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Da Huo Luo Dan大活络丹

Major Invigorate the Collaterals Pill

Dispelling Wind 治风剂Disperse External Wind 疏散外风

Ingredients50 herbs

白Bai Hua She白花蛇60gSearches out wind in the deep channels and unblocks the collaterals — a protected species, so legal sourcing and permits govern its use
乌Wu Shao She乌梢蛇60gDispels wind and frees the sinews, gentler than威Wei Ling Xian威灵仙60gMoves through the twelve channels to expel wind-damp and relieve pain
两Liang Tou Jian两头尖俱酒浸60gDisperses wind-damp and relieves painful obstruction — mildly toxic, used in small amounts
草Zhi Cao Wu草乌60gDrives out entrenched cold-damp and stops pain — toxic, processed form only, dose-capped
天Tian Ma天麻煨60gExtinguishes wind, settles tremor and stops dizziness全Quan Xie全蝎去毒60gExtinguishes wind, stops spasm and relieves stubborn pain in the collaterals — toxic, small doses only
首首乌黑豆水浸60g
龟Gui Ban龟板炙60gNourishes yin and strengthens the sinews and bones — sourcing is regulated for several turtle species麻Ma Huang麻黄60gOpens the surface and moves yang qi through the limbs — contains ephedrine and is restricted in many countries
贯贯仲60g
炙Zhi Gan Cao炙草60gHarmonizes fifty ingredients and moderates the toxic ones
羌Qiang Huo羌活60gDispels wind-damp from the upper body
官Guan Gui官桂60gWarms the channels and disperses cold
藿Huo Xiang藿香60gTransforms damp and settles the middle so the heavy formula is tolerated乌Wu Yao乌药60gMoves qi and relieves cold-type pain黄Huang Lian黄连60gDrains fire, restraining the many hot acrid herbs
熟熟地60g
大Da Huang大黄蒸60gDrains accumulated heat and moves stasis downward木Mu Xiang木香60gMoves qi so rich tonics do not stagnate沉Chen Xiang沉香60gDirects qi downward and settles rebellion — CITES-listed, so legal sourcing applies细Xi Xin细辛30gPenetrates deep wind-cold pain — root only, dose-restricted赤Chi Shao赤芍30gCools and moves blood, dispersing stasis没Mo Yao没药去油，另研30gBreaks stasis and relieves fixed pain丁Ding Xiang丁香30gWarms the middle and settles rebellious qi乳Ru Xiang乳香去油，另研30gMoves qi in the blood and relaxes the sinews僵Jiang Can僵蚕30gDispels wind, transforms phlegm and stops spasm天Zhi Tian Nan Xing天南星姜制30gDries damp-phlegm out of the collaterals — toxic raw, processed form only青Qing Pi青皮30gBreaks up bound qi in the flanks骨Gu Sui Bu骨碎补30gStrengthens bone and knits injury
白白蔻30g
安An Xi Xiang安息香酒熬30gAromatic, opens the orifices and moves stagnant qi in the chest
黑黑附子制30g
黄Huang Qin黄芩蒸30gClears heat from the upper burner茯Fu Ling茯苓30gStrengthens the Spleen and leaches damp香Xiang Fu香附酒浸，焙30gRegulates qi and frees constrained Liver qi玄Xuan Shen玄参30gNourishes yin and cools, offsetting the drying wind herbs白Bai Zhu白术30gStrengthens the Spleen and dries damp防Fang Feng防风75gDisperses wind throughout the body, the gentlest of the wind herbs葛Ge Gen葛根45gReleases the muscle layer and relaxes a stiff neck and shoulders
豹豹骨炙45g
当Dang Gui当归45gNourishes and moves blood — treating wind begins with treating blood血Xue Jie血竭另研21gDisperses stasis, stops bleeding and relieves trauma pain地Di Long地龙炙15gThreads through and opens the collaterals
犀Xi Jiao犀角水牛角代15gClassically cooled blood and resolved toxin — banned; water buffalo horn is the accepted substitute
麝She Xiang麝香另研15gPowerfully aromatic, opens the orifices and moves blood — a classical abortifacient and an absolute pregnancy prohibition
松Song Zhi松脂15gDispels wind-damp and, applied traditionally, draws out toxin
牛Niu Huang牛黄另研4.5gClears heat, resolves phlegm and settles fright
片片脑另研4.5g
人Ren Shen人参90gStrongly augments original qi so the dispersing herbs do not exhaust the patient

Indications

Dispels wind and eliminates dampFrees the collaterals and relieves painTransforms phlegm and opens the orificesSupports qi, blood and yang so the body can carry the attack

Chronic wind-stroke sequelae and long-standing painful obstruction in a depleted patient: wind, damp, phlegm and stasis are still lodged in the channels, but qi, blood and yang no longer have the strength to expel them. Also used for old injuries and for chronic yin-type sores.

Clinical Manifestations

  • Hemiplegia and weakness persisting long after a stroke
  • Slurred speech and facial deviation of long standing
  • Chronic painful obstruction with numb, wasted limbs
  • Old traumatic injury with lingering pain and stiffness
  • Chronic deep-seated sores and swellings of the yin type
TonguePale or dull purple, with a white or greasy coating
PulseDeep, thin and forceless, or choppy

Health Categories

Bone & Joint HealthHeart & Circulation

Modern Applications

Stroke rehabilitationHemiplegiaRheumatoid arthritisOsteoarthritisPeripheral neuropathyChronic painOld sports injury

Common adjustments

  • Acute stroke, within hours or days of onset — this is not the formula and must not delay emergency treatment; it belongs to the long rehabilitation phase
  • Marked heat with a red tongue, thirst and constipation — the warm and hot core is unsuitable as written; heat is cleared first
  • The patient is robust with a purely local, recent obstruction — the parent Xiao Huo Luo Dan is the tighter fit — the tonic wing here is unnecessary
  • Digestion is weak and the pills cause nausea — it is taken after food and the dose reduced; a Spleen-supporting decoction alongside is the usual answer

Contraindications

Contraindicated in pregnancy and while breastfeeding — She Xiang alone is an absolute prohibition, and the aconites reinforce it. Not for acute stroke, which is an emergency. Not for heat patterns, yin deficiency with heat, or hot painful obstruction with red swollen joints. The formula contains Ma Huang, so it is unsuitable for anyone with hypertension, heart disease, arrhythmia, hyperthyroidism, glaucoma or an anxiety disorder, and it must not be combined with stimulants or MAO inhibitors; He Shou Wu has been associated with idiosyncratic liver injury and rules out unmonitored long-term use, especially with existing liver disease. Ru Xiang, Mo Yao and Xue Jie move blood — caution with warfarin and other anticoagulants. The aconites are not combined with Ban Xia, Gua Lou, Tian Hua Fen,, Bai Lian or, and alcohol must be avoided. Use only a lawfully manufactured product: tiger bone and rhinoceros horn are illegal, and any preparation claiming to contain them should be refused and reported. Numbness of the mouth or limbs, palpitations, an irregular pulse, nausea or dizziness after a dose means stopping at once and seeking emergency care.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy. She Xiang is a classical abortifacient that strongly moves blood and is prohibited outright; Zhi Cao Wu and Fu Zi (Zhi) are toxic aconites and pregnancy prohibitions; Da Huang purges, Ma Huang is a stimulant, and Ru Xiang, Mo Yao and Xue Jie all move blood. It is likewise not taken while breastfeeding. No dose of this formula is considered acceptable in pregnancy.

Related Formulas

References

Source Lan Tai Gui Fan 《兰台轨范》 · Qing

  1. Classical source 《兰台轨范》 (public domain); no line quoted here.
    2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
    3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— listed as an appended formula to 小活络丹.
    4. CITES Appendix I and II listings (rhinoceros, musk deer, Aquilaria, certain testudines) and pharmacopoeial monographs on 制草乌, 制附子, 制天南星, 麻黄 and 何首乌 — substitution, dose and toxicity notes.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.