This product is the root of the perennial herbaceous plant of the Apiaceae family, Chinese Angelica (Angelica pubescens Maxim. f. biserrata Shan et Yuan). It is mainly produced in Sichuan, Hubei, Anhui, and other regions. It is harvested in late autumn or early spring, dried, and sliced for use.

Notopterygium and Pubescent Angelica were not distinguished in ancient times. The Benjing states that Pubescent Angelica is also known as Notopterygium, hence the Benjing and Bielu only mention Pubescent Angelica and not Notopterygium. It was Tao Hong-jing who first stated, "Notopterygium is slender with many nodes... its aroma is extremely intense... Pubescent Angelica is slightly white in color and has a hollow form..." Later generations gradually began to differentiate their uses. The effects of the two are similar, but Notopterygium has a stronger aroma, leaning towards inducing sweating to release the exterior and moving upwards; whereas Pubescent Angelica has a milder aroma, leaning towards dispelling wind and dampness and moving downwards.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Acrid and bitter, slightly warm. act on liver and bladder channels.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Dispelling wind and dampness, relieving pain, and releasing the exterior.

bubble_chart Indications

1. is used for wind-cold-dampness impediment pain. It dispels wind, removes dampness, and disperses cold to unblock impediment, making it suitable for all wind-cold-dampness impediments. It is particularly effective for descending properties, especially for pain in the lower back, knees, and leg joints due to heavy cold-dampness in the lower body. For migratory impediment, it is often used with Aconite Lateral Root, Aconite Mother Root, Saposhnikovia Root, etc., such as in Qianjin Fang Pubescent Angelica Wine; for hemiplegia and cold impediment with weakness and pain due to kidney qi deficiency and exposure to wind and cold, it is often used with Chinese Taxillus Herb, Eucommia Bark, Saposhnikovia Root, etc., such as in Qianjin Fang Pubescent Angelica and Taxillus Decoction.
2. It is used for external contraction of wind-cold with dampness in the exterior pattern. It induces sweating to release the exterior and disperses wind to remove dampness, often used with Notopterygium, Saposhnikovia Root, Schizonepeta, etc., such as in Schizonepeta and Saposhnikovia Toxin-Vanquishing Powder.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Bielu: "For treating various winds, joint pain of the body, wind without (asking) how long it has been."
2. Tangye Bencao: "Pubescent Angelica, treats the hidden wind of the foot Shaoyin but does not treat the taiyang, hence both feet with cold-dampness, completely unable to move, cannot be treated without this."
3. "Materia Medica Qiumo": "Pubescent Angelica, bitter and slightly warm, compared to Notopterygium, its nature is slightly milder, all because the wind dries the foot Shaoyin kidney meridian, hidden and not emerging, causing headache, then it can search well and treat, hence for fixed arthralgia of both feet, unable to move, without this it cannot be cured, wind toxin toothache, dizziness and blurred vision, without this it cannot be attacked, because its element is restricted and thus controlled. Moreover, where there is wind there must be dampness, hence Qiang treats the wandering wind of water dampness, while Du treats the hidden wind of water dampness."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 5-15g.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

Pubescent Angelica contains volatile oil, Chinese Angelica alcohol, Chinese Angelica element, finger citron lactone, etc. This product has anti-arthritis, analgesic, sedative, and hypnotic effects, and can directly dilate blood vessels, lower blood pressure, while also stimulating the respiratory center.

Contains furanocoumarin compounds:

1. Anti-gastric ulcer.
2. Photosensitivity: skin redness, increased pigmentation, thickening in sunlight. Can treat vitiligo. Light kills Staphylococcus aureus, large intestine bacillus.
3. Long-term use can easily cause liver damage, such as liver abscess, necrosis, fatty sexually transmitted disease changes, or severe kidney congestion, hematuria.