(Huai) Niu Xi - 牛膝 / 懷牛膝 - Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae |
| Common English: | Achyranthes Root White Oxknee Root |
Category
Herbs that Regulate the Blood: Herbs that Invigorate the BloodProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Bitter Sour | Neutral | Liver Kidney | 6-16g Tincture: 2-4ml |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Invigorates the Blood and expels Blood Stasis | Blood Stasis with dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea and retained lochia Pain due to trauma |
Nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin, strengthens the sinews and bones and benefits the joints | Low back and knee pain and soreness due to Kidney and Liver Deficiency |
Descends Blood and Fire | Blood Heat in the Upper Jiao with epistaxis, hematemesis and bleeding gums Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire Rising with toothaches Liver Yang Rising or Liver Fire with dizziness, headache and blurred vision |
Clears Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao | Damp-Heat Pouring Downward with knee pain, or lower back painful obstruction As an auxiliary for painful urinary dysfunction (Lin) or vaginal discharge, especially for Stone Lin with lower back pain and bloody urine |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Flos Carthami | Olibanum | Cx. Eucommiae |
Blood Stasis with late menstruation, dysmenorrhea or amenorrhea. | Pain due to trauma. | Low back and extremity pain and weakness due to Bi pain or Kidney Deficiency. |
| Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata Or Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata | Fr. Chaenomelis | Gypsum Fibrosum |
Weak lower back and extremities due to Liver and Kidney Deficiency. | Lower extremity pain due to Wind-Dampness Invasion. | Tooth, gum, and tongue swelling and pain. |
| Rx. Rehmanniae | Haematitum | Ram. cum Uncis Uncariae |
Yin Deficiency with Heat signs causing pain and swelling of the gums. | Dizziness and vertigo from Liver Yang Rising due to Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency. | Liver Yang Rising with blurred vision, headache, and dizziness. |
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis | Hb. Lysimachiae | Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
Difficult labor. | Stone Lin with hematuria and low back pain. | Hot, painful urinary dysfunction. |
Rx. Phellodendri Or Rx. Phellodendri | Rx. Rehmanniae | Flos Carthami |
Red, swollen and painful joints of the lower extremities from Damp-Heat Pouring Downward. | Powerfully clears Deficiency Fire Blazing Upward with pain and swelling of the gums, epistaxis, hematemesis and other hemorrhage in the upper body. Diabetes. | Menstrual pain, irregular menstruation and postpartum pain. |
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis | Hb. Cirsii | |
Blood Lin. (hot, painful urinary dysfunction) | Hematemesis and epistaxis. |
Notes
- It guides the action of the formula toward the lower body.
- One source regards this herb as a Yin Tonic.
- According to some sources, this herb helps clear pus and regulates water metabolism.
- Prepared, this herb breaks up Blood Stasis, unblocks menstruation and leads Blood downward, treating amenorrhea, mobile and fixed abdominal masses, postpartum abdominal pain from Blood Stasis, difficult labor, retained placenta, swelling and pain from external injury, and joint pain from Bi Syndrome.
- Its prepared form tonifies the Liver and Kidneys and strengthens the sinews and bones, and it is used for aching weakness of the lower back and knees and for weak sinews and bones.
- Niu Xi and Rz. Curcumae Longae Jiang Huang both break up Blood Stasis, drive Blood downward, unblock menstruation, relieve pain and act on the sinews. Unlike Jiang Huang, Niu Xi strengthens the tendons and bones by tonifying the Liver and Kidneys. Jiang Huang is more forceful at breaking up Blood Stasis, moves Qi, and acts on the sinews by expelling Wind Bi.
- In Dry-fried Achyranthes Chao Niu Xi the slippery, downward-draining quality is removed and the ability to tonify the Liver and Kidneys is enhanced.
- Salt-fried Achyranthes Yan Chao Niu Xi enters the Kidney channel directly, tonifying the Kidneys and nourishing the sinews and bones. It is used for lower back ache and leg atrophy from Kidney Deficiency and depleted Jing.
- Wine-fried Achyranthes Jiu Niu Xi is stronger at invigorating the Blood, unblocking the collaterals, relieving pain and unblocking menstruation. Its uses include mobile and fixed abdominal masses, difficult labor and retained placenta.
- Charred Achyranthes Niu Xi Tan treats Deficiency Fire flaring upward with bleeding gums, nosebleed and toothache.
- Rx. Achyranthis Longifoliae (Aspera) Yu Niu Xi is bitter, sour and neutral; it invigorates Blood, dispels Blood Stasis, clears Heat, eliminates toxins and promotes urination. Its indications are amenorrhea, arthritis, throat swelling and pain, diphtheria, edema of the lower extremities, hematuria and pain from trauma. The dosage is 10-15g.
From Class
- Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang ('roof tiles' formula): For pending stroke/TIA (Liver yang turning to wind): very high-dose Niu Xi leads blood down, with Mai Ya, shells and hematite as 'lead shoes'. (Gioioso)