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Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang独活寄生汤

Du Huo and Sang Ji Sheng Decoction (Tuhuo & Taxillus Combination)

Expelling Dampness 祛湿剂Dispel Wind-Damp 祛风胜湿

Ingredients15 herbs

独Du Huo独活9g君 ChiefDispels wind-damp from the sinews and bone of the lower body桑Sang Ji Sheng桑寄生6g佐 AssistantSupplements Liver and Kidney while still expelling wind-damp杜Du Zhong杜仲6g佐 AssistantStrengthens the low back and knees
牛Niu Xi牛膝6g佐 AssistantStrengthens sinew and bone and leads the formula to the lower body
细Xi Xin细辛6g臣 DeputySearches out cold lodged deep in the channels and stops pain秦Qin Jiao秦艽6g臣 DeputyRelaxes the sinews and frees the joints without drying茯Fu Ling茯苓6g佐 AssistantFortifies the Spleen and drains lingering damp
肉Gui Xin肉桂心6g臣 DeputyWarms and frees the blood vessels, dispels deep cold
防Fang Feng防风6g臣 DeputyExpels wind and overcomes damp throughout the body川Chuan Xiong川芎6g佐 AssistantMoves qi within the blood so tonics do not stagnate人Ren Shen人参6g佐 AssistantAugments the qi that a long illness has worn down甘Gan Cao甘草6g佐使 Assistant–EnvoyHarmonizes a large formula and eases cramping pain当Dang Gui当归6g佐 AssistantNourishes and moves blood so the sinews are fed
芍Bai Shao芍药6g佐 AssistantNourishes blood and relaxes cramping sinews
干Gan Di Huang干地黄6g佐 AssistantEnriches blood and yin against the drying wind herbs

Indications

Dispels wind-damp and relieves painful obstructionTonifies the Liver and Kidney, strengthens sinew and boneAugments qi and nourishes blood

Chronic painful obstruction with Liver-Kidney and qi-blood deficiency: wind, cold and damp are still lodged in the sinews and bone, but the body no longer has the strength to expel them, so expelling and supplementing must be done together.

Clinical Manifestations

  • Chronic low back and knee pain, worse in cold damp weather
  • Weak, stiff knees and legs with limited movement
  • Degenerative joint pain in older patients
  • Numbness of the limbs with a cold, heavy feeling
  • Long-standing wind-damp painful obstruction with fatigue and pallor
TonguePale with a white coating
PulseThin and frail

Health Categories

Bone & Joint Health

Modern Applications

OsteoarthritisChronic low back painSciaticaRheumatoid arthritisKnee pain

Common adjustments

  • Cold predominant with severe pain — increase Rou Gui 肉桂; add prepared Fu Zi under supervision
  • Damp predominant with heavy, swollen joints — add Cang Zhu 苍术, Yi Yi Ren 薏苡仁; reduce the rich Di Huang
  • Marked Liver-Kidney deficiency — add Xu Duan 续断, Gou Ji
  • Long-standing stasis with fixed stabbing pain — add Tao Ren 桃仁, Hong Hua 红花, Ji Xue Teng 鸡血藤
  • Marked qi deficiency — increase Ren Shen 人参; add Huang Qi 黄芪

Contraindications

Not for acute damp-heat painful obstruction with red, hot, swollen joints — the warm tonics would aggravate it. The rich, cloying herbs can weigh on a weak Spleen with poor appetite and loose stools, and the formula is meant for the deficient stage of a chronic condition, not for a fresh injury.

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

Pregnancy

Not used in pregnancy — it combines downward-driving Niu Xi with warm acrid Rou Gui and Xi Xin.

Related Formulas

References

Source Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang 《备急千金要方》 · Tang dynasty

「夫腰背痛者，皆犹肾气虚弱，卧冷湿地当风所得也。」
— 《备急千金要方》(classical source, public domain)
  1. Classical source (public domain), cited in the source-quote section.
    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）— 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.

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