Wei Ling Xian - 威灵仙 - Radix Clematidis

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Radix Clematidis
Common English:	Chinese Clematis Root Clematis Root Six-Petal Clematis Root

Category

Herbs That Drain Wind-Dampness

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Acrid Salty	Warm	Urinary Bladder (All twelve Channels)	3-16g 15-30g for fish bones stuck in the throat Tincture: 2-4ml 6-9g (15-30g fishbone) (Secondary source)

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Dispels Wind-Dampness, unblocks the channels and alleviates pain	Wind-Damp painful obstruction (Bi) (especially useful for the whole body) Intractable Bi blockage of Qi and Blood
Softens and transforms fish bones	Fish bones lodged in the throat
Reduces Phlegm and pathogenic water (regulates urination)	Accumulation and distention in the Middle Jiao Cold Phlegm digestive problems

Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

Major Combinations

Rz. seu Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Huo	Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae Niu Xi	Vinegar Brown Sugar
Wind-Damp Bi causing joint pain. (especially in the upper joints)	Wind-Damp Bi causing joint pain. (especially in the lower joints)	Fish bones lodged in the throat.
Fr. Amomi Sha Ren	Fr. Amomi Sha Ren Vinegar	Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao Fr. Chaenomelis Mu Gua
Epigastric pain.	Fish bones lodged in the throat.	Alleviates pain and numbness associated with bone spurs of the neck, spine and heels.
Rx. Angelicae Pubescentis Du Huo Warm Rice Wine	Cx. Cinnamomi Rou Gui Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui
Low back pain or leg pain.	Musculoskeletal pain caused by accumulation of Wind and Dampness. External injuries.

Notes

1. This herb clears Wind from all 12 vessels as well as the Luo vessels, with particular effect on the lower limbs.
2. Superficial pain is one of its most common applications.
3. Pain throughout the whole body responds especially well to it.
4. Its effectiveness comes from its dual action of expelling Wind and Promoting Qi movement.
5. It does not work well for deeply lodged problems or larger bones.
6. Being warm in nature, it is better suited to Cold conditions.
7. Its nature is strongly piercing and mobilizing, so overuse can readily damage the righteous Qi.
8. For lower back and leg pain, it may be taken on its own as a powder with warm wine.
9. According to some sources, it can promote menstruation.
10. It assists in expelling the placenta.
11. Chinese hospitals use it to induce labor.
12. Combined with Rz. Acori Shi Chang Pu , this herb is said to help men who have difficulty ejaculating, as both have a penetrating quality that opens closed orifices.
13. Wei Ling Xian and Rx. Gentianae Macrophyllae Qin Jiao share the ability to dispel Wind-Dampness, eliminate Dampness and relieve restricted movement from Wind-Dampness, particularly in the lower limbs. It also softens hardness. For Cold Bi, with pronounced pain, numbness, restricted movement and even paralysis, Wei Ling Xian is the better choice. Qin Jiao mainly dispels Dampness and is preferred when pathogenic Wind and Dampness come with Heat, or when Dampness dominates. It also cools Heat and clears steaming bones in conditions like Damp-Heat jaundice or steaming bones consumption.
14. Wine-fried Clematis Root Jiu Chao Wei Ling Xian has a stronger capacity to disperse Cold and unblock the collaterals, and is applied to both mobile painful obstruction from Wind and intensely painful obstruction from Cold.