Category: Acute attack, hidden pathogen, musculoskeletal system, joints, skin, pain relief

Use of the formula according to Traditional Chinese Medicine:

• opens the pores and induces sweating
• clears pathogens of a damp and cold nature from the surface
• disperses dampness
• clears internal heat

Description:

A traditional formula from the beginning of the 14th century intended for acute states of external attack. In this case, the external pathogen contains the highest proportion of dampness, which manifests through its typical symptoms. Dampness is generally "heavy"; it tends to sink downwards, accumulate in the form of seepage and swelling, and "clog" everything. If there is no high fever, but the patient feels swollen, has a puffy face, bags under the eyes, and feels "heavy" overall – both in body and spirit, thinks slowly, moves slowly, and has stiff, aching muscles – this must lead us to this specific type of pathogen. Tightness and soreness in the muscle layer are further exacerbated by the presence of cold, and where "something" stagnates in the human body, heat is always formed. This forms internally (the body cannot cool down even by sweating, as the pores are clogged with dampness...). This internal heat manifests as a bitter taste in the mouth. However, the main "battlefield" is in the surface layer, which is why the treatment must also focus on releasing the surface, inducing sweating, and eliminating the pathogen; only then, and to a lesser extent, will we clear the heat inside.

Sharp, aromatic, and hot Notopterygium enters the Tai Yang channels (the surface layer), eliminates wind-cold, and disperses dampness. This benefits the joints and muscles and relieves their pain. Ledebouriela helps to eliminate wind, and Atractylodes lancea dries dampness. Asarum, Ligusticum, and Angelica dahurica disperse cold wind and dampness, activate the movement of Qi and blood, and thereby also relieve body and head pain. Rehmannia prevents the sharp and drying herbs from injuring body fluids. Scutellaria clears internal heat, ginger harmonises the middle and also warms, and liquorice harmonises the herbs in the formula so that they "pull together" and you feel better quickly.

Indications:

• Combination of symptoms of dampness + wind + cold in the surface layer and heat inside:
• aversion to cold
• elevated temperature or chills and absence of sweating (dampness has "clogged" the pores, cold has "contracted" them)
• headaches, head feeling as if "wrapped in a scarf", heavy
• swollen face, bags under the eyes
• bitter taste on the tongue, dryness or a sticky feeling in the mouth
• stiffness of the neck
• feeling of heaviness in the body and limbs
• aversion to or inability to move
• painful swelling of joints
• feelings of internal heat (hot breath, thirst, dryness and aching in the throat)
• hives

Modern effects:

• influenza
• colds
• aching and muscle pain
• headaches
• migraines
• arthritis
• rheumatoid arthritis
• sciatica
• hives

Tongue:

• red, mainly in the front part
• sticky coating

Pulse:

• Shu
• Fu (rapid, superficial)

Contraindications:

• contraindicated in cases of wind-heat attack, as well as in patients with symptoms of deficiency heat and generalised weakness
• contains many hot, sharp, and drying herbs, therefore requires cautious administration in patients with yin, Qi, or fluid deficiency

Notes:

The formula is not intended for preventive use. Its typical use is at the onset of influenza and colds, or for the worsening of rheumatism or hives.

Formula composition: