tonifies Liver and Kidneys
Strengthens sinews and bones
expels wind-dampness
insufficient liver and kidney yin with soreness and pain in lower back and extremities
Nourishes blood
Calms womb
Nourishes blood and benefits the skin from dryness from blood deficiency

Question 14

wu jian pi

Answer 14

Pharmaceutical name: Eleutherococci gracilistyli Cortex
English: eleutheroococcus root bark
Properties: bitter, warm, acrid
Channels: Liver, Kidney
Key Characteristics: clears wind dampness, warms kidneys and liver, strengthens sinews
disperses pathogenic wind dampness, warmly tonifies yang qi of kidney and liver, strengthens sinews and bones

Question 15

wi jia pi actions and indications

Answer 15

Dispels wind dampness
strengthens sinews and bones
painful obstruction when chronic kidney and liver deficiency cause weak or fost sinews and bones
useful to unblock qi and blood flow
good for elderly
transforms dampness and reduces swelling

Contraindications: not taken by those without wind, cold, damp pathogens in lower body who have fire instead or those with K,L, deficiency with fire

Question 16

lao gan cao overview

Answer 16

Pharma Name: Erodii/ Geranii Herba
English: cranesbill
Properties: acrid, bitter, neutral
Key characteristics: stops pain and itching due to wind, invigorates the blood, clears heat, resolves toxicity
treats pain from wind dampness, cramps, numbness, traumatic injuries, sores, dysentary

Question 17

lao guan cao actions and indications

Answer 17

Dispels wind and eliminates dampness while dredging and unblocking channels and collaterals for painful obstruction and severe pain due to wind dampness, spasms, numbness
clears heat, resolves toxcity, restrains, and generates flesh

Question 18

shen jin cao

Answer 18

Pharma: Lycopodii Herba
English: Lycopodium, ground pine
Properties: bitter, acrid, warm
Channels: Liver, Spleen, Kidney
Key Characteristics: Dispels wind dampness, relaxes sinews, invigorates collaterals
Contra: use with caution in pregnancy and bleeding diathesis
primarily used in treatment of wind damp painful obstruction with contraction of sinews constricting leg movement

Question 19

shen jin cao actions and indications

Answer 19

dispels wind and eliminates dampness - painful obstructions with troubling flexing and extending joints
relaxes sinews and invigortes collaterals - swelling and pain due to stasis or trauma

Question 20

xu chang qing

Answer 20

Pharma: Cynanchi paniculati Radix
English: paniculate cynanchum
Properties: Acrid, warm
Channels: Liver, Stomach
Key Characteristics: dispels wind, stops pain, invigorates blood, reduces edema, alleviates itching
epigastric pain, toothache, dysmenorrhea
resolves toxicity

Question 21

xu chang qing actions and indications

Answer 21

dispels wind, invigorates blood, stops pain for wind damp obstructions with trauma
resolves toxicity and stops itching (eczema, snakebite)

Question 22

Chuan Shan long

Answer 22

Pharma: Dioscorea nipponicae Rhizoma
English: Japanese dioscorea rhizome
Properties: bitter, neutral, slightly toxic
Channels: Liver, lung
Characteristics: expels wind-dampness, relaxes sinews, transforms phlegm, stops cough

Question 23

Chuan shan long actions and indications

Answer 23

dispels wind and eliminates dampness: wind damp painful obstruction with numbness of flesh and skin, difficulty flexing and extending joints. Hot painful obstructions
Invigorates blood, unblocks collaterals: blood stasis due to trauma or chest obstructions
Transforms phlegm and alleviates cough

Slightly toxic: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, gi issues, dizziness, blurred vision

Question 24

Qin Jiao

Answer 24

Pharma: Gentianae macrophyllae Radix
English: large gentian root
Properties: acrid, bitter, slightly cold
Channels: Gallbladder, Liver, Stomach
Key Characteristics:
dispels wind damp, eliminates tidal fever, and steaming bone disorder
Contraindications: loose stool due to spleen deficiency
Acrid- disperses
Bitter- drains
does not dry excessively, harmonious nature
moistening!

