Notopterygium is the rhizome and stem of the umbelliferous plant Notopterygium, broad-leaved Notopterygium, or Sichuan Notopterygium. It is mainly produced in Sichuan, Gansu, Yunnan, and other regions. The original plant thrives in forest edges and thickets along rivers at altitudes between 1500 and 4500 meters. It prefers cool and moist climates, is cold-resistant, and slightly shade-tolerant. It grows best in deep, well-drained, humus-rich sandy loam. It has a pungent and bitter taste, warm nature, and belongs to the kidney and bladder meridians. Its effects include releasing the exterior and dissipating cold, expelling wind and eliminating dampness, and relieving pain. The clinical name is Notopterygium.
bubble_chart Compendium of Materia Medica
Yaoxing Lun: Sovereign, bitter and pungent in taste, non-toxic. It can treat Zefeng, aphonia, itching, blood disorders, paralysis of hands and feet, facial distortion, and generalized numbness.
Rihuazi Bencao: Treats all wind and qi disorders, muscle and bone spasms, weakness of limbs, dizziness, improves vision, red and painful eyes, diseases due to latent stagnation of qi and blood, water retention, five strains and seven injuries, cold deficiency, joint soreness, and benefits the five organs. Pubescent Angelica is the mother category of Notopterygium.
Yaolei Faxiang: Slightly warm in qi, bitter and sweet in taste.
Treats limb and joint pain, acts as a sovereign, and is miraculous in benefiting all joints. It is a wind medicine for the hands and feet of the taiyang. Like Sichuan Lovage Rhizome, it treats headaches of the foot taiyang and taiyin, and penetrates joints to benefit them.
Yaoxing Fu: Bitter and sweet in taste, neutral, slightly warm in qi, non-toxic. It rises and is yang within yin. Its uses are five: disperses the eight winds from the muscle surface, relieves pain in all body joints, expels severe yang flesh-rotting sores, removes new and old wind-dampness syndromes, and is a guiding medicine for the exterior and interior of the hands and feet taiyang.Tangye Bencao: Slightly warm in qi, bitter and sweet in taste. Pungent and bitter, both qi and taste are light, yang, non-toxic.
Foot taiyang meridian, jueyin meridian medicine, taiyang meridian Benjing medicine.
Yaolei Faxiang: Treats limb and joint pain, benefits all joints, wind medicine for the hands and feet taiyang meridian. With Sichuan Lovage Rhizome, treats foot taiyang and shaoyin headaches, penetrates joints.
Yongyao Xinfa: Removes warm damp wind.
Zhenzhunang: Joint pain cannot be relieved without this.
Tangye Bencao: Sovereign medicine, not a ruler of inaction, but a ruler who restores order from chaos. Taiyang meridian headache, limb and joint pain, whole body pain, cannot be treated without this. Also, Notopterygium is a medicine for the foot taiyang, jueyin, and shaoyin. It is not distinguished from Pubescent Angelica, but later generations use Notopterygium more for hard joints and Pubescent Angelica more for ghost eyes. Notopterygium has strong qi, Pubescent Angelica has fine qi, so the strong enters the foot taiyang, the fine enters the foot shaoyin. Also, Qian's Green-Blue-Draining Pill uses this, treating both ren and yi together. Someone asked: Why does it treat headaches? Answer: The taiyang runs from the head to the feet, only the jueyin and the governor vessel meet at the top, flowing upward, all yang cannot descend, hence causing headaches.
Bencao Fahui: Jiegu said: Notopterygium treats limb and joint pain, wind medicine for the hands and feet taiyang Benjing. With Sichuan Lovage Rhizome, treats foot taiyang and shaoyin headaches, penetrates joints to benefit them, also treats wind-dampness. Zhuzhi Mijue: Warm in nature, pungent in taste. Both qi and taste are thin, floating and rising yang. Its uses are five: guiding the hands and feet taiyang one, combining wind-dampness two, removing limb and joint pain three, eliminating Yongju decaying blood four, treating wind-dampness headache five.Bencao Jingshu: Notopterygium is warm in nature, pungent and bitter, qi thicker than taste, floating and rising, yang. Wind medicine for the hands and feet taiyang meridian, also enters the foot jueyin and shaoyin meridians' qi aspect.
