The source is from the hooked vine of Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Jacks., family Rubiaceae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in the provinces of Hunan, Fujian and Guangdong, collected in spring and autumn, dried in the sun and cut into segments. The crude is used.

Medicinal Properties Sweet in flavor, slightly cold in nature and attributive to the liver, heart and pericardium meridians.

Actions Stop endogenous wind to relieve convulsion, and clear away liver-heat and calm the liver.

Application

1. It is used for liver-wind stirring inside with convulsion. For infantile convulsion, high fever and coma, it is combined with Tianma (Rhizoma Gastrodiae ), Shijueming ( Concha Haliotidis ), and Quanxie (Scorpio), such as Gouteng Yin (Decoction); for seasonal febrile disease with overabundance of heat bringing about wind syndrome, it is combined with Lingyangjiao ( Cornu Saigae Tataricae ), Longdan ( Radix Gentianae), and Juhua (Flos Chrysanthemi), etc.; for convulsion and cry of epilepsy, used with Tianzhuhuang ( Concertio Silicea Bambusae), Chantui (Periostracum Cicadae) and Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis), etc., such as Gouteng Yinzi (Decoction).

2. For liver-meridian heat syndrome manifested as distention of head, headache and redness of eyes or hyperactivity of liver-yang with dizziness, it is usually combined with Xiakucao ( Spica Prunellae), Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae ), Juhua ( Flos Chrysanthemis ) and Shijueming ( Concha Haliotidis), etc. so as to clear away heat and calm the liver.

Besides, it has good effect of lowering the blood pressure, so it can be used to treat hypertension.

Notes 3- 12 g is used in decoction for oral use, but it is not suitable to be decocted for a long time.

Tianma Rhizoma Gastrodiae

The source is from the tuber of Gastrodia elata BI., family Orchidaceae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in the areas of Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou, etc., dug and collected in winter and spring when the plant buds or the stem is dried, boiled with water or steamed and dried on mild fire after the cortex is removed. When used, it is soaked and cut into slices.

Medicinal Properties Sweet in flavor, mild in nature and attributive to the liver meridian.

Actions Stop endogenous wind to arrest convulsion, calm the liver and suppress yang.

Application

1. It is used for syndromes of liver-wind stirring inside with convulsion and so on. For acute infantile convulsion, it is usually combined with Gouteng (Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis ), Lingyangjiao (Cornu Saigae Tataricae), and Quanxie ( Scorpio ), etc., that is, Gouteng Yinzi (Decoction); for chronic infantile convulsion of spleen-deficiency type with slightly moving of hands and feet, it is combined with Renshen (Radix Ginseng), Baizhu ( Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae ), and Baijiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus ), etc., such as Xingpi Wan (Pill); for the treatment of tetanus, epilepsy and opisthotonos, combined with Tiannanxing (Rhizoma Arisaematis), Baifuzi (Rhizoma Typhonii) and Fangfeng (Radix Saposhnikoviae ), etc., such as Yuzhen San (Powder).

2. It is used for dizziness and headache due to hyperactivity of liver-yang, and is an essential herb of treating dizziness. For that due to hyperactivity of liver-yang, it is usually combined with Gouteng (Ramulus Uncariae cure Uncis ) , Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae ) , and Niuxi (Radix Achyranthis Bidenatatae), etc.; for that due to up-attacking of wind-phlegm, combined with Banxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae ), Baizhu ( Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) and Fuling (Poria), etc., that is Banxia Baizhu Tianma Tang (Decoction).

Besides, it can also expel wind and dampness, and alleviate obstructive pain, and so it is used for obstructive pain, numbness of the extremities and unsmooth movement of hands and feet, etc., it is usually combined with Qinjiao (Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae ), Qianghuo (Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii) , Niuxi ( Radix Achyranthis Bidenatatae ) and Sangjisheng (Ramutus Taxitli).

Usage and Dosage 3- 10 g is used in decoction for oral use. 1--1.5 g of the powder is swallowed.

Ouanxie Scorpio

The source is from the whole body of Buthus martensii Karsch, family Buthidae. The medicinal material is produced in all parts of China and mostly in the north areas of Yangtze River, is caught in spring and autumn, killed by boiling water or boiled with salt after being grasped, and then dried in the sun.

Medicinal Properties Pungent in flavor, mild in nature, toxic, and attributive to the liver meridian.

Actions Stop endogenous wind to relieve convulsion, eliminate toxic materials and disperse the lumps, and dredge the meridian and alleviate pain.

Application

1. For spasm and convulsion, it is often used in clinic together with Wugong (Scolopendra), which are ground together into powder that is called Zhijing San (Powder). For acute infantile convulsion, combined with Tianma ( Rhizoma Gastrodiae ), Gouteng ( Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis ) , and Lingyangjiao ( Cornu Saigae Tataricae), etc.; for chronic infantile convulsion due to spleen deficiency, usually combined with Dangshen (Radix Codonopsis ) , Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractytodis Macrocephalae) and Tianma (Rhizoma Gastrodiae), etc.; for apoplexy with distortion of the face, usually used together with Baifuzi ( Rhizoma Typhonii ) and Baijiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus), that is Qianzheng San (Powder); for tetanus and opisthotonos, usually yet combined with Tiannanxing ( Rhizom Arisaematis ) and Chantui ( Periostracum Cicadae).

2. For pyocutaneous disease, scrofula and subcutaneous nodes, Quanxie (Scorpio) in combination with Zhizi (Fructus Gardeniae) is fried in sesame oil and then prepared with yellow wax into medicinal extract for applying on the wounded areas.

3. For intractable headache and migraine and pain of Bi-syndrome due to wind and dampness, it is ground alone into powder for being swallowed; it is also used together with Wugong ( Scolopendra ) and Baijiangcan ( Bombyx Batryticatus ) .
Usage and Dosage 2 - 5 g is used in decoction for oral use. 0.6 - 1 g of the powder is swallowed. Just right amount is for external use.

Notes It is toxic, so the dosage can not be over large and used with caution in the cases with wind syndrome due to blood-deficiency.

Wugong Scolopendra

The source is from the dried whole body of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L., Koch., family Scolopendrae. The insect is produced in all parts of China, and caught in spring, dried in the sun or dried after being scalded by boiled water. The crude or roasted one is used.

Medicinal Properties Pungent in flavor, warm in nature, toxic and attributive to the liver meridian.

Actions Stop endogenous wind to relieve convulsion, eliminate toxic materials and disperse lumps, and dredge meridian and alleviate pain.

Application

1. It is used for acute and chronic convulsion and tetanus. Its action is similar to that of Quanxie (Scorpio), so the two medicines are often combined with each other to treat convulsion of hands and feet and opisthotonos.

3. In treating intractable spasm and pain of the head, and pain of Bi-syndrome due to wind and dampness, it is usually used together with Quanxie (Scorpio), Tianma ( Rhizome Gastrodiae ), Baijiangcan ( Bombyx Batryticatus) and Chuanxiong ( Rhizome Chuanxiong), etc..

Usage and Dosage 3 - 5 g is used in decoction; its powder of 0.6- 1 g is swallowed or applied externally with a proper amount of powder or oil mixture.

Notes With its poisonous nature, the dosage adopted should be small, and contraindicated for the pregnant women.