Wu Yao - 乌药 - Radix Linderae
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Radix Linderae |
| Common English: | Lindera Root |
Category
Herbs that Regulate QiProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Acrid | Warm | Bladder Kidney Lung Spleen (Stomach) | 3-10g Tincture: 2-4ml |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Promotes the movement of Qi and alleviates pain | Cold and Qi Stagnation with a stifling sensation in the chest, flank pain, epigastric and abdominal pain. |
Warms the Kidneys and disperses Cold | Urinary frequency or incontinence due to Kidney Yang Deficiency or Urinary Bladder Deficiency Cold |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Bul. Allii Macrostemi | Rx. Aucklandiae | Rx. Aucklandiae |
A stifling sensation in the chest and flank pain. | Epigastric and abdominal pain and distention due to Cold Stagnation and Qi Obstruction. | Dysmenorrhea due to Stagnant Qi. |
| Cx. Cinnamomi | Fr. Evodiae | Fr. Foeniculi Or Fr. Foeniculi |
Abdominal pain, especially sensations of Cold and pain in the lower abdomen. | Abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea due to Spleen and Kidney Deficiency Cold. Cold bulging disorder. | Cold hernial disorder with lower abdominal pain that radiates to the testicles. |
| Rx. Angelicae Sinensis | Hb. Ephedrae | Fr. Alpiniae Oxyphyllae |
Menstrual pain. | Wind attacking the extremities with joint pain, numbness, headache, and dizziness. | Urinary frequency in adults and enuresis in children due to Kidney Deficiency Cold. |
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis | Fr. Alpiniae Oxyphyllae | Rz. Cyperi |
Disperses Cold and stops pain, for abdominal pain due to External Cold. | Warms and contains the Kidney Qi so that it returns to its source. Secures the urine to treat Lower Jiao Deficiency Cold with incontinence, urinary frequency or urinary dribbling. (worse in the presence of Cold) | Unblocks Qi in both the Qi and Blood levels, releases constraint from the Liver and Gallbladder, descends Qi in the chest and abdomen and warms Qi which has been slowed by pathogenic Cold. Painful, Cold Qi leading to abdominal distention, borborygmus and diarrhea. Qi and Blood Stagnation with menstrual irregularity, pain in the lower abdomen and generalized pain and distention throughout the body. |
Bul. Allii Macrostemi | Per. Citri Reticulatae | |
Hypochondriac pain with feelings of oppression in the chest. | Stroke due to wind-Cold Attacking the Channels and Collaterals. |
Notes
- Warming and dispersing, this herb is effective at spreading and unblocking the Qi mechanisms.
- It smooths Qi flow, eases the middle, disperses Cold and relieves pain in many areas.
- It is used to normalize the flow of Qi in people with suppressed emotions (Liver Qi Stagnation).
- Although it can withstand long decoction with other herbs, a short decoction is preferable because much of its content is volatile oil.
- It warms the Middle Jiao.
- It is applied to stroke with reflux of Qi and surging Phlegm.
- Its warmth is less than that of Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang.
- Some regard it as the king herb for women’s complaints.
- It works well for periumbilical and lower abdominal pain.
- It helps pain anywhere between the genitals and the chest.
- When borborygmus is present, this herb is indicated.
- It is frequently used for distending pain in the chest or abdomen, rebellious Qi with cough and wheezing, Cold Qi in the Bladder causing urinary frequency, painful bulging disorder from Cold, and gynecological Qi blockage and Blood Stasis.
- It treats every pattern of Wind-stroke or Qi-stroke.
- Wu Yao, Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang and Rx. Cyperi Xiang Fu all move Qi. Wu Yao is indicated for any Qi rebellion disorder with discomfort in the chest or abdomen. Mu Xiang is bitter and warming, enters and refreshes an obstructed Spleen, and is best for food accumulation. Xiang Fu is acrid and bitter, enters the Liver and Gallbladder channels, releases constraint and disperses clumps, and is excellent for constraint and worry.
- Wu Yao and Lignum Aquilaria Resinatum Chen Xiang both warm the Spleen, mobilize the Qi, disperse Cold and treat distention and fullness of the chest and abdomen with wheezing from rebellious Qi. Chen Xiang is bitter, draining and descending, helping the Kidneys Grasp Qi, and it is warmer than Wu Yao, whose mobile quality reaches everywhere and suits any rebellious disorder, such as Cold in the San Jiao, Qi Blockage or congealed Blood from Cold.
- Dry-fried Lindera Chao Wu Yao is less acrid and drying but disperses coldness more effectively, treating Deficiency Cold that leads to Qi Stagnation.