Qu Han Bi Tang - 祛寒痺汤 - Disperse Cold Rheumatism Decoction

English:	Disperse Cold Rheumatism Decoction
Also Known As:

Herbs And Actions

Pharmaceutical Latin	Pin Yin	Dosage	Actions
Rx. Aconiti Preparata	Zhi Chuan Wu	6g	Disperses Cold, Expels Wind-Dampness, Stops pain, Warms and activates the channels.
Rx. Aconiti Kusnezoffii Preparata	Zhi Cao Wu	6g	Disperses Cold, Expels Wind-Dampness, Stops pain, Warms and activates the channels.
Rz. Typhonii Preparatum	Zhi Bai Fu Zi	6g	Dries Dampness, expels Wind, stops spasms, expels Wind-Cold-Dampness from the Upper Jiao and alleviates pain.
Ram. Cinnamomi	Gui Zhi	10g	Disperses Cold, Releases the Exterior, Releases the muscle layer, Transforms Qi, Unblocks Yang, Warms and facilitates the flow of Blood, Warms the channels to relieve pain. With Ma Huang, for Wind-Cold Bi. With Bai Shao, warms and tonifies the Middle Jiao. With Zhi Chuan Wu and Zhi Cao Wu for chills, painful extremities and backache due to Yang Deficiency with Wind-Cold-Damp Bi.
Hb. Ephedrae	Ma Huang	6g	Releases the exterior and disperses Cold. With Zhi Chuan Wu, for Wind-Cold Bi. With Gui Zhi for Wind-Cold-Damp Bi.
Hb. cum Rx. Asari	Xi Xin	3g	Releases exterior Wind and Cold, disperses Internal Cold and alleviates pain. With Ma Huang, alleviates Wind-Cold-Damp Bi pain.
Sm. Strychni Preparata	Zhi Ma Qian Zi	1g	Unblocks the channels and alleviates pain.
Olibanum	Ru Xiang	3g	Invigorates Blood, regulates Qi, relaxes the sinews, opens the channels and alleviates pain. With Mo Yao for Blood Stasis obstructing the channels.
Myrrh	Mo Yao	3g	Invigorates the Blood, dispels Blood Stasis and alleviates pain.
Flos Carthami	Hong Hua	3g	Invigorates the Blood, dispels Blood Stasis and alleviates pain.
Rx. Paeoniae Alba	Bai Shao	10g	Alleviates pain and nourishes Blood. With Gan Cao, for muscle spasms especially in the calf, due to Blood Deficiency. With Dang Gui, nourishes Yin and Blood.
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis	Dang Gui	10g	Tonifies, invigorates and harmonizes the Blood, disperses Cold and alleviates pain. With Bai Shao, regulates and harmonizes Qi and Blood.
Fr. Chaenomelis	Mu Gua	6g	Relaxes sinews, unblocks the channels and transforms Dampness With Dang Gui and Bai Shao, for Blood Deficiency causing muscle spasms.
Honey-Prepared Rx. Glycyrrhizae	Mi Zhi Gan Cao	3g	Alleviates pain and moderates, Harmonizes the properties of the other herbs, Tonifies Qi, Tonifies the Spleen. With Bai Shao, for spasms of the calf or other muscles.

Formula Actions

• Warms the Channels
• Dispels Cold
• Circulates the Blood
• Alleviates pain

Syndromes

• Wind-Cold Dampness invades the Channels with predominance of Cold.
• Cold Bi

Clinical Manifestations

Aversion to Cold Cold extremities Coldness of the affected area Cold pain Pain better with warmth Pain aggravated by Cold Sharp, stabbing pain Shoulder pain Neck pain Elbow pain

Low back pain Hand pain Hip pain Knee pain Foot pain Lack of thirst Limited joint movement T: Pale or Purple C: Thin, white or Greasy white P: Wiry and tight

Treats

Rheumatic arthritis Osteoarthritis Gouty arthritis Rheumatic lumbago Hand pain Neck pain Hip pain

Rheumatoid arthritis Periarthritis of the shoulder Rheumatic myalgia Sharp, stabbing rheumatic pain Knee pain Elbow pain Foot pain

Contraindications And Herb/Drug Interactions

Notes

• Zhi Chuan Wu should be decocted first for about thirty to sixty minutes to reduce its toxicity, before adding the other ingredients.

Modifications

For heaviness of the extremities due to Dampness:		For moving pain due to Wind:
+ 10g Cx. Acanthopanacis	Wu Jia Pi	+ 10g Rx. Saposhnikoviae	Fang Feng
+ 10g Ram. Mori	Sang Zhi	+ 10g Zaocys	Wu Shao She
For a greasy tongue coat:
+ 10g Rz. Atractylodes	Cang Zhu
+ 10g Rx. Stephaniae	Han Fang Ji