This product is the rhizome and root of the perennial herb of the Apiaceae family, Notopterygium (Notopterygium incisum Ting ex H. T. Chang) and broad-leaved Notopterygium (Notopterygium forbesii Bpiss.). It is mainly produced in Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan. It is mostly harvested in early spring and autumn, dried, and sliced for use.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Acrid and bitter, warm. act on bladder and kidney channels.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Dispelling cold, dispelling wind, overcoming dampness, and relieving pain.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for wind-cold common cold, headache, and body pain. This product is pungent and warm, with a strong and dispersing nature, and has a strong ability to induce sweating. It primarily disperses wind evil from the taiyang meridian and cold-dampness evil. It has the effects of dispelling cold, dispelling wind, overcoming dampness, and relieving pain. Therefore, it is good for treating wind-cold damp evil attacking the exterior, aversion to cold with fever, absence of sweating on the skin surface, headache, stiff neck, and sore limbs. It is often used with Saposhnikovia Root, Asarum, Atractylodes Rhizome, Sichuan Lovage Rhizome, and other herbs, such as Nine-ingredient Notopterygium Decoction. If cold-dampness is more severe, with headache and heavy body, it can be combined with Pubescent Angelica, Chinese Lovage, Sichuan Lovage Rhizome, and other herbs, such as Notopterygium Overcoming Dampness Decoction.
2. Used for wind-cold-dampness impediment, shoulder and arm pain. This product is pungent and disperses wind, bitter and dries dampness, and warm in nature to dispel cold. It can remove wind-cold damp evil, unblock joints, and relieve pain. Its action is more pronounced in the upper part of the body, so it is good for treating wind-cold-dampness impediment above the waist, especially for shoulder, back, and limb joint pain. It is often used with Saposhnikovia Root, Turmeric, Chinese Angelica, and other herbs, such as Impediment-Alleviating Decoction.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. 《Medication Methods and Images》"Treats wind-cold-dampness impediment, soreness and numbness, various wind-induced dizziness and vertigo, difficulty in extending the neck."
2. Tangye Bencao: "Notopterygium has a strong qi, treats the mutual contention of wind and dampness in the taiyang of the foot, headache, limb joint pain, and pain throughout the body, which cannot be relieved without it."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 3-10g.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

1. This product has a strong odor. Excessive dosage may easily cause vomiting, and it is not suitable for those with spleen-stomach weakness.
2. Those with blood deficiency and pain, or yin deficiency headache should use with caution.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

This product contains volatile oils, β-sitosterol, imperatorin, organic acids, and alkaloids, among others. Notopterygium injection has analgesic and antipyretic effects, and it also inhibits skin fungi and Brucella. The water-soluble portion of Notopterygium has anti-arrhythmic effects in experimental settings. The volatile oils also possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic properties, and can counteract myocardial ischemia induced by posterior pituitary hormones and increase myocardial nutrient blood flow.