This is a favorite formula used for a flu with body aches. Naturally, that includes headaches, but much more.

This formula actually comes from one of the “bibles” in Chinese medicine called the Shang Han Lun (On Cold Damage). This book (or “treatise” as they say) was written around the year 200. About 66% of this book is devoted to the treatment of the common cold.

One of the scenarios that this book describes is where the “cold” becomes a “heat”. That’s when there is more fever than chills.

Other symptoms addressed with this formula (when due to wind-heat!) include: decreasing chills with increasing fever (as mentioned above), headache, muscle pain and aches, aching in the extremities, painful eyes and orbital region, bloodshot eyes, dry nose, irritability with insomnia, thirst, bitter taste in the mouth.

Alternative Names

• Chai-ko-chieh-chi-tang
• Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang
• Bupleurum and Kudzu Decoction to Release the Muscle Layer Decoction
• Tsai Ko Chieh Chi Tang
• Bupleurum and Pueraria Decoction for Relieving Muscles

Ingredients

Ge Gen 葛根 kudzu root, pueraria Radix Puerariae

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

• The two herbs above remove heat from the muscle layer. You can think of this portion of the formula as removing the body aches by pushing the fever out through a sweat.

Qiang Huo 羌活 notopterygium root, chiang-huo Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii

Bai Zhi 白芷 angelica root Radix Angelicae Dahuricae

• These next two herbs assist with the first two in addressing headaches with warm aromatic flavors that really open up the head and nose.

Shi Gao 石膏 gypsum Gypsum Fibrosum

Huang Qin 黃苓 baical skullcap root, scutellaria, scute Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis [supports pregnancy]

• The above two herbs clear heat from the qi level. This means that they lower fever.

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

• This herb protects the body from losing precious body fluids due to over sweating. The first herbs in this formula that remove heat from the muscles do so by causing a sweat. This herb prevents them from getting out of hand.

Jie Geng 桔梗 balloon flower root, platycodon root Radix Platycodi Grandifolii

• This is an herb that helps address sore throat. It is more or less a symptomatic treatment, though it also opens up the lungs which allows the respiratory tract infection to clear out quicker.

Da Zao 大棗 jujube, Chinese date Jujubae Fructus

Sheng Jiang 生薑 fresh ginger rhizome Zingiberis Rhizoma

• Sheng Jiang supports the Chai Hu in its pushing out the bad qi, while Da Zao works more like Bai Shao above to astring the sweat to prevent you from sweating too much and damaging your body fluids.

Gan Cao 甘草 licorice root Radix Glycyrrhizae [caution]

• As usual, Gan Cao is used to harmonize the formula to prevent any of the functions working too harshly and causing side-effects.

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