WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

Wind-Dispelling Powder xiao feng san

[SOURCE]: Orthodox Manual of surgery

[INGREDIENTS]:

Chinese angelica root 3g,   Rehmannia root 3g L,  Ledebouriella root 3g ,  Cicada slough 3g ,  Anemarrhena rhizome 3g ,  Flavescent sophora root 3g ,  Sesame seed 3g,   Schizonepeta 3g ,  Atractylodes rhizome 3g,   Arctium fruit 3g ,  Gypsum 3g,   Licorice 2g,   Akebia stem 2g

[DIRECTIONS]:Decoct the above herbs in water for oral administration.

[EFFECTS]:Dispelling wind, clearing away heat and removing dampness to re­lieve itching.

[INDICATIONS]:Rubella and eczema manifested by cutaneous red rashes or cloudy maculae all over the body with itching and oozing liquid if scratching them, white or yellow coating, floating, rapid and forceful pulse

[ANALYSIS OF FORMULA]: This is a common formula for treating rubella and eczema. As the main herbs, schizonepeta, ledebouriella root, arctium fruit and cicada slough dispel the exterior wind to promote eruption and stop itching. As the assistant herbs, atractylodes rhizom dispels wind and removes dampness; fla­vescent sophora root clears away heat and dries dampness; akebia stem removes damp-heat; gypsum and anemarrhena rhizome clear away heat and purge fire. Be­cause it is easy for wind evil to injure the yin-blood, Chinese angelica root, reh­mannia root and sesame seed are combined to nourish and activate blood and re­plenish yin for moistening dryness. They act as the adjuvant herbs. Licorice, as the dispatcher herb, can clear away heat and poison as well as harmonizing all the components.

In clinical application, honeysuckle flower and forsythia fruit are added to discypress fruit and plantain seed are added to clear away damp-heat for case with exuberant damp-heat; red peony root and purple gromwell root are added to clear away heat and to cool blood for case with exuberant heat in the blood phase. It is forbidden for patient to eat pungent food, fish, to smoke and to drink liquor and strong tea when taking this decoction.