Class 1~2: Herbs and
Formulas that Extinguish Wind
Xianhui Li
Herbs that Extinguish Wind
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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)
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)
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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
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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)
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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
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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:
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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.