JOINT SUPPORT FORMULA DU HUO JI SHENG TANG (JIA WEI)

CHINAMED JOINT SUPPORT FORMULA DU HUO JI SHENG TANG (JIA WEI)

This formula was first recorded in Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces for Emergencies (bei ji qian jin yao fang), by Sun Si-miao (end 7th Century), a 30 volume work that, together with an additional 30 volume supplementary work, is a compilation of medical knowledge to that date. The original formula was designed to treat chronic painful obstruction (bi) syndromes, in which the health Qi (zheng qi) has become deficient.

Although meant to treat lower body, it has been shown in clinical studies to be equally effective for chronic arthritic and rheumatic disorders of the upper limbs and neck. The key features are: chronic condition, cold (joints are not red, nor hot to the touch), muscular weakness, wasting and possibly also flaccidity.

The long term effect of retained Wind-Cold-Damp pathogens is to deplete the Qi and Blood as well as the Kidney and Liver Qi. This sets up a vicious cycle in which the pathogens can flourish while the weakened body constitution is less able to expel them and repair the damage. Therefore a balanced mixture of both dispersing and tonifying ingredients is required for the treatment of such conditions. Thus, this formula contains two groups of ingredients:

Herbs that dispel Wind-Cold-Damp pathogens to relieve pain, swelling and inflammation of the joints, e.g. Angelica root (du huo), Gentiana root (qin jiao).

Several groups of tonifying herbs to nourish the Blood and tonify the Liver and Kidney to strengthen the bones, tendons and muscles, e.g. Loranthus stem (sang ji sheng), Eucommia stem bark (du zhong), Rehmannia root (gan di huang), Angelica root (dang gui).

Black Pearl approximate equivalent DU HUO JI SHENG TANG (Du Huo & Loranthus BP009)

Ingredients:
– Corydalis turtschaninovii, rhizome 延胡索 166.7 mg
– Loranthus parasiticus, stem 桑寄生 166.7 mg
– Angelica pubescens, root 獨活 133.4 mg
– Gentiana macrophylla, root 秦艽 133.4 mg
– Eucommia ulmoides, stem bark 杜仲 133.4 mg
– Achyranthes bidentata, root 牛膝 133.4 mg
– Wolfiporia cocos, hyphae 茯苓 133.4 mg
– Angelica polymorpha, root 當歸 133.4 mg
– Paeonia obovata, root 赤芍 133.4 mg
– Rehmannia glutinosa, root 地黃 133.4 mg
– Ligusticum striatum, root 川芎 99.9 mg
– Saposhnikovia divaricata, root 防風 99.9 mg
– Cynanchum stauntonii, root 徐長卿 99.9 mg
– Cinnamomum cassia, stem bark 肉桂 99.9 mg

Signs & Symptoms
– Lumbago
– Sciatica
– Lumbar pain
– Numbness and tingling in the extremities
– Arthritis
– Rheumatoid arthritis
– Pain and weakness in lower back
– Worse for cold and wet weather
– Knee pain, chronic
– Joint stiffness
– Arthralgia (joint pain)

Dosage & Course of Treatment
– 6 – 10 capsules, twice daily.
– In severe cases and in the early stages of treatment (first 2 – 4 weeks) the dosage may be increased by 50%.
– Course of treatment: 3 – 6 months, or ongoing (e.g. elderly patients).
– Safe to use long term

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, tobacco).
– Avoid saturated & �hydrogenated� fats.
– Caution for those on anti-coagulant medications (i.e. Heparin, warfarin or aspirin).
– Contains Glycyrrhiza, which potentiates prednisone and corticosteroids by prolonging steroid biological half-life; caution in patients with hypertension.