Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang, Nine Herb Decoction with Notopterygium, is Qiang Huo, Fang Feng, Cang Zhu, Xi Xin, Chuan Xiong, Bai Zhi, Huang Qin, Sheng Di Huang and Gan Cao. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that release Exterior Cold.

Herb

Amount

4.5 g

4.5 g

4.5 g

1.5 g

3 g

3 g

3 g

3 g

3 g

Actions and indications

Induces sweating and expels Wind-Cold-Damp

Exterior invasion of Wind, Cold and Damp on top of Heat already building inside
Chills stronger than fever, without sweating
Head heavy as if wrapped, with headache, stiff and painful neck and back, and aching of the whole body and limbs
Tongue normal with a white or faintly yellow coat; pulse floating, frequently tight

Clears interior Heat

Restlessness, a bitter taste and mild thirst

Modern uses

Common cold
Influenza
Upper respiratory infections
Fever
Chills
Headache
Migraine
Neuralgia from a common cold
Sinusitis
Sinus congestion
Allergic rhinitis
Urticaria
Erysipelas
Facial nerve palsy
Torticollis
Neck stiffness
Muscle aches and pains
Rheumatic or musculoskeletal aches
Fibromyalgia
Tenosynovitis
Arthritis
Rheumatic arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Lumbar strain
Sciatica
Acute myocarditis

Modifications

Pain in the upper back and shoulders: + qin jiao

No thirst, no bitter taste or no clear signs of interior Heat: − huang qin, − sheng di huang

Thirst and irritability that are marked: + shi gao, + zhi mu

Throat dry or sore: + jie geng, + niu bang zi, + bo he

Distension and discomfort of the epigastrium with a greasy tongue coat: + huo xiang, + zhi ban xia, − sheng di huang

Cough with thick sputum: + xing ren, + qian hu

Severe Damp pain: + qiang huo, + cang zhu

Mild or moderate Damp pain: − xi xin, − cang zhu

Chest fullness and oppression from Damp: + zhi ke, + hou po, − sheng jiang

Severe headache: + gao ben

Neither bitter taste nor thirst, second listing: + sheng jiang, + huang qin

Clear, watery nasal discharge (combined with Xin Yi San)

Show all 29 modifications

Cough: + xing ren
Vomiting or thirst: + zhi shi, + jie geng
Combined with Zhi Sou San
Cough or chest congestion along with the exterior pattern: + jie geng, + zhi ke
More pronounced fever (Chai Hu or Sheng Ma): + chai hu, + sheng ma
Stronger sweating needed: + cong bai, + sheng jiang
Headache: + ge gen, + dang gui
Headache with severe dizziness: + ge gen, + dang gui, + tian ma, + gou teng, + ju hua
Headache with general weakness and deficiency: + ge gen, + dang gui, + huang qi, + bai zhu, + dang shen
Chronic headache: + ge gen, + dang gui, + tao ren, + hong hua, + quan xie
Migraine: + ge gen, + dang gui, + chai hu, + long dan cao
Occipital headache with a stiff, painful neck: + ge gen, + dang gui, + man jing zi, + gui zhi
Headache at the vertex: + ge gen, + dang gui, + gao ben
Acute urticaria from a drug allergy: + lu dou, + gan cao
Acute urticaria with parasites: + bing lang, + wu mei
Acute urticaria that keeps recurring: + chan tui, + fu ping, + di fu zi
Wind-Heat type acute hives: − xi xin

Cautions

contraindication Warm pathogen (febrile) diseases

contraindication Exterior deficiency with spontaneous sweating; a gentler way of releasing the exterior is needed

contraindication Interior Heat alone, or Wind-Cold alone, without the mixed pattern it is built for; modify it when either Cold or Heat clearly dominates

caution Use with great care where there is a tendency to Yin or Blood deficiency, since its acrid, drying herbs further deplete fluids

caution Meant for short use during an active exterior attack; taken after the exterior has cleared, its Wind-dispelling herbs can damage fluids and Yin

caution Xi Xin is traditionally not combined with Li Lu

pregnancy Contains Chuan Xiong, which moves Blood strongly; in pregnancy use only under professional guidance

Pinyin

jiu wei qiang huo tang

English Name

Nine Herb Decoction with Notopterygium

jiu wei qiang huo tang

About jiu wei qiang huo tang

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Induces sweating and expels Wind-Cold-Damp

Clears interior Heat

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification