Herbal USA

MAIN SYMPTOMS: A history of traumatic injury to the low back and/or hip region, severe pain, enduring pain, pain which is fixed in location, pain which is worse at night, pain extending from the low back to the thigh, possible pain which radiates from the buttock area to the lower part of the thigh and lateral part of the leg, pressure pain, possible pain due to coughing or if the patient strains on his or her thigh, possible palpable cords or hardness in the buttock area, possible restricted movement of the lower limbs, possible systemic symptoms of qi stagnation and blood stasis, such as irritability, premenstrual breast distention and pain, painful menstruation, a dark, sooty facial complexion, a dark, purplish tongue with possible static macules or spots, and a bowstring, choppy pulse

TREATMENT PRINCIPLES: Quicken the blood and dispel stasis, move the qi and abduct stagnation

Rx: Shun Qi Huo Xue Tang (Normalize the Flow of Qi & Quicken the Blood Decoction)

Analysis OF FORMULA: Su Geng, Zhi Ke, Hou Po, Xiang Fu, Mu Xiang, and Sha Ren all move the qi and abduct stagnation. When the qi moves, the blood moves. Dang Gui Wei, Su Mu, Chi Shao, Tao Ren, and Hong Hua all quicken the blood, dispel stasis, and stop pain. In addition, Dang Gui Wei and Su Mu free the flow of the network vessels and are empirically specific medicinals for traumatic injury.

ADDITIONS & SUBTRACTIONS: For severe pain, especially at night, subtract Zhi Ke and Sha Ren and add three grams each of Quan Xie (Scorpio) and Wu Gong (Scolopendra), six grams of Tu Bie Chong (Eupolyphaga/Steleophaga), and nine grams each of Pu Huang (Pollen Typhae) and Wu Ling Zhi (Feces Trogopterori). For pain which is worse with cold and better with warmth, add 12 grams each of Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi) and Du Huo (Radix Angelicae Pubescentis) and three grams of Xi Xin (Herba Asari). For concomitant kidney vacuity, add nine grams of Du Zhong (Cortex Eucommiae), Xu Duan (Radix Dipsaci), and Sang Ji Sheng (HerbaTaxilli). For concomitant qi vacuity, add 15 grams of Huang Qi (Radix Astragali) and nine grams of Dang Shen (Radix Codonopsitis). If there is spasmodic pain, add 18 grams of Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Albae).

Acupuncture & moxibustion: Bilateral Xue Hai (Sp 10), Zhi Bian (Bl 54) on the affected side, a shi points in the affected area. If there is a visible purple vein in the area of Wei Zhong (B140), bleed this.

ANALYSIS OF FORMULA: Draining Xue Hai quickens the blood and dispels stasis. Draining Zhi Bian and Wei Zhong moves the qi and frees the flow of the network vessels in the affected area as do any local a shi points.

Additions & subtractions: For low back pain, add Shen Shu (Bl 23) and/or Yao Yang Guan (GV 3). For pain radiating to the lateral part of the leg, add Yang Ling Quan (GB 34) and Xuan Zhong (GB 39). For pain radiating to the calf, add Cheng Shan (Bl 57). For pain in the lateral part of the feet, add Kun Lun (Bl 60) and Ba Feng (M-LE-8).

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 31st, 2011 at 11:12 am and is filed under Herbal Therapy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.