Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang: A Classic TCM Formula for Chronic Arthritis Relief
- Hongji Medical
- Nov 23, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 2
Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang is a time-tested Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula from Prescriptions for Emergencies by Sun Simiao, the revered "King of Medicine."
This powerful remedy tackles chronic arthritis by clearing wind and dampness, easing joint pain, supporting the liver and kidneys, and boosting energy (qi) and blood. It’s especially effective for those with long-term joint pain caused by weakened liver, kidneys, or low vitality.
Ingredients of Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang
This formula blends a variety of herbs, each carefully chosen for its healing properties:
Du Huo (Angelica Root): 9g
Mistletoe, Eucommia Bark, Achyranthes Root, Asarum (Wild Ginger), Gentiana (Qin Jiao), Poria (Tuckahoe), Cinnamon Bark, Fang Feng (Siler Root), Chuanxiong (Lovage Root), Ginseng, Licorice, Angelica Sinensis, Peony Root, Rehmannia Root: 6g each
These herbs work together to address the root causes of chronic joint pain and restore balance to the body.
Benefits of Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang
Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang offers multiple benefits for those struggling with chronic arthritis:
Clears Wind and Dampness: It removes wind and dampness from the body, reducing joint pain and swelling caused by these imbalances.
Relieves Joint Pain: The formula effectively eases arthritis-related pain, helping you move more comfortably and regain your daily routine.
Supports Liver and Kidneys: By nourishing the liver and kidneys, it strengthens bones and muscles, addressing symptoms of organ weakness.
Boosts Energy and Blood: It enhances vitality and blood flow, improving strength and overall wellness.
Conditions It Treats
Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang is ideal for symptoms and conditions linked to chronic arthritis, including:
Long-term Joint Pain with liver, kidney, or energy and blood deficiencies.
Lower Back and Knee Pain due to weakened liver and kidneys.
Stiff Joints, making it hard to walk, climb stairs, or bend.
Numbness or Tingling in the joints.
Feeling Cold and preferring warmth.
Heart Palpitations and Shortness of Breath.
Pale Tongue with White Coating and a weak pulse.
In modern medicine, it’s used for conditions like:
Chronic arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Sciatica
Lower back strain
Osteoarthritis
Polio recovery
These conditions often involve prolonged exposure to wind, cold, or dampness, combined with low vitality, which this formula effectively addresses.
How It Works
Chronic arthritis, or "Bi syndrome" in TCM, occurs when wind, cold, and dampness invade the body, blocking the flow of energy and blood.
This leads to joint pain, numbness, and swelling. Over time, untreated Bi syndrome weakens the liver and kidneys, depleting energy and blood.
Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang tackles Bi syndrome through:
Clearing Wind, Cold, and Dampness: Herbs like du huo, fang feng, gentiana, and cinnamon bark expel these harmful elements, relieving joint discomfort.
Nourishing Liver and Kidneys: Mistletoe, eucommia bark, and achyranthes root strengthen these organs, supporting healthy bones and muscles.
Boosting Energy and Blood: Ginseng, poria, licorice, angelica, chuanxiong, rehmannia, and peony nourish blood and energy, restoring vitality.
This multi-pronged approach relieves symptoms and improves quality of life.
Dietary Support
Pairing Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang with simple, nourishing recipes can enhance its effects:
Eucommia and Achyranthes Bone Broth
Ingredients: 10g eucommia bark, 10g achyranthes root, 500g pork bones.
Method: Wrap herbs in gauze, simmer with pork bones in water until bones are tender. Remove herbs, season with salt.
Benefits: Nourishes liver and kidneys, strengthens bones.
Angelica and Ginger Lamb Soup
Ingredients: 15g angelica root, 10g ginger, 500g lamb.
Method: Wrap herbs in gauze, simmer with lamb in water until lamb is tender. Remove herbs, season with salt.
Benefits: Boosts energy and blood, warms the body.
Precautions
Avoid this formula if you have arthritis caused by dampness and heat (e.g., red, hot, swollen joints).
Stay warm and avoid cold exposure while using it.
Consult a doctor if you feel unwell.
People with high blood pressure or diabetes should check with a practitioner, as some herbs may affect blood sugar or pressure.
Modern Research
Studies show Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang has:
Anti-inflammatory effects, reducing joint inflammation (du huo, gentiana, fang feng, asarum).
Pain-relieving properties, easing joint and muscle discomfort (du huo, asarum, angelica).
Energy and Blood Support, improving vitality (ginseng, rehmannia, angelica, peony).
Liver and Kidney Benefits, strengthening these organs (mistletoe, eucommia, achyranthes).
Conclusion
Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang is a trusted TCM formula for chronic arthritis, offering relief from pain, stiffness, and weakness by clearing wind and dampness, supporting the liver and kidneys, and boosting energy and blood.
Combined with nourishing foods like bone broth or lamb soup, it can significantly improve your quality of life. Always consult a TCM practitioner for personalized guidance, especially for chronic conditions.