Notopterygium has a strong qi, while Pubescent Angelica has a fine qi. Therefore, the strong one treats the mutual contention of wind and dampness in the foot taiyang, headache, limb joint pain, and general body pain; without it, these cannot be eliminated. It is the sovereign medicinal for restoring order from chaos. The fine one treats common cold headache in the foot shaoyin, fixed arthralgia in both feet that prevents movement; without it, these cannot be eliminated, but it does not treat taiyang syndromes. It is listed among the sovereign medicinals, not comparable to the weak and timid ones. Small things cannot escape it, and large things cannot block it, hence it can disperse the eight winds of evil from the muscle surface and alleviate pain in the joints of the body. It treats wind-cold attacks and incised wound pain; when incised wounds are attacked by wind-cold, the blood and qi become congested and do not flow, thus the pain worsens. The bitter, sweet, and pungent warmth of Pubescent Angelica can repel wind-cold; when the evil is dispersed, the muscle surface becomes peaceful and the qi and blood flow smoothly, hence the pain naturally stops. Running-piglet is an accumulation in the kidney; when the kidney meridian is invaded by wind-cold due to deficiency, it forms running-piglet. This medicine enters the foot shaoyin, hence it treats running-piglet. Epilepsy and arrival are both caused by wind evil; when the wind is removed, epilepsy and arrival naturally heal. Female hernia and abdominal masses are caused by cold-dampness taking advantage of deficiency to invade the kidney. Bitterness can dry dampness, warmth can repel cold, and pungency can disperse; when cold-dampness is removed, the kidney is at peace, hence it treats female hernia and abdominal masses, and cures various Zefeng, joint pain from wind, whether recent or long-standing.
Bencao Mengquan: Bitter, sweet, pungent in taste, neutral to slightly warm in nature. Both the qi and flavor are light, ascending, and yang in nature. Non-toxic. Notopterygium has a strong qi, while Pubescent Angelica has a fine fragrance. The strong qi enters the foot taiyang, and the fine fragrance enters the foot shaoyin. It is known that Notopterygium is a guiding herb for the hand and foot taiyin meridians, and also enters the foot lesser cold reversal and yin meridians. Listed among the sovereign herbs, it is not a weak ruler. It truly has the ability to bring order out of chaos and achieve great things. Therefore, it can enter anywhere small and pass through anything large. It can disperse wind-evil from the muscle surface and effectively relieve pain in the joints of the body. It expels yang flesh-rotting sores and removes both new and old wind-dampness syndromes. The black skin and rot must be removed, and it should be decocted for consumption to achieve miraculous effects. If Sichuan Lovage Rhizome is added, it can immediately stop Benjing headache. Pubescent Angelica has slightly different indications compared to Notopterygium, as it is a guiding herb for the foot shaoyin meridians. It specifically treats pain wind and latent wind in the shaoyin meridian, but does not treat the taiyang meridian. Therefore, it is indispensable for treating fixed arthralgia in both feet that prevents movement, and it can also treat wind-toothache, dizziness, and blurred vision. Although it treats latent wind, it also aids in drying dampness. As the classic says: Wind can overcome dampness.Commentary: According to the "Compilation," Notopterygium and Pubescent AngelicaBenjing are said to be of the same species, with no separate entries, indicating they are not two different substances. Later generations, seeing slight differences in form, color, and fragrance, proposed different theories. They failed to consider that variations among things are natural. Thus, although Notopterygium and Pubescent Angelica are of the same species, there are differences within the species, with some being firm and dense, and others light and hollow. Zhang Zhongjing used the firm and dense Pubescent Angelica to treat shaoyin, while Li Dongyuan used the light and hollow Notopterygium to treat taiyang. This is similar to Skullcap Root, where the dried and hollow ones are called Su Qin and used to treat taiyin, while the round and solid ones are called Zi Qin and used to treat yangming. Moreover, ancient formulas only used Pubescent Angelica, while modern formulas use both Pubescent Angelica and Notopterygium. It is unclear whether the disease requires both or if it has not been thoroughly investigated.
The "Materia Medica Chengya": Nothing moves all things as swiftly as wind. Therefore, all things move due to wind, except for Pubescent Angelica. With wind, it stands still; without wind, it sways on its own. In Shu, it is called Shu Huo; in Qiang, it is called Notopterygium. Its name changes with location, and its properties vary accordingly. They can be considered brothers but cannot be forcibly distinguished as male or female. It is used to treat conditions where one cannot stand still and is struck by wind-cold blades, or where running-piglet epilepsy and convulsions are caused by wind and reversed by wind in terms of opening and closing. For example, in female hernia and abdominal masses, it cannot sway on its own. If it cannot sway, it is closed and not open; if it cannot stand still, it is open and not closed. Only Pubescent Angelica can both close and open, and open and close. It should enter the liver meridian, the jueyin closing, embodying the transformation of blood, wind, and wood qi.
The "Medicinal Property Explanation": Notopterygium is bitter, sweet, and neutral in taste, slightly warm in nature, non-toxic, and enters the small intestine and bladder meridians. It disperses superficial wind-evil, relieves pain in the joints of the body, expels taiyang flesh-rotting sores, and removes both new and old wind-dampness syndromes. The purple and densely jointed ones are Notopterygium.
Note: Notopterygium has a clear qi, yang in nature, good at moving qi, relaxing without constricting, ascending yet able to sink, strong and good at dispersing, capable of expelling exterior pathogens. Therefore, it enters the hand taiyang small intestine and foot taiyang bladder meridians to regulate wandering wind. Its functions, though seemingly different from Pubescent Angelica, are actually complementary. Users should carefully consider this.
Yaojian: Slightly warm in nature, bitter, sweet, and pungent in taste, both qi and flavor are light, non-toxic, ascending, and yang in nature. It is the sovereign herb of the foot taiyang meridian. It is the master of bringing order out of chaos and achieving great things. Therefore, it can enter anywhere small and pass through anything large, dispersing the eight winds from the muscle surface and effectively relieving pain in the joints of the body. It expels taiyang flesh-rotting sores and removes both new and old wind-dampness syndromes. When combined with Sichuan Lovage Rhizome, it treats foot taiyang and shaoyin headaches. With Gentian, it treats foot yangming and shaoyang mouth deviation. Combined with Atractylodes Rhizome, it quickly resolves damp wind. Assisted by Ephedra, it excels in opening the striae and interstices. Notopterygium and Pubescent Angelica are not considered two different species. Later generations used Notopterygium, mostly the hard-jointed ones, and Pubescent Angelica, mostly the ghost-eyed ones. However, Notopterygium has a strong qi, while Pubescent Angelica has a fine qi. The strong enters the foot taiyang, and the fine enters the foot taiyin. Why is it used for headaches? Because the taiyang runs from the head, and only the jueyin and governor vessel meet at the vertex, ascending against the flow, preventing the yang from descending, thus causing headaches. It is used in smallpox treatment to disperse wind-heat from the muscle surface and relieve joint pain, making it an essential herb for expelling toxins and promoting pus discharge. It should not be used in cases of qi deficiency.
Jingyue Quanshu: Slightly bitter in taste, pungent and slightly warm in qi, ascending in nature, and yang in character. It is used to disperse cold and relieve pain. It can enter all the meridians, with the greatest affinity for the taiyang. It disperses cold pathogens from the muscle surface, alleviates pain throughout the body, neck, and spine, expels Yongju from the taiyang, and removes both new and old wind-dampness. As it is not a mild or weak substance, it can rectify disorders and restore normalcy. Due to its strong qi, it is highly effective in dispersing and expelling, but it should be avoided by those with deficient healthy qi.
Bencao Beiyao: Xuan. Dispels wind, promotes surface eruption, and overcomes dampness.
