Sou Feng Huo Xue Tang
This formula was created by Yuan Ming and Qiu Hao
of the Shengzhou Municipal Chinese Medical Hospital in Zhejiang province. Our
version is a 10:1 extract.
RX:
Chuan Xiong
(Rhizoma Chuanxiong)
Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Albae)
Dan Shen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae))
Jiang Can (Bombyx Batrytricatus)
Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis)
Bai Zhi (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae)
Man Jing Zi (Fructus Viticis)
Ci Ji Li (Fructus Tribuli Terrestris)
Gou Teng (Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uncis)
Tian Ma Mi Huan Jun (Armillaria Mellea)
Quan Xie (Scorpio)
Wu Gong (Scolopendra)
INDICATIONS:
This formula is for the treatment of recurrent
migraine headaches associated with either externally contracted or internally
engendered wind and static blood in the network vessels.
THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF WIND
INCLUDE:
-
Paroxysmal onset
-
Dizziness
-
Tingling and/or numbness
THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF STATIC
BLOOD IN THE NETWORK VESSELS INCLUDE:
-
Severe, localized pain
-
Enduring disease
COMBINATIONS:
If there is simultaneous phlegm turbidity, this
formula can be combined with either Er Chen Wan (Two Aged [Ingredients]
Pills). If there is simultaneous yin vacuity, it may be combined with Qi Ju
Di Huang Wan (Lycium & Chrysanthemum Rehmannia Pills). If there is
simultaneous (qi and) blood vacuity, it may be combined with Ba Zhen Wan
(Eight Pearls Pills). If there is a liver-spleen disharmony with blood vacuity,
it may be combined with Xiao Yao Wan (Rambling Pills). If liver
depression has transformed heat, it may be combined with Dan Zhi Xiao Yao
Wan (Moutan & Gardenia Rambling Pills).
FORMULA EXPLANATION:
In Chinese medicine, migraine headaches are
referred to as pian tou tong (side head pain). However, they are also
referred to as pian tou feng (side head wind). This last term suggests
that all migraines are associated with an element of wind. That wind may be
either externally contracted or internally engendered.
Signs and symptoms of wind in the case of
migraines include paroxysmal attacks which affect the upper- most part of the
body, numbness and tingling, and dizziness and vertigo. Because the pain is very
intense and commonly localized in one or two places, there is also blood stasis
in the network vessel. This is based on Ye Tian-shi’s famous statement that new
diseases are in the channels, but old or enduring diseases enter the network
vessels. Because there is static blood in the network vessels, the disease is
recalcitrant to treatment and requires special medicinals which free the flow of
the network vessels.
Although 25% of the population suffers from a
migraine headache at some point in their life, most patients with recurrent
migraines are females, and, typically, migraines in females occur in
relationship to their menstrual cycle, coming either before, during, or soon
after menstruation. This means that female migraines are commonly associated
with blood vacuity failing to nourish the liver properly. During the
premenstruum, blood is sent down to the uterus. If the woman has a relative
insufficiency of blood, this may leave the liver malnourished. Therefore, the
liver qi fails to do its duty of governing coursing and discharge. Instead, the
liver becomes depressed and the qi becomes stagnant. This may give rise to
depressive heat which then engenders ascendant yang hyperactivity. It may also
give rise to internal stirring of wind. Further, it may cause spleen vacuity
which results in a defensive qi vacuity and easy entrance and attack by external
wind evils. Likewise, loss of blood during menstruation and an emptiness of the
sea of blood post-menstrually may also give rise to any of the above scenarios.
If spleen vacuity engenders dampness and dampness congeals into phlegm, phlegm
turbidity may be drafted upward with counterflowing qi and yang. In somewhat
older women, yin vacuity may fail to control yang. thus leading to ascendant
liver yang hyperactivity.
Within this formula, Bai Zhi, Man
Jing Zi, and Bai Ji Li scatter wind, free the flow of the network
vessels, and stop pain. Jiang Can, Quan Xie, and Wu Gong
track down wind, free the flow of the network vessels, and stop pain. Chuan
Xiong moves upward to the head and eyes and downward to the sea of blood.
It moves the qi within the blood and dispels wind within the blood. It quickens
the blood and transforms stasis as well as moves the qi and stops pain. Dang
Gui, Dan Shen, and Bai Shao both nourish and quicken the
blood, relax cramping or spasm, and stop pain. therefore, when all these
medicinals are used together, they track down wind and free the flow of the
network vessels, quicken the blood, dispel stasis, and stop pain.
In a study of 42 patients 15-56 years old,
28 of whom were female and who had suffered from migraines for from 1-30 years,
this formula achieved a 92.9% total amelioration rate. Eleven out of 42 cases
were cured, 18 got a marked effect, 10 got some effect, and only three failed to
experience any improvement. This was compared to a comparison group of 42
similar patients treated with Western medicine which only achieved a 73.8% total
amelioration rate and only half the cure rate.1
This formula contains Quan Xie (Scorpio) and Wu
Gong (Scolopendra), both potentially toxic substances. However, cooking, as in
the manufacture of this product, mostly destroys these toxins. The toxic dosage
in decoction of these two substances is 30-60 grams per day. Each of these
ingredients represent 3% of our formula. The amount of these two substances in
six capsules per day is the equivalent of 0.18 grams per day in decoction or
.006% of a toxic dose. Therefore, practitioners do not need to worry about the
toxicity of these ingredients in this formula.
MY PATIENT DOES HAVE SYMPTOMS
OF:
Side head wind Yes No Blood stasis in the network
vessels Yes No
1 Yuan Ming & Qiu Hao, “A Clinical Survey of
the Treatment of 42 Cases of Migraine Headache with Self-composed Sou Feng Huo
Xue Tang (Track Down Wind & Quicken the Blood Decoction),” An Hui Zhong Yi
Lin Chuang Za Zhi (Anhui Journal of Clinical Chinese Medicine), #3, 2003, p. 191
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