Chinese Name | 獨活寄生湯 |
Phonetic | Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang |
English Name | Pubescent Angelica and Mistletoe Decoction |
Classification | Dampclearing formulas |
Source | 《Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces for Emergency》Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang《備急千金要方》 |
Combination | Angelicae Pubescentis Radix (Du Huo) 3 liang (9g), Taxilli Herba (Sang Ji Sheng) 2 liang (6g), Eucommiae Cortex (Du Zhong) 2 liang (6g), Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (Niu Xi) 2 liang (6g), Asari Radix et Rhizoma (Xi Xin) 2 liang (6g), Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix (Qin Jiao) 2 liang (6g), Poria (Fu Ling) 2 liang (6g), Cinnamomi Cortex (Rou Gui) 2 liang (6g), Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng) 2 liang (6g), Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuan Xiong) 2 liang (6g), Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Ren Shen) 2 liang (6g), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gan Cao) 2 liang (6g), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Dang Gui) 2 liang (6g), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Shao Yao) 2 liang (6g), Rehmanniae Radix (Di Huang) 2 liang (6g) |
Method | Prepare as a decoction. |
Action | Dispels wind-dampness, relieves pain, boosts the liver and kidney, supplements qi and blood. |
Indication | This formula is indicated for long-term bi syndrome associated with deficiency of the liver and kidney and insufficiency of qi and blood. The symptoms include pain and flaccidity of the waist and knees, disorder of flexion and extension of the joints, numbness, fear of cold with a preference for warmth, palpitations, and shortness of breath. The tongue is pale with a white coating and the pulse is thready and weak. |
Pathogenesis | Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang is a frequently used formula for long-term bi syndrome caused by liver and kidney deficiency, and qi and blood insufficiency. It is generally caused by the contraction of wind-cold-dampness which, over a long period of time, leads to bi syndrome. The liver and kidney are involved and there is consumption of qi and blood. Wind-cold-damp invasion in the limbs and joints leads to qi and blood blockage that cause pain of the waist and knee. Gradually, stiffness and numbness of the limbs and joints might be seen. It is said in the《Basic Questions》that bi in the bones results in heaviness, while bi in the channels results in numbness. Additionally, the kidney governs bone and the liver governs sinews. When pathogens invade the sinews and bone for a long time, the liver and kidney might be damaged with consumption of qi and blood. Consequently, weakness of the waist and knee occurs as the waist is the residence of the kidney and the knees are the residence of the tendons. Qi and blood consumption leads to palpitations and shortness of breath. It is said in《Basic Question》Su Wen that deficiency of ying qi gives rise to numbness, while deficiency of wei qi gives rise to flaccidity, and deficiency of both ying and wei qi give rise to numbness and flaccidity. Zheng qi deficiency and pathogenic excess are involved in this pattern; therefore, the therapeutic methods are to reinforce zheng qi and dispel pathogens. Expel wind-cold-dampness on the one hand and boost the liver and kidney and supplement qi and blood on the other hand. |
Application | 1. Essential pattern differentiation Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang is a frequently used formula for long-term bi syndrome caused by liver-kidney deficiency and qi and blood insufficiency. This clinical pattern is marked by cold pain of the waist and knees, stiffness of the joint, palpatations, shortness of breath, thready and weak pulse. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders when the patient shows signs of long-term bi due to wind-cold-dampness with deficiency of zheng qi: chronic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic sciatica, lumbar muscle strain, hyperostosis, and infantile paralysis. 3. Cautions and contraindications This formula is not applicable for patients with an excess pattern of bi caused by damp-heat. |
Additonal formulae | San Bi Tang (Three Impediments Decoction 三痹湯) [Source]《Corrections and Annotations to Fine Formulas for Women》Jiao Zhu Fu Ren Liang Fang《校注婦人良方》 [Ingredients] Xu duan 1 liang (30g), du zhong (dry-fried with ginger juice) 1 liang (30g), fang feng 1 liang (30g), rou gui 1 liang (30g), xi xin 1 liang (30g), ren shen 1 liang (30g), fu ling 1 liang (30g), dang gui 1 liang (30g), bai shao 1 liang (30g), gan cao 1 liang (30g), qin jiao 0.5 liang (15g), sheng di 0.5 liang (15g), chuan xiong 0.5 liang (15g), du huo 0.5 liang (15g), huang qi 1 liang (30g), chuan niu xi 1 liang (30g) [Preparation and Administration] Grind the medicinals into powder. One dose is 5 qian (15g). Add 2 zhan of water and decoct it with 3 pieces of sheng jiang and 1 piece of da zao until 1 zhan water remain, remove the dregs and take it warm. [Actions] Boosts qi, activates blood, dispels wind, and eliminates dampness. [Applicable Patterns] Long-term bi with consumption of qi and blood. Symptoms include: stiffness of the hands and feet, disorder of flexion and extension of joints, numbness of joints, a white tongue coating, and a thready or choppy pulse. |
Remark | Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix II. Its trade is allowed but subject to licensing controls. |
