Chinese: 九味羌活汤
Pinyin: Jiǔ Wèi Qiāng Huó Tāng
Other names: Nine-Herb Decoction with Notopterygium,
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Wind-Cold
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: MigraineUrticariaSinusitis and nine other conditions
- Induces sweating
- Dispels Dampness
- Expels Wind-Cold
- Clears Interior Heat
Contraindications: This formula is contraindicated to treat diseases with warm or heat Pernicious... This formula is contraindicated to treat diseases with warm or heat Pernicious Factors such as Damp-Heat, especially these with Yin Deficiency. It is because the formula is of acrid and drying nature. see more
Source date: 1308 AD
Source book: Hard-Won Knowledge
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang is a 9-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Notopterygium Roots (Qiang Huo) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 1308 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Wind-Cold. Its main actions are: 1) induces sweating and 2) dispels Dampness.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Wind-Cold or Damp-Wind. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as common cold, migraine or urticaria for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the nine ingredients in Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang helps treat.
The nine ingredients in Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang
Qiang Huo is a king ingredient in Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Notopterygium Roots (Qiang Huo)
In general Qiang Huo's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold and Dampness. Relieves Wind-Damp-Cold painful obstruction. Directs Qi to the Greater Yang (Tai Yang) channel and the Governing Vessel."
In the context of Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang, it is used because it is aromatic. It is the principal herbs for dispersing Exterior Wind, Cold and Dampness.
Fang Feng is a deputy ingredient in Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Saposhnikovia Roots (Fang Feng)
Fang Feng together with Black atractylodes rhizome, assists the key herb in releasing the Exterior and eliminating Dampness.
Cang Zhu is a deputy ingredient in Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Black Atractylodes Rhizomes (Cang Zhu)
Part used: The dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Aromatic herbs that transform Dampness
In general Cang Zhu's main actions are as follows: "Dries Damp and tonifies the Spleen. Relieves the Exterior for invasion of Wind-Cold-Damp. Relieves Wind-Damp painful obstruction. Dries Damp for either Damp-Cold or Damp-Heat when combined with the correct herbs. Clears the eyes and improves sight."
In the context of Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang, it is used because it like Saposhnikovia root, assists the key herb in releasing the Exterior and eliminating Dampness.
Xi Xin is a deputy ingredient in Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Wild Ginger (Xi Xin)
In general Xi Xin's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Exterior and warms the Yang. Expels Cold and relieves pain. Warms the Lungs and reduces Phlegm. Moves the Qi and disperses Phlegm to open the nasal passages."
In the context of Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang, it is used because it assists the key herb in releasing the Exterior. It also relives headache and body pain.
Chuan Xiong is a deputy ingredient in Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Szechuan Lovage Roots (Chuan Xiong)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: GallbladderLiverPericardium
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
In general Chuan Xiong's main actions are as follows: "Regulates and moves the Blood. Relieves Wind-Cold and pain. Circulates the Qi in the Upper Burner, relieving headaches."
In the context of Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang, it is used because it assists the key herb in releasing the Exterior. It also relives headache and body pain.
Bai Zhi is a deputy ingredient in Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
6. Angelica Roots (Bai Zhi)
In general Bai Zhi's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Exterior and disperses Wind. Disperses Wind and Cold from the Yang Brightness channels. Relieves Wind-Damp Cold painful obstruction. Dries Dampness and pus and reduces swelling. Opens the nasal passages."
In the context of Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang, it is used because it assists the key herb in releasing the Exterior. It also relives headache and body pain.
Huang Qin is an assistant ingredient in Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Baikal Skullcap Roots (Huang Qin)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLungSmall intestineSpleen
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Huang Qin's main actions are as follows: "Expels Heat and Dampness. Clears Upper Burner Heat, especially of the Lung. Clears Heat and stops reckless movement of Blood. Clears pathogenic Heat which is upsetting the fetus. Cools the Liver, reducing Liver Yang rising syndrome."
In the context of Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang, it is used because it clears Interior Heat in the Qi and Blood according to the Four Level Theory.
Di Huang is an assistant ingredient in Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang)
Part used: Prepared dried root tuber
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Di Huang relieves the thirst and bitter taste in the mouth. It also protect the Body Fluids from the dry nature of the other herbs.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
9. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Gan Cao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs."
In the context of Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang, it is used because it harmonizes the the actions of the other herbs and the Middle Burner.
Conditions and patterns for which Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang may be prescribed
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang is used by TCM practitioners to treat two different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Common cold Migraine Urticaria Sinusitis Facial nerve palsy Torticollis Fibromyalgia Tenosynovitis Lumbar strain Erysipelas Acute myocarditis Rheumatoid arthritis
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang treats common cold" for instance. Rather, Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind common cold.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang.
'Cold' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Cold pattern in Chinese Medicine
Wind-Cold
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Floating (Fu)
Symptoms: Fever Chills Sneezing Coughing No sweat Headaches No thirst Runny nose Body aches Sore throat Blocked nose Itchy throat Aversion to cold White watery mucus Occipital headaches Occipital stiffness
Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Wind-Cold. This pattern leads to symptoms such as aversion to cold, fever, sneezing and coughing. Patients with Wind-Cold typically exhibit tight (Jin) or floating (Fu) pulses.
This pattern is similar to Wind-Heat, but the Wind is combined with Cold rather than Heat. The shared symptoms are aversion to cold, sneezing, coughing, runny nose (with different mucus color), fever, occipital stiffness and ache. The different symptoms are the white watery mucus, no thirst, no... read more about Wind-Cold
Wind is one of the pathogenic factors in Chinese Medicine. Learn more about Wind in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Wind
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Floating (Fu)
Symptoms: Fever Nausea Sweating Body aches Muscle ache Swollen joints Aversion to cold Swollen neck glands Occipital stiffness Feeling of heaviness
Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Damp-Wind. This pattern leads to symptoms such as aversion to cold, fever, swollen neck glands and nausea. Patients with Damp-Wind typically exhibit slippery (Hua) or floating (Fu) pulses.
This pattern indicates the early stage of Exterior Wind and Dampness invasion. When there is Dampness obstructing the Connecting channels, it gives rise to swollen glands in the neck. When it obstructs the joints, it leads to pain there. It can also cause muscle ache and feeling of heaviness if the... read more about Damp-Wind
Formulas similar to Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang
Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San is 67% similar to Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang
Xin Yi San is 56% similar to Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang
Qiang Huo Sheng Shi Tang is 44% similar to Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang
Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang is 44% similar to Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang
Zai Zao San is 42% similar to Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang
Dang Gui Yin Zi is 40% similar to Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang