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Da Qiang Huo Tang大羌活汤

Major Notopterygium Decoction

Releasing the Exterior 解表剂Release Wind-Cold 辛温解表

Ingredients13 herbs

防Fang Feng防风9gExpels wind and damp throughout the body羌Qiang Huo羌活9gDisperses wind-cold-damp, chiefly in the upper body and back独Du Huo独活9gReaches the lower body and legs where Qiang Huo does not防Fang Ji防己9gDrains damp downward and relieves heavy, swollen limbs黄Huang Qin黄芩9gClears heat in the upper burner黄Huang Lian黄连9gDrains fire from the middle and relieves the irritability苍Cang Zhu苍术9gDries damp and opens the pores甘Gan Cao甘草炙9gHarmonizes the warm and cold halves of a large formula白Bai Zhu白术9gStrengthens the Spleen so damp stops regenerating细Xi Xin细辛9gPenetrates deeply to scatter cold and stop pain知Zhi Mu知母30gCools heat and moistens against so many drying herbs川Chuan Xiong川芎30gMoves qi and blood so the wind herbs reach the painful area生Sheng Di Huang生地黄30gProtects the fluids and cools the blood level

Indications

Disperses wind-cold and dispels dampClears heat that has built up insideRelieves aching in both upper and lower limbs

Wind-cold-damp assailing the exterior with pronounced interior heat. Compared with Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang the heat side is heavier: real thirst, not just a dry mouth.

Clinical Manifestations

  • Wind-cold-damp cold with distinct thirst and irritability
  • Fever and chills with heavy, aching limbs
  • Aching that involves the legs as well as the shoulders
  • Damp-season fever with a dry mouth
TongueWhite or yellow coating, dry
PulseFloating and rapid, or floating and tight

Health Categories

Bone & Joint HealthCold & Flu Relief

Modern Applications

InfluenzaMyalgiaRheumatic painFever with body acheArthralgia

Common adjustments

Contraindications

The bitter-cold herbs make this hard on a weak digestion — not for a patient with a cold, loose-stooled middle burner, and not for a yin-deficient or elderly frail patient. Not appropriate once the exterior has resolved and only interior heat remains.

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

Pregnancy

Not recommended in pregnancy. Xi Xin, Chuan Xiong and Fang Ji together, plus a heavy bitter-cold component, make this an unsuitable combination for a pregnant patient even though it contains no Ma Huang.

Related Formulas

References

Source 《此事难知》卷上 · Jin

  1. Classical source as given in the source fields (pre-1900, public domain).
    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）— 附方 note under 九味羌活汤, pattern analysis cross-checked.

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.