Question 25

Acrid

Answer 25

Disperses

Question 26

Bitter

Answer 26

Drains

Question 27

Qin Jiao

Answer 27

Dispels wind dampness and soothes sinews and collaterals - painful obstructions, cramping in extremities Acute or chronic, hot or cold Clears heat from deficiency, yin deficiency as steaming bones or fever Resolves dampness Reduces jaundice Moistens intestine and unblocks bowels

Question 28

Sang zhi

Answer 28

Pharma: Mori Ramulus English: Mulberry twig Properties: bitter, neutral Channels: Liver Characteristics: dispels wind dampness, unblocks collaterals, treats pain, numbness, itching, especially in upper limbs due to painful obstructive disorder Thrusts out to reach limbs, wide range

Question 29

Sang Zhi actions and indications

Answer 29

Dispels wind, unblocks channels and collaterals, benefits joints - obstructions and spasms in upper body from warmth Edema with joint pain

Question 30

Xi Xian Cao

Answer 30

Pharma: Siegesbeckiae Herba English: siegesbeckia Properties: bitter, cold Channels: Kidney, Liver Key characteristics: cools heat, dispels wind dampness, stops itching, calms spirit damp heat sores, wind rash

Question 31

Xi Xian Cao Actions and Indications

Answer 31

Dispels wind dampness, unblocks channels and collaterals - obstruction with pain in the joints spasm and cramps in extremities, numbness, weakness Clears heat and pacifies liver Clears and transforms damp heat Hypertension

Question 32

DU HUO

Answer 32

Du Huo: Angelicae pubescentis Radix Angelica Root Bitter, Acrid, Warm Kidney, Bladder CHRONIC AND ACCUTE WARMING HERB Treats painful obstructions in the lower body Dispels Wind in Kidneys Warming, drying, dispersing Promotes qi and bloodflow Drys dampness Lesser yin stage headache and toothache Caution: can injure yin or those with blood deficiency. Not for those with wind caused by the external.

Question 33

HAI TONG PI

Answer 33

Hai tong pi: Erythrinae Cortex Coral bean Bark Liver, Spleen, Kidneys Bitter, Neutral, downward directing NEUTRAL HERB INTERNALLY: Treats wind dampness in lower body Excels at alleviating pain Unblocks collaterals Alleviates lower body pain from wind damp obstructions (legs, qi, gout) Most associated with hot painful obstructions or damp heat in lower burner Treats diarrhea Promotes urination Unblocks channels and collateral Used for hot and cold Dispersing Mobilizing Favors lower body Unblocking Promotes flow in channels EXTERNALLY: transforms dampness treats skin disorders (scabies, itchy skin lesions) toothache from cavities Contraindications: Lower back pain not from dampness Those with lack of blood or accumulated fire

Question 34

WEI LING

Answer 34

Wei Ling Clematidis Radix celmatis root Acrid, Salty, Bitter Bladder COOL HERB Dispels wind damp Unblocks channels Alleviates painful obstructions Releases exterior Moves qi in channels Softens and transforms fish bones Reduces phlegm Contraindications: Degree of toxicity, piercing and mobilizing, excessive use will injure qi Caution with qi or blood deficiency

Question 35

MU GUA

Answer 35

Mu Gua Chaenomelis Fructus quince fruit Sour, Warm, Aromatic Liver, Spleen WARM HERB Transforms dampness Harmonizes spleen and stomach Alleviates cramping Warm without Drying Relaxes sinews (VERY EFFECTIVE) Reduces food stagnations Unblocks channels from obstructions in extremities (especially with weak low back and extremities) Contraindications: internal constrained heat with dark scanty urine Hyperchlorhydria Weakness in low back from insufficient essence, blood, or true yin

Question 36

CAN SHA

Answer 36

Can Sha Bombycis Faeces Silkworm Feces Sweet, Acrid, Warm WARM HERB, MILD HERB Liver, Spleen, Stomach Dries dampness Expels wind Good for deficient patients Painful obstructions Damp itchy rashes Harmonizes stomach to transform turbid dampness (expulsions, cramps, spasms)