Pungent and bitter in nature, warm in property, strong and dispersing in qi, with a light taste that rises. Enters the foot taiyang bladder. Regulates wandering wind, also enters the foot shaoyin and jueyin qi divisions. Kidneys and liver. Drains the liver, dispels liver wind, nothing small is not entered, nothing large is not passed through. Treats mutual contention of wind and dampness, Benjing headache. Used with Sichuan Lovage Rhizome, treats taiyang and shaoyin headache. For headache, wind-dispelling herbs are often used because only wind-dispelling herbs can reach the top of the head. For diseases of the governing vessel, with stiff spine and reversal, the governing vessel and taiyang meridian. Exogenous convulsive disease, stiff spine and reversal, which is convulsive disease. Cold-damage disease without sweat is exogenous convulsive disease; common cold with sweat is exogenous convulsive disease. There is also blood deficiency causing convulsions. Generally, wind pattern is suitable for Erhuo, blood deficiency should avoid it. Apoplexy with aphasia, according to ancient treatments for apoplexy, mostly focused on external contraction, often using Xuming, Yufeng decoctions to promote surface eruption, using Sanhua decoction, Hemp Seed pills to attack the interior. Until Hejian proposed, apoplexy is not caused by external wind, but by sudden excess of heart fire and deficiency of kidney water. Dongyuan believed it was due to self-disease of original qi. Danxi believed dampness produces phlegm, phlegm produces heat, heat produces wind. People further divided into northern wind strength, thick constitution as true stroke; southern lowland, weak constitution as similar stroke. Not considering Qibo said: The main methods of apoplexy are four: one hemiplegia, half-body paralysis; two wind paralysis, limbs not retracting; three wind stupor, sudden unconsciousness; four migratory impediment, various wind-like paralysis conditions, wind pattern is fully covered. How can there be true stroke, similar stroke theories? This condition is all due to deficiency of qi and blood, doctors do not know to nourish blood and tonify qi to strengthen the foundation, only use Wu, Fu, Qiang, Du to dispel wind, called deficiency causing deficiency, misleading many. True stroke must be heavier than similar stroke, how can similar stroke be internal damage, true stroke only external contraction? Hejian, Dongyuan are northerners, how can they completely abandon northerners and only treat southern diseases? Hejian, Dongyuan are northerners, how can they completely abandon northerners and only treat southern diseases? Dizziness and red eyes. Essential herb for red eyes. Dispels eight winds evil from muscle surface, benefits pain in all body joints, is the main herb for reversing chaos and restoring order. If blood deficiency headache, pain all over the body, this belongs to internal condition. Erhuo are both prohibited.
Benjing Fengyuan: Bitter, pungent, warm, non-toxic.
Treats pupil taiyang mutual contention of wind and dampness, whole body pain, headache and limb joint pain, red eyes and itchy skin, is the main commander for reversing chaos and restoring order. For diseases of the governing vessel, stiff spine and reversal, cannot be removed without this. Zhen Quan uses Notopterygium Zefeng aphonia with much itching, hands and feet not functioning, crooked mouth and face, paralysis blood leprosy, all diseases of wind attacking blood vessels. Su Gong said: To treat wind, use Pubescent Angelica, for water, use Notopterygium. Wind can overcome dampness, so Notopterygium can treat water dampness. Used with Sichuan Lovage Rhizome, treats taiyang and jueyin headache, promotes sweating and disperses surface, opens passages and benefits joints, is a miraculous herb for untimely common cold. But internal damage original qi, blood deficiency headache, and pain in all body limbs and joints, are not suitable. In the past, people treated labor-induced cold, used in Middle-Tonifying Qi-Replenishing Decoction, deeply understood the meaning of supplementing with draining.
Bencao Chongyuan: Notopterygium when first unearthed, bitter with sweetness, dried in the sun then bitter and pungent in taste, so Benjing says taste sweet, pungent, color yellow and purple, very fragrant, grows in western Shu, embodies hand and foot taiyin metal and earth qi transformation. Wind-cold strikes, like a guest at the door knocking, enters from skin and hair into muscle interstices. Notopterygium embodies taiyin lung metal qi, then defends skin and hair wind-cold. Embodies taiyin spleen earth qi, then defends muscle interstices wind-cold, so treats wind-cold strikes. Incised wound pain relief, embodies earth qi and grows muscles. Running-piglet is water rising qi rushing, earth can defend water counterflow, metal can benefit child deficiency, so treats epilepsy. Liver wood disease, hernia, lump accumulation. Metal can level wood, so treats female hernia and lump.
Bencao Qiuzhen: Notopterygium specifically enters the bladder and also enters the liver and kidneys. According to "Daming," Pubescent Angelica is the mother of Notopterygium. Thus, it is understood that Notopterygium is the child of Pubescent Angelica. Furthermore, according to Li Shizhen, Notopterygium and Pubescent Angelica are two varieties of the same thing, much like Sichuan Lovage Rhizome and Fuxiong, Atractylodes Rhizome and White Atractylodes Rhizome. It is pungent, bitter, and warm in nature, with a light taste and strong qi, primarily functioning to ascend. It is effective for diseases caused by the taiyang bladder, manifesting as wind moving to the head and causing headaches. The "Classic" states: the upper half of the body is affected by wind, while the lower half is affected by dampness. Therefore, wind often reaches the top of the head. It also follows the meridians, causing stiffness along the spine and leading to exogenous convulsive diseases. The taiyang meridian runs along the back of the body. In cold-damage diseases, absence of sweating indicates exogenous convulsive disease, while presence of sweating in common cold indicates exogenous convulsive disease. Convulsive diseases are all due to wind-cold affecting the taiyang, manifesting as stiffness along the spine. This should be treated accordingly. Convulsive diseases should be treated in conjunction with Pubescent Angelica, headaches with Sichuan Lovage Rhizome. However, it should be avoided in cases of blood deficiency with convulsions. It also enters the foot shaoyin kidney and foot jueyin liver, expelling the eight winds from the muscles and skin, and alleviating pain from the mutual contention of wind and dampness in the joints of the body, restoring order and curing all ailments. Although both Notopterygium and Pubescent Angelica treat wind, Zhang Jie-bin said: The most common mistake in treating wind diseases is not understanding their external and internal aspects. External wind is what enters from the eight directions. Internal wind is the primary disease of the five zang-organs. The eight winds enter from the outside, first causing fever and chills, headache, and body heat. The five winds arise from within, showing no external symptoms but suddenly manifesting as wind-like diseases, indicating internal damage. Internal damage arises from the seven emotions, often leading to yin deficiency. When the organ qi is injured, spleen disease affects the limbs, often with phlegm-fluid retention; kidney disease affects the bones or the two yin; heart disease affects the blood vessels or the mind; lung disease affects the nutrient-defense or the voice; liver disease affects the tendons and nails or the blood vessels. These wind-like diseases of the five zang-organs all stem from yin deficiency. People know one aspect of yin deficiency but not the other. If the water within yin is deficient, the disease lies in the essence and blood; if the fire within yin is deficient, the disease lies in the spirit and qi. When yang declines, qi departs, leading to mental confusion—is this not fire deficiency? When yin is deficient, the form deteriorates, leading to limb weakness—is this not water deficiency? For symptoms of spirit leaving and form deteriorating, if one does not seek the source in water and fire but still treats it as wind, it is rarely not dangerous. Consider the analogy of nature: drought leads to dryness, which generates wind. Thus, the transformation of wind-wood follows dryness, which is a sign of yin deficiency. Therefore, in treating wind-like diseases, one should focus on nourishing true yin to address the root, and wind-dryness will naturally dissipate. In cases of original qi deficiency, sudden collapse, absence of phlegm above, incontinence below, closed eyes, and deep unconsciousness, this is a symptom of exhaustion, unrelated to wind evil. Without large doses of ginseng and aconite, how can one hope to restore vital qi at the brink of extinction? If one does not discern the external and internal aspects, nor distinguish deficiency and excess, but merely names it as wind and uses wind-dispelling herbs, one does not realize that wind-dispelling herbs are drying, further damaging yin; they are dispersing, further attracting wind. Treating internal damage as external contraction, and deficiency as excess, hastens death. This specifically treats the evil of taiyang attacking the head and affecting the muscles and skin of the whole body, unlike Pubescent Angelica, which specifically treats lower energizer wind-dampness, affecting the foot shaoyin kidney qi and not connecting to the taiyang meridian. However, Notopterygium is strong in nature and not gentle, making it unsuitable for blood deficiency headaches and pain in all limbs and joints. It damages qi and blood.
Depei Bencao: Pungent, bitter, warm in nature. Strong and dispersing in qi. Enters the foot taiyang meridian qi aspect to regulate wandering wind. Treats mutual contention of wind and dampness, Benjing headache, joint soreness, general body pain, aphonia, facial distortion, red eyes, itchy skin, abscesses, and blood scabies.
Combine with Pubescent Angelica and Knotty Pine Wood, decocted with wine, to treat multiple arthralgia pain. As a sovereign with Sichuan Lovage Rhizome and Chinese Angelica, treat headache and stiff spine with cold extremities; taiyang, shaoyin, and governor vessel disorders. As a messenger with Asarum, treat shaoyin headache. Shaoyin enters the vertex. Fry with radish seeds until fragrant, then take only Notopterygium as powder, take two qian each time with warm wine to treat wind edema and swelling.
To dispel wind-dampness, use in large doses; for external wind-cold, use in small doses. Contraindicated in cases of qi and blood deficiency with generalized pain.
Strange condition: eyes suddenly drooping to the nose like black horns, unbearable pain, or frequent large hematochezia with severe pain, known as liver distension. Use one liang of Notopterygium decocted and taken.
Nowadays, for fever headache, Notopterygium decoction is often used. However, it is not known that pungent dispersing herbs are effective for wind-cold, but if used to treat seasonal epidemic toxic fire, it will increase dryness and fierceness, quickly drying stomach yin and causing death. Or if epidemic qi resides in the membrane source and overflows into taiyang, a small amount can be added to the Membrane-Source-Opening Decoction.
Bencao Jing Jie: Notopterygium has a balanced qi, embodying the metal qi of autumn dryness, and enters the hand taiyin lung meridian; it is bitter and sweet in taste, non-toxic, and obtains the flavor of southern central fire and earth, entering the hand shaoyin heart meridian and foot taiyin spleen meridian. Its qi and flavor are more descending than ascending, and it is yin in nature.
It primarily treats wind-cold attacks and incised wound pain. When incised wounds are attacked by wind-cold, qi and blood become congested and do not move, causing more severe pain. Notopterygium's bitterness can drain, and its sweetness can harmonize, entering the lung to resolve wind-cold, thus promoting the movement of qi and blood and stopping pain.
Running-piglet refers to the evil of kidney water, like a piglet rushing and attacking the heart. Bitterness can dry dampness, and sweetness can subdue the kidney, thus treating it.
Epilepsy is a wind condition; convulsions are a condition of dampness flowing into the joints. Female hernia and abdominal masses often occur after menstruation, where blood is formed by wind-dampness. Notopterygium balances wind-dryness and dampness, and its strong qi can disperse blood.
Shennong Bencao Jingdu: Notopterygium has a balanced qi, embodying metal qi and entering the lung; it is bitter and sweet in taste, non-toxic, obtaining the flavor of fire and entering the heart; obtaining the flavor of earth and entering the spleen.
It primarily treats wind-cold attacks, entering the heart to support the decline of heart fire, thus treating it.
Epilepsy and convulsions: when wood moves, it generates wind; when wind moves, it carries the momentum of wood to harm earth; when earth is diseased, it gathers fluids to form phlegm; when phlegm enters the heart, it causes epilepsy and convulsions. This substance embodies metal qi to control wind, obtains earth flavor to tonify the spleen, and obtains fire flavor to calm the heart, thus treating it.
Female hernia and abdominal masses often occur after menstruation, where blood is formed by wind-dampness. This substance enters the liver to balance wind, enters the spleen to overcome dampness, and enters the heart to govern the flow of blood vessels, thus treating it.
Bencao Xinbian: Notopterygium is bitter and pungent in taste, balanced and warm in qi, ascending, yang, and non-toxic. It enters the foot taiyang and foot shaoyin meridians, and also enters the foot jueyin. It is good at dispersing wind evil, relieving joint pain throughout the body, and removing both new and old wind-dampness, also stopping headache and toothache. The ancients called Notopterygium a sovereign medicinal because it can reverse chaos and restore order, with a rotating force, but I alone believe it can only serve as a messenger and not as a minister or assistant. Its pungent taste and ascending qi, along with its overly dispersing nature, make it suitable as a meridian-guiding herb to reach up and down, thus dispelling wind and eliminating dampness. If relied upon as a sovereign or minister, hoping it will harmonize qi and blood and regulate yin-yang, it will inevitably lead to unusual changes and disasters. Therefore, Notopterygium can only be added to Angelica, Ligusticum, Atractylodes, and Poria to expel evil and restore order, then it has miraculous effects. Notopterygium and Pubescent Angelica are originally two different herbs, but various materia medica texts mistakenly consider them as one. Master Zhongjing used Pubescent Angelica to treat shaoyin evil, while Master Dongyuan used Notopterygium to treat taiyang evil, each with its own rationale, not distinguishing the tight and solid as Pubescent Angelica and the light and hollow as Notopterygium. Although both herbs disperse evil, their ascending and descending natures are different: Notopterygium is ascending, while Pubescent Angelica is descending. As for not being suitable as sovereign or minister but only as a messenger, this is common to both.
