bubble_chart Composition

Peppermint leaves (indirect heat) 240 gm, Chuanxiong, Jingjie (de-stemmed) each 120 gm, Xiangfu (stir-fried) 250 gm (another version: Xixin, de-reeded 30 gm), Fangfeng (de-reeded) 45 gm, Baizhi, Qianghuo, Gancao (roasted) each 60 gm.

bubble_chart Preparation and Dosage

Grind the above ingredients into a fine powder. Take 6 grams each time, mixed with clear tea after meals.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Dispelling wind to relieve pain.

bubble_chart Indications

Headache caused by wind-cold, whether one-sided or central, or pain at the top of the head, occurring intermittently without a fixed pattern, or accompanied by aversion to cold with fever, dizzy vision, nasal congestion, a thin white tongue coating, and a floating pulse.

bubble_chart Formula Principles

In the formula, Sichuan Lovage Rhizome is effective in treating Shaoyang meridian headaches (pain on both sides of the head and neck), Notopterygium is effective in treating taiyang meridian headaches (pain in the back of the head and forehead), and Dahurian Angelica is effective in treating Yangming meridian headaches (pain in the eyebrow ridge and frontal bone), all of which are the main ingredients. Schizonepeta, Mentha, and Saposhnikovia Root disperse and ascend, dispersing wind pathogens in the upper body. Cyperus moves qi to relax the middle, and also disperses wind (current formulations often use Asarum to dispel wind and dissipate cold to relieve pain). Combined with Schizonepeta, Saposhnikovia Root, and Mentha, it enhances the effect of dispelling wind to relieve pain. Liquorice Root harmonizes the middle and tonifies qi, balancing all the ingredients to prevent the ascending and dispersing from depleting qi. The use of tea for preparation takes advantage of the sweet and cold nature of tea leaves, which can clear wind-heat from above and also moderate the overly warm and dry ascending and dispersing of wind-dispelling herbs, ensuring that there is descent within the ascent. When all the ingredients are used together, they achieve the effect of dispelling wind to relieve pain.

Note: The usage of this formula in Volume 10 of Shiyi Dexiao Fang states: "Take 6 grams each time, with Fistular Onion Stalk and Fuling for administration; apply with onion juice to both taiyang points, especially effective for severe pain. Also, blow a small amount of mirabilite into the nose for immediate relief. Blow into the right nostril for left-sided pain and into the left nostril for right-sided pain."