HERBS THAT DISPEL 


WIND-DAMPNESS

AKA
HERBS THAT TREAT BI SYNDROME

Revised: 8/19/2019

Sources:
• Bensky, D. (2004). Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press. pp. 323-369

• Chen, J. and Chen, T. (2004). Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Art of Medicine Press. pp. 301-353

Herbs that Dispel Wind-Dampness

Bi Syndrome — often translated as “painful obstruction disorder” or “impediment
syndrome” — is a pain condition similar to arthritis caused by an external invasion
of wind, cold, and dampness.

When wind predominates, the pain will move from place to place.

When dampness predominates, the joints will be swollen and the body heavy.

When cold predominates, the pain will be intense and the limbs cold.

When there is an abundance of yang, the pathogens can transform into heat leading
to Hot Bi (heat, swelling, redness).

There are three ways to treat bi syndrome:

• expel wind-cold-damp

• smooth, stretch, relax, open, and unblock the channels

• tonify Liver and Kidney yin

 Herbs that Dispel Wind-Dampness

Taste:
• acrid, bitter

• sweet (if tonifying)

Temperature: • warm

Channels: • LