Chinese: 舒经活血汤
Pinyin: Shū Jīng Huó Xiě Tāng
Other names: Relax the Channels and Invigorate the Blood Decoction, Clematis and Stephania Combination
Number of ingredients: 16 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that invigorate Blood and dispel Blood Stagnation
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: GoutEdemaLumbago and thirteen other conditions
- Expels Wind Damp from the Channels
- Invigorates Blood
- Unblocks the channels
Contraindications: Contraindicated during pregnancy.
Source date: 1587 AD
Source book: Restoration of Health from the Myriad Diseases
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang is a 16-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Dong Quai (Dang Gui) and White Peony Roots (Bai Shao) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1587 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that invigorate Blood and dispel Blood Stagnation. Its main actions are: 1) expels Wind Damp from the Channels and 2) invigorates Blood.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as arthralgia, bell's palsy or neuralgias for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the sixteen ingredients in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang helps treat.
The sixteen ingredients in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang
Dang Gui is a king ingredient in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Dong Quai (Dang Gui)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
In general Dang Gui's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation."
In the context of Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang, it is used because it invigorates the Blood and harmonize the Nutritive Qi.
Bai Shao is a king ingredient in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. White Peony Roots (Bai Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Bai Shao helps reduce the muscle spasms caused by Blood Deficiency and it is particularly well-suited to treat abdominal pain.
Chuan Xiong is a deputy ingredient in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Szechuan Lovage Roots (Chuan Xiong)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: GallbladderLiverPericardium
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
In general Chuan Xiong's main actions are as follows: "Regulates and moves the Blood. Relieves Wind-Cold and pain. Circulates the Qi in the Upper Burner, relieving headaches."
In the context of Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang, it is used because it invigorates the Blood and harmonize the Nutritive Qi.
Di Huang is a deputy ingredient in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang)
Part used: Prepared dried root tuber
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
In general Di Huang's main actions are as follows: "Expels Heat by Cooling Blood. Tonifies Yin by promoting Fluid production. Soothes the Heart by calming Blazing Fire. Cools and nourishes."
In the context of Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang, it is used because it expels Heat by cooling Blood and tonifies Yin by generating Body Fluids.
Tao Ren is an assistant ingredient in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Peach Kernels (Tao Ren)
Part used: Dried ripe seed
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: HeartLarge intestineLiver
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
In general Tao Ren's main actions are as follows: "Moves Blood and breaks up Stasis. Moistens the Intestines. Relieves coughing."
In the context of Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang, it is used because it invigorates Blood, removes Blood stagnation, and unblocks the Channels.
Cang Zhu is an assistant ingredient in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Black Atractylodes Rhizomes (Cang Zhu)
Part used: The dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Aromatic herbs that transform Dampness
In general Cang Zhu's main actions are as follows: "Dries Damp and tonifies the Spleen. Relieves the Exterior for invasion of Wind-Cold-Damp. Relieves Wind-Damp painful obstruction. Dries Damp for either Damp-Cold or Damp-Heat when combined with the correct herbs. Clears the eyes and improves sight."
In the context of Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang, it is used because it releases Wind Cold Damp from the Exterior and relieves Wind Damp obstruction pain. .
Fu Ling is an assistant ingredient in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Part used: Dried sclerotium
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
In general Fu Ling's main actions are as follows: "Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit."
In the context of Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang, it is used because it encourages urination and drains Dampness. .
Niu Xi is an assistant ingredient in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Achyranthes Roots (Niu Xi)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
Niu Xi invigorates the Blood circulation through the vessels so as to relieve symptoms such as headache, dizziness, blurred vision and pain.
Wei Ling Xian is an assistant ingredient in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
9. Clematis Roots (Wei Ling Xian)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: Bladder
Category: Herbs that dispel Wind and Dampness
In general Wei Ling Xian's main actions are as follows: "Relieves Wind-Damp, circulates Qi and alleviates pain. clears meridians and eases pain. Softens and releases fish bones lodged in the throat."
In the context of Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang, it is used because it relieves pain by invigorating Qi, unblocking the Channels and removing Wind Damp. .
Fang Ji is an assistant ingredient in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
10. Stephania Roots (Fang Ji)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: BladderLung
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Fang Ji's main actions are as follows: "Encourages urination. Allays pain and dispels Wind-Damp painful obstruction (Bi Pain)."
In the context of Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang, it is used because it removes pain that is caused by Dampness invading the channels and joints. .
Qiang Huo is an assistant ingredient in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
11. Notopterygium Roots (Qiang Huo)
In general Qiang Huo's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold and Dampness. Relieves Wind-Damp-Cold painful obstruction. Directs Qi to the Greater Yang (Tai Yang) channel and the Governing Vessel."
In the context of Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang, it is used because it releases Cold and Damp from the Exterior and relieves obstruction pain. .
Fang Feng is an assistant ingredient in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
12. Saposhnikovia Roots (Fang Feng)
In general Fang Feng's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Relieves Wind-Damp-Cold painful obstruction. Disperses Wind."
In the context of Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang, it is used because it disperses Cold or Wind from the Exterior and relieves obstruction pain. .
Long Dan Cao is an assistant ingredient in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
13. Chinese Gentian (Long Dan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLiverLung
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Long Dan Cao's main actions are as follows: "Expels Damp-Heat especially in the Liver and Gallbladder Meridians. Clears Liver-Fire. Clears Liver-Wind."
In the context of Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang, it is used because it expels Damp Heat especially in the Liver and Gallbladder Channels. .
Bai Zhi is an assistant ingredient in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
14. Angelica Roots (Bai Zhi)
Bai Zhi disperses Wind Cold from the Yang Brightness Channels. It also relieves pain and swelling due to Cold invading the Channels and Joints.
Chen Pi is an assistant ingredient in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
15. Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi)
Chen Pi dries Dampness and disperses Phlegm from the Lungs and Middle Burner. It also reduces the chance of Stagnation due to tonifying herbs.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
16. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Gan Cao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs."
In the context of Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang, it is used because it harmonizes the actions of all other herbs.
Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang is used to treat Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Arthralgia Bell's palsy Neuralgias Neuralgia Lumbago Sciatica Hypertension Edema Paresthesia Peripheral neuropathy Arthritis Gout Purpura Hemiplegia Beriberi Monoplegia
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang treats arthralgia" for instance. Rather, Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang is used to treat Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles, which is sometimes the root cause behind arthralgia.
Now let's look at Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang.
Dampness is one of the pathogenic factors in Chinese Medicine. Learn more about Dampness in Chinese Medicine
Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles
Pulse type(s): Slow (Chi), Soggy (Ru)
Symptoms: Joint pain Joint stiff Heavy joint Swollen joints Numbness in the skin Numbness in the muscles
Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles. This pattern leads to symptoms such as joint pain, joint stiff, swollen joints and numbness in the skin. Patients with Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles typically exhibit slow (Chi) or soggy (Ru) pulses.
It is a type of the Painful Obstruction Syndrome (Bi Syndrome 痹证). The Chinese name is called Shi Bi or Zhe Bi (湿痹 / 着痹).
The most typical manifestation of the pattern are the swollen, pain and numbness of the joints or muscles. These conditions get worse during raining weather or when the... read more about Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles
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