qiang huo

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

Pinyinqiang huo
Chinese羌活
Latin NameNotopterygii Rhizoma Seu Radix·Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii
English NameNotopterygium Root·notoptetygium root
Japanesekyokatsu
Koreankanghwal

Classification

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

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 3-10g; Maximum dosage: 30g; Tincture: 2-4ml3-10 g2-4 ml

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions