Eagle Herbs

Gou teng's "hooks" are said to "hook" the internal wind to calm muscle spasms, tics, tremors, and the like.

Notes: RopinoHerb PLMD for periodic limb movements is based on Da Ding Feng Zhu (Major Arrest Wind Pearl). This formula first appeared in the text “Systemic Differentiation of Warm Disease” published in the year 1798. This formula uses heavy materials to weigh down the wind that blows through the body giving rise to the kicking and jerking movements.This formula also traditionally includes an egg yolk. The word “pearl” that shows up on this formula’s name is describing the egg yolk, not actually a pearl. The egg yolk is not added to the Eagle Herbs formula as my herb supplier does not offer this particular herb in extract powder form. I am not clear on whether or not it matters if the yolk was cooked in the tea with the other herbs or stirred in afterward. Either way, if you would like to add to the efficacy of this formula, eating the yolk of a hard boiled egg would make a certain amount of sense. Because of the potential of bacterial infections, raw egg yolk consumption is not encouraged.

Other ingredients added to the base formula assume other possible causes for internal wind that generates the tics, tremors, convulsions and other movements that would be more appropriate on a dance floor. While the article that describes the cause of PLMD focuses on Yin deficiency of the Liver leading to internal wind, TCM practitioners never assume that any two people will present with the exact same cause for their internal wind. So, this formula also addresses a number of the lesser known but commonly found causes for internal wind. If you’d like a formula that addresses your specific cause of internal wind, you can look into an EagleHerbs.com Custom Formula just for you.

Alternative Names

• Da Ding Feng Zhu Jia Jian
• Major Arrest Wind Pearl Modified

Ingredients

Bai Shao 白芍 white peony root, peony Paeoniae Radix alba [Pregnancy Note]

• Moisturizes Liver Sedates Tremors. This herb calms and nourishes the (TCM) Liver to calm the nerves and extinguish internal wind (those tics, tremors, and convulsions that define PLMD).

Gou Teng 芶藤 stems of gambir vine; gambir, uncaria vine Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis

• Hooks Wind Calms Spasm. Gou Teng is an interesting little herb that is a hook on the stem of the plant. It is said to “hook wind”. In short, it sedates wind which means addresses tics and tremors. It is also used to lower blood pressure.

Gui Ban 龜板 deep fried plastrum testudinis Testudinis Plastrum [Pregnancy Note]

• Heavy Herb Sedates Wind. Sometimes internal wind can be addressed with herbs that are heavy, the idea being that by nourishing the yin, the wind will be anchored down and not allowed to blow around the body causing tics and tremors. Think of this as spraying water on to a dusty road. With the water, the dust is anchored down and can’t blow around.

Bie Jia 鱉甲 Chinese soft-shelled turtle shell (dorsal aspect) Trionycis Carapax [Pregnancy Note]

• Heavy Shell Sedates Wind. This is another herb that works like the tortoise shell above. Nourishes yin and anchors yang which can give rise to wind if it gets too restless.

Mu Li 牡蠣 oyster shell Concha Ostreae

• Heavy Shell Anchors Wind. There’s something to be said for calcium in the body. It neutralizes stomach acid, we all know that. Its also an important component for nerve conduction and by extension is implicated in the treatment of internal wind’s tics, tremors and convulsions. In TCM we think of this herb as actually weighing down the wind to cause it to stop blowing around.

Dan Shen 丹蔘 salvia root Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix [caution]

• Cools Blood, Calms Spirit. This is another spirit calming herb that also improves blood circulation. Blood stagnation is the outcome of just about any long-term problem.

Di Long 地龍 earthworm; lumbricus Lumbricus [Pregnancy Note]

• Opens Channels, Relaxes Limbs. This is another herb that resembles sushi. It is the earth worm. Its ability to create tubes in the dirt are thought to apply to the acupuncture channels as well. As such, it treats spasms and convulsions by its ability to open the channels in much the same way as a flowing freeway will cause less cars to overheat (and spasm to a halt) than a traffic jam. I know that’s a stretch, but what do you want? It’s a worm, not a very romantic herb.

Tian Ma 天麻 gastrodia rhizome Rhizoma Gastrodiae Elatae

• Extinguishes Wind, Stops Spasms. This is probably the most potent and famous of all wind extinguishing herbs in the Chinese pharmacopeia. It is often used to lower hypertension (high blood pressure) as well.

Wu Wei Zi 五味子 schisandra fruit Schizandrae Fructus

• Sour Flavor Calms Tremors. This sour herb helps to moisturize the liver which helps settle down internal wind. It also calms in general. Teamed up with Zhi Gan Cao below, it is said to generate yin or body fluids.

Chai Hu 柴胡 hare’s ear root, thorowax root, bupleurum Radix Bupleuri [caution]

• Spreads Qi, Removes Frustration. This herb works with Bai Shao to help spread and circulate the qi. This ends up looking a little bit like calming the nervous system from the biomedical perspective.

Sha Ren 砂仁 amomum fruit, grains-of-paradise fruit Fructus Amomi [Pregnancy Note]

• Protects Stomach From Heaviness. All of those heavy ingredients used to extinguish wind can be a little difficult to digest and cause a heavy sensation in the tummy after you take this formula. This herb addresses that side effect.

Zhi Gan Cao 炙甘草 licorice root Radix Glycyrrhizae prep. [caution]

• Sweetly Sedates Side Effects. This herb is often added to formulas to harmonize the ingredients and soften side-effects. Basically, this herb makes everything work a little bit more slowly and gently. The sweet flavor associated with this herb mixed with the sour of Bai Shao and Wu Wei Zi (both herbs listed above) is said to generate body fluids which help address the underlying cause of the internal wind that this formula treats.

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 (?):

• 50 grams powder (capsules only): 1 to 2 weeks.
• 100 grams powder (capsules or powder): 2-4 weeks
• 200 grams powder (powder only): 1-2 months