Someone asked: "The ancients specifically used the Nine-Ingredient Notopterygium Decoction to dispel the evil of wind-cold, and today everyone follows this practice. Yet, you belittle Notopterygium as a mere supplementary medicine. Isn't that too dismissive?" I replied: "Although Notopterygium dispels wind evils, it actually harms the vital energy. As the evil is dispersed, the vital energy is also dissipated along with it. The Nine-Ingredient Notopterygium Decoction is mixed and impure, which is why I do not favor it. The treatment for external contraction of wind evils cannot go beyond the scope of Master Zhongjing; the treatment for internal damage combined with external contraction cannot go beyond the scope of Master Dongyuan. I follow Master Zhongjing in treating external contraction and Master Dongyuan in treating external contraction with internal damage. Why then must we insist on using the Nine-Ingredient Notopterygium Decoction to dispel wind evils?"
Some suspect that the ancient Jie Gu created the Nine-Ingredient Notopterygium Decoction to supplement what Zhang Zhongjing had not covered, and that half of his life's learning is encapsulated in this formula. Yet, you, sir, belittle Notopterygium and, by extension, its formula, which I privately consider an overstep on your part. Alas! Jie Gu created the Nine-Ingredient Notopterygium Decoction because Zhang Zhongjing's methods were not widely understood, and Li Dongyuan had not yet formulated the Middle-Tonifying Qi-Replenishing Decoction. Out of necessity, he established this formula to treat external contraction, which in reality addresses internal damage. Now that Li Dongyuan has established the Middle-Tonifying Qi-Replenishing Decoction, which far surpasses the Nine-Ingredient Notopterygium Decoction, why should we still use Jie Gu's formula? As for the methods of treating external contraction, none surpass the thoroughness of Zhang Zhongjing's treatise on cold damage. External contraction is highly variable; how could the simple formula of Notopterygium alone govern the external contraction that traverses the six meridians? Moreover, Zhang Zhongjing's treatise on cold damage has been further elucidated by Jing Duo and Yu Jiayan, making it clear that his formulas should be directly used for external contraction without doubt. As for the Nine-Ingredient Notopterygium Decoction, it is truly unnecessary. The ancient Jie Gu wasted half his life on this formula, which is mixed and impure, hardly worth venerating. Thus, I belittle it; is this truly an overstep?
Some say that Notopterygium and Pubescent Angelica are both dispersing herbs, but Notopterygium has an ascending nature while Pubescent Angelica has a descending nature. Ascending may risk causing agitation, so it is safer to use Pubescent Angelica than Notopterygium. Alas! When there is evil to disperse, ascending is acceptable, and descending is also acceptable. When there is no evil to disperse, dispersing herbs should not be used at all, so why debate over ascending or descending? Moreover, these two herbs are fundamentally different; while they both disperse, their ascending and descending properties are distinct, and thus should not be used indiscriminately!
Bencao Fenjing : Pungent, bitter, warm in nature. Strong in qi, it enters the bladder to dispel wind, and also enters the liver and kidney qi levels, dispersing wind and overcoming dampness. It treats disorders of the governing vessel and pain in the joints of the body.
bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology
- The volatile oil of Notopterygium has antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects.
- The volatile oil of Notopterygium has anti-allergic effects, showing some inhibition of delayed hypersensitivity reactions in mice caused by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB).
- Notopterygium has anti-arrhythmic effects. Its water-soluble fraction can significantly shorten the duration of arrhythmia in rabbits and delay the onset of arrhythmia induced by Aconite Mother Root alkaloid in mice. This effect tends to strengthen with increasing dose, but when the dose reaches 12g/kg, the effect diminishes.
- Notopterygium has anti-myocardial ischemia effects. Its volatile oil can counteract acute myocardial ischemia induced by posterior pituitary extract. Additionally, the volatile oil of Notopterygium can significantly increase myocardial nutrient blood flow, thereby improving myocardial ischemia.
- Notopterygium has some anti-shock effects, but it requires small doses administered multiple times to be effective. A single large dose does not enhance the animal's anti-shock capability.
- Notopterygium has anti-thrombotic effects.
- Notopterygium has antibacterial effects. In vitro experiments show that Notopterygium oil, its volatile oil, and its water decoction have certain inhibitory effects on various bacilli and Staphylococcus aureus.
- Notopterygium has anti-lipid peroxidation effects.
- Notopterygium also has anti-epileptic effects and shows some inhibitory effects on cervical cells of the uterus.