qiang huo

Name: qiang huo
Creator: Bencao Index

羌活·Notopterygii Rhizoma Seu Radix

Notopterygium Root

About qiang huo

Qiang Huo (羌活) is the rhizome and root of notopterygium, a plant of the carrot family, recorded as Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii. It is acrid, bitter and aromatic in flavour, warm in temperature, and enters the Bladder and Kidney channels. The catalogue files it among the acrid, warm herbs that release the Exterior.

Names

Pinyin	qiang huo
Chinese	羌活
Latin Name	Notopterygii Rhizoma Seu Radix·Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii
English Name	Notopterygium Root·notoptetygium root
Japanese	kyokatsu
Korean	kanghwal

Classification

Category: Acrid, Warm, Release Exterior
Channels: Bladder, Kidney
Flavour: Acrid, Bitter, Aromatic
Temperature: Warm
Family: Apiaceae
Species: Notopterygium
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Releases the Exterior and disperses Cold

Exterior Wind-Cold-Damp: chills and fever, headache, and a body that aches and feels heavy
Wind-Cold complicated by Damp, with joint pain, heaviness, sleepiness or pain at the back of the head

Expels Wind-Cold-Damp, unblocks Bi and relieves pain

Upper-body Wind-Cold-Damp Bi: aching, stiff arms, shoulders, upper back and occiput

Guides Qi to the Tai Yang and Du channels

Channel guide: in smaller amounts it leads a formula to the Tai Yang and Du vessels, toward the neck, upper back and occiput

Combinations

chuan xiong
Common cold or painful obstruction with headache and aches and pains all over the body
fang feng
External Wind-Dampness with pain
du huo
Wind-Dampness.
bai zhi
Headaches.
jie geng
Skin conditions.
fang feng + bai zhi + xi xin + chuan xiong
Wind-Cold with fever, aversion to cold, headache and muscle aches
fang feng + bai zhi + cang zhu
Wind-Cold.
jiang huang + fang feng
Wind-Cold-Damp Bi.
jing jie + fang feng
Wind-Cold without sweating, with occipital headache
cang zhu
Heavy-headed sensation.
long dan cao + huang lian + chan tui + bai ji li
Wind-Heat attacking the head, with red eyes
fang feng + dang gui + jiang huang + chi shao + gan cao
Wind-Cold-Dampness with joint pain and muscle aches
jiang huang + gui zhi
Arthritis of the upper limbs or upper body
fang feng + gao ben + chuan xiong
Wind-Damp headache.
du huo + gui zhi + chi shao + hong hua + wei ling xian
General arthritis.
du huo + gui zhi + chi shao + hong hua + wei ling xian + fang feng + zhi fu zi + zhi mu + song jie
Rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever and rheumatic arthritis

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 3-10g; Maximum dosage: 30g; Tincture: 2-4ml	3-10 g	—	2-4 ml	—	—

Cautions

contraindication Febrile disorders
contraindication Blood deficiency
contraindication Joint pain arising from Blood deficiency
contraindication Yin deficiency
contraindication Headache due to deficient Yin
contraindication Deficiency of the Exterior (Wei Qi)
contraindication External invasion with a dry throat
contraindication Bi syndrome with a red tongue and scanty or absent coat
caution Strongly acrid, aromatic and sweat-inducing, it can deplete fluids and worsen deficiency-type headache or body aches
caution Overdose or overuse may cause nausea and vomiting

Interactions

Drug interactions

Blood pressure medicines or diuretics: the extra fluid lost through sweating could matter (precautionary; no interaction demonstrated)

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