Question 37

SANG JI SHENG

Answer 37

Sang Ji Sheng: Taxilli Herba mulberry mistletoe stems Bitter, Sweet, Neutral NEUTRAL HERB, TONIFYING HERB Kidney, Liver Tonifies liver and kidneys (soreness and pain in lower back and extremities) Nourishes yin and blood Expels wind dampness Quiets fetus For chronic painful obstructive disorders Strengthens sinews and bones Moisturizes shin from blood deficiency dryness

Question 38

WU JIAN PI

Answer 38

Wu Jian Pi: Eleutherococci gracilistyli Cortex eleutheroococcus root bark Bitter, Warm, Acrid WARM HERB Liver, Kidney Strenghtens sinews Disperses pathogenic wind dampness Warmly tonifies yang qi or kidneys and liver Unblock qi and blood flow Reduces swelling Contraindications: Not for those without wind, cold, damp pathogens

Question 39

LAO GAN CAO

Answer 39

Lao Gan Cao: Erodii/ Geranii Herba Cranesbill Acrid, Bitter, Neutral NEUTRAL HERB Stops pain and itching due to wind Invigorates blood Clears heat Resolves toxicity Pain from wind dampness, cramps, trauma, sores, dysentery, numbness Unblocks channels and collaterals for painful obstruction Dredges and unblocks channels Generates flesh

Question 40

SHEN JIN CAO

Answer 40

Shen Jin Cao: Lycopodii Herba Lycopodium, ground pine Bitter, Acrid, Warm Liver, Spleen, Kidney Dispels wind dampness Relaxes sinews Invigorates collaterals Treat wind damp painful obstructions with contractions of sinews, constricting leg movement Trouble flexing and extending joints swelling Contraindications: Pregnancy and Bleeding diathesis

Question 41

XU CHANG QING

Answer 41

Xu Chang Qing Cynanchi paniculati Radix paniculate cynanchum Acrid, Warm Liver, Stomach WARMING HERB Dispels wind Stops pain Invigorates blood Reduces edema Alleviates itching Epigastric pain, toothache, dysmenorrhea Resolves toxicity

Question 42

CHUAN SHAN LONG

Answer 42

Chuan Shan Long Dioscorea nipponicae Rhizoma Japanese dioscorea rhizome Bitter, Neutral, Slightly Toxic NEUTRAL HERB Liver, Lung Expels wind-dampness – painful obstructions with numbness, hot obstructions, joint extension and flexing Relaxes sinews Transforms Phlegm Stops cough Slightly toxic – gi distress, dizziness, blurred vision

Question 43

QIN JIAO

Answer 43

Qin Jiao Gentianae macrophyllae Radix large gentian root Acrid, Bitter, Slightly cold COOL HERB Dispels wind damp Soothes sinews and collaterals – painful obstructions, cramping extremities ACUTE OR CHRONIC, HOT OR COLD Clears head from deficiency, yin deficiency, or steaming bones Reduces jaundice Eliminates tidal fever and steaming bone disorder Does not dry excessively, harmonious nature Moistens intestines, unblocks bowels Contraindications: loose stool from spleen deficiency

Question 44

SANG ZHI

Answer 44

Sang Zhi Mori Ramulus Mulberry twig Bitter, Neutral NEUTRAL HERB Liver Dispels wind damp Unblocks collaterals Benefits joints Edema with joint pain Treats pain, numb, itch, especially in upper limbs do to painful obstructions Thrusts out to reach limbs, wide range

Question 45

XI XIAN CAO

Answer 45

Xi Xian Cao Siegesbeckiae Herba Siegesbeckia Bitter, Cold Kidney Liver COLD HERB Cools heat Dispels wind dampness Stops itching Calms spirit Damp heat sores, wind rash Unblocks channels and collaterals – obstruction with joint pain Spasms and cramps in extremities Transforms damp heat Hypertension