Clematis and Stephania Combination (shu jing huo xue tang)

 

Details of Clematis and Stephania Combination
Clematis' name in Chinese includes the character for "immortal".

Clematis' name in Chinese includes the character for "immortal".

Mentioned in these formula finders
body aches

Alternative Names

  • shu jing huo xue tang
  • Channel-Coursing Blood-Quickening Decoction
  • shu ching huo hsieh tang

Benefits

  • supports blood circulation in the legs and low back
  • promotes joint health

Ingredients

Fang Feng 防風 saposhnikovia root, ledebouriella root, siler Radix Ledebouriellae Divaricatae

  • “Fang Feng” translates to “guards against wind”. In this context, “wind” is the carrier of aches and pains that are aggravated by changes in humidity or barometric pressure. You know, those things that aggravate chronic pains in the joints.

Wei Ling Xian 威靈仙 Chinese clematis root, clematis Radix Clematidis
Cang Zhu 蒼术 atractylodes rhizome, cang shu Atractylodis Rhizoma
Qiang Huo 羌活 notopterygium root, chiang-huo Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii
Bai Zhi 白芷 angelica root Radix Angelicae Dahuricae

  • The four herbs above all “dry damp and eliminate wind”. They are commonly used for aches and pains that are aggravated by cold or damp weather. They have an aromatic flavor/smell that reminds me of Ben Gay© or Tiger Balm©

Long Dan Cao 龍膽草 Chinese gentian root, gentiana root Radix Gentianae Longdancao

  • This herb helps remove dampness from the liver channel. That means that along with Chuan Niu Xi mentioned below, it helps the efficacy of this formula enter into the legs.

Chen Pi 陳皮 aged tangerine peel, citrus Citri reticulatae Pericarpium
Fu Ling 茯苓 sclerotium of tuckahoe, China root, hoelen, Indian bread Poria Cocos
Han Fang Ji 漢防己 stephania root Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae [safety note]

  • We’re assuming that if damp weather aggravates one’s pain then there may be some dampness in the body that needs to be transformed or excreted (through the urine.) Chen pi dries dampness in the abdomen (great if you have lots of gurgling or bloating). Fu Ling is also for gurgling, but it doesn’t directly dry dampness, rather it removes it by stimulating urination. Han Fang Ji increases the urinary output too.

Sheng Di Huang 生地黃 Chinese foxglove root, rehmannia (fresh),Rehmannia root Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae
Chuan Xiong 川芎 Sichuan lovage root, cnidium, chuanxiong root Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong
Dang Gui 當歸 tangkuei, Chinese angelica root Radix Angelicae Sinensis [Pregnancy Note]
Bai Shao 白芍 white peony root, peony Paeoniae Radix alba [Pregnancy Note]

  • These four herbs make up a variation of Si Wu Tang, also known in these parts as Four Miracle Brew. They regulate, harmonies, nourish and otherwise take good care of your blood. What does blood have to do with joint pain? The blood of the “liver” is said to nourish the tendons and joints. When that blood is deficient (may or may not mean anemia), those joints can hurt, get stiff, and otherwise become a nuisance. These herbs address this underlying deficiency to address joint pain from the inside-out.

Chuan Niu Xi 川牛膝 cyathula root Cyathulae Radix [Pregnancy Note]
Tao Ren 桃仁 peach kernel, persica Persicae Semen [Pregnancy Note]

  • These last two herbs promote healthy blood circulation. There’s a principle that Chinese medicine uses to explain pain. “Where there is pain, there is no flow, and where there is flow, there is no pain.” These herbs promote flow.

Gan Cao 甘草 licorice root Radix Glycyrrhizae [caution]

  • Gan cao is added to many formulas to help all the ingredients play well together. It has a sweet taste, which softens the other herbs’ effects, thus reducing side-effects. This herb also stimulates stomach functions, which can help to better digest some of the heavier herbs in this formula such as the Dang Gui and Sheng Di Huang mentioned above.

Recommended for these body types:

Slightly Hearty

Slightly Hearty

Balanced

Balanced

Slightly Delicate

Slightly Delicate

Recommended for these thermal natures:

Neutral

Neutral

Cool

Cool

Cold

Cold

Dosage

This formula can be used to support health with or without symptoms. If symptoms are present, take 1 level teaspoon of the powder (8 capsules) three times daily. When symptoms are not present, take 1/2 level teaspoon (4 capsules), two times daily. Empty stomach is best for efficient absorption, but not essential. [More...]

At this dosage, your order will last approximately this long (?):

  • 100 grams powder (capsules or powder): 2-4 weeks
  • 200 grams powder (powder only): 1-2 months
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Guiding Herbs for this formula
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Read more about: Body Aches, Buy. Last updated 01/20/2011

2 Comments

  1. I have tendonitis in my elbows. Would shu jing huo xue tang be helpful for this condition? Is there another product(s) you would recommend instead? Also, what are the benefits of ordering the powder instead of capsules (faster absorption by the body)? How long can I continue to take shu jing huo xue tang?

  2. Hi Patricia,

    1. Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang is excellent for tendonitiis in the elbows.
    2. Other formulas that apply to tendonitis include the following (including some other key symptoms that would direct one toward those formulas instead of this one):
      • Wu Tou Tang (Aconite Decoction). This is for those who find that cold weather aggravates the pain. (this formula is not yet available but I could make it as a custom formula.)
      • Yi Yi Ren Tang (Semen Coicis Decoction). This is for when your elbows are swollen and red or hot to the touch. We call that “damp heat”. This formula focuses on this kind of inflammatory response.
      • Bu Xue Rong Jing Wan (Blood Supplementing and Tendon Nourishing “Pill”). This formula is used when the elbow pain is aggravated by fatigue or found in an extremely fatigued and tired person. (this formula is not yet available but I could make it as a custom formula.)

      But all things being equal, this Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang is a very good choice for tendonitis if you can’t decide if these other conditions apply to you.

    3. I have found that powder is, across the board, more efficacious than the capsules, however if you have a problem with funky tastes, then choose the capsules, because they’re better than buying the powder and not taking it. [More...]
    4. This formula can be taken for long-term, there are a few herbs in there that are commonly used to bolster one’s internal resources, and this action actually benefits from long-term exposure. However, you shouldn’t take this formula if the problem has gone away. There are other formulas that might make more sense as a preventive for you.

    Great questions, best of luck to you with your elbows.

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