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
• Painful joints,
• stiff knees
• weak lower back
• arthritis
• This formula seems to very popular for pets as well.

This formula is not used that much in the States but I just discovered that it is the number 2 formula prescribed in the Taiwan as seen in their national health services database. (Number one is the stress formula Xiao Yao San where in the West its Jia Wei Xiao Yao – its cousin.)

It is used for “Wind Cold Damp” (worse in cold damp weather, better with heat) which may cause pain of the knees and the other joints.

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 [supports pregnancy]

Bai Shao 白芍 white peony root, peony Paeoniae Radix alba [supports pregnancy]

• 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 [don’t use if pregnant]

Tao Ren 桃仁 peach kernel, persica Persicae Semen [don’t use if pregnant]

• 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.

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): 8 to 25 days
• 200 grams powder (powder only): 19 to 56 days