羌活
Notopterygium root (Qianghuo)
Pharmaceutical Name: Rhizoma seu Radix Notopterygii
Botanical Name: 1. Notopterygium incisium Ting ex H. T. Chang. 2. Notopterygium forbesii Boiss.
Common Name: Notopterygium root
Source of Earliest Record: Yaoxing Lun
Part Used: The root, or rhizome, is dug in the early spring or autumn, dried and cut into slices.
Natural Properties & Taste: Pungent, bitter and warm
Meridians: Kidney and urinary bladder
Therapeutic Effects:
1. To release the exterior and disperse cold.
2. To dispel wind and eliminate dampness.
3. To stop pain.
Indications:
1. Wind-cold exterior syndrome manifested by chills, fever, headache and severe general pain. Notopterygium root (Qianghuo) is used with Ledebouriella root (Fangfeng), Dahurian angelica root (Baizhi) and Atractylodes rhizome (Cangzhu).
2. Wind-cold-damp bi syndrome manifested as joint pain and soreness and pain in the shoulders and upper back. Notopterygium root (Qianghuo) is used with Ledebouriella root (Fangfeng) and Turmeric (Jianghuang).
Dosage: 3-10 g
Cautions & Contraindications: The herb is contraindicated in joint pain due to deficient blood and headache due to deficient yin.
