BLACK PEARL BP023 SHU JING HUO XUE TANG CYATHULA & GENTIANA

SHU JING HUO XUE WAN
舒筋活血丸
Cyathula & Gentiana Formula
Product Code: BP023

TCM Actions
Activates the Blood and dispels stasis, dispels Wind-Damp to unblock the Channels and alleviate pain.

Indications
Osteoarthritis – acute exacerbations, active rheumatoid arthritis, acute muscular sprain, lumbodynia, sciatica.

Dosage & Course Of Treatment
8 pills, 3 times daily, half to one hour away from food.

Course of treatment: 1 – 3 months, or ongoing for severe chronic conditions.

Safe for long term use.

Signs and Syndromes
Wind-Damp Bi Blood stasis

Arthralgia (joint pain)

Myalgia (muscle pain)

Reduced joint mobility

Joint swelling

Localised paresthesia (tingling, prickling) or numbness around the affected joints

Tongue may be dark or with purple spots

Pulse is wiry or choppy

Cautions & Contraindications
Avoid foods that may aggravate arthritis (e.g. sugar, caffeine, citrus, salt, red meat, dairy products, additives, soft drinks, white flour, nightshades, white potatoes), smoking, saturated fats and hydrogenated fats.

Caution for those on anti-coagulant medications (i.e. heparin, warfarin or aspirin).

Constrained in menorrhagia or metrorrhagia.

Not to be used during pregnancy.

Comments
This formula was first recorded in ‘All Diseases Return to Spring’ (wan bing hui chun) by Gong Ting-xian (a.k.a. Gong Yun-lin), 1587. ‘Return to Spring’ (hui chun) is a poetic expression, still in use today, denoting the restoration of health after an illness – the state of ill health being like the season of Winter. In addition to being a distinguished physician, Gong was renowned for his mastery of tui-na, hence his interest in musculoskeletal disorders, for which this formula was designed. The name of the formula is literally: ‘Unblock the Channels and activate the Blood formula’. This refers to the focus of this formula’s action on activating the Blood and dispelling stasis, in addition to dispelling Wind-Cold-Damp. This makes it a powerful and relatively rapid acting treatment for various forms of severe arthralgia. The formula’s therapeutic actions are based on the theory that Blood deficiency predisposes to invasion by Wind, and that pathogenic Wind causes injury to the Blood, setting up a vicious cycle. In addition, the invading Wind generally carries other exogenous pathogens with it, i.e. Cold-Damp. As a consequence of the invasion of the Channels-collaterals, tendons and muscles by Wind, Cold and Damp, the movement of the Qi and Blood becomes obstructed. This manifests in severe localised pain. In order to effectively treat such conditions, Blood nourishing herbs need to be included – along with the herbs that dispel static Blood – in order to protect the Blood from the harsh dispersing action of these herbs (i.e. to harmonise the Blood). Moreover, Blood nourishing herbs help to regenerate the health Qi to prevent further invasion and promote the expulsion of the pathogens. Thus, the formula is built on a base of Si Wu Tang (Dang Gui Four Combination), to which are added groups of herbs to dispel Wind-Damp and activate the Blood and dispel stasis. These actions are supported by herbs that dry Damp and harmonise the middle Jiao. This formula is indicated for severe conditions in which the Channels and Collaterals are obstructed by both Wind-Damp and static Blood, leading to marked pain in the joints, tendons and muscles as well as spasms and paresthesia.

Ingredients
ANGELICA POLYMORPHA, ROOT (dang-gui) – 當歸 – 27.75mg
SAPOSHNIKOVIA DIVARICATA, ROOT (fang feng) – 防風 – 27.75mg
LORANTHUS PARASITICUS, STEM (sang ji sheng) – 桑寄生 – 27.75mg
GENTIANA MACROPHYLLA, ROOT (qin jiao) – 秦艽 – 27.75mg
PAEONIA VEITCHII, ROOT (chi shao) – 赤芍 – 27.75mg
REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA, ROOT (chi shao) – 地黃 – 27.75mg
LIGUSTICUM STRIATUM, ROOT (chuan xiong) – 川芎 – 27.75mg
CORYDALIS TURTSCHANINOVII, RHIZ. (yan hu suo) – 延胡索 – 27.75mg
CYATHULA OFFICINALIS, ROOT (chuan niu xi) – 川牛膝 – 27.75mg
WOLFIPORIA COCOS.HYPHAE (fu ling) – 茯苓 – 27.75mg
ATRACTYLODES LANCEA, RHIZ. (chang zhu) – 蒼朮 – 27.75mg
CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS, FLOWER (hong hua) – 紅花 – 27.75mg
CITRUS AURANTIUM, FRUIT (zhi ke) – 枳殼 – 27.75mg
GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS, ROOT (gan cao) – 甘草 – 14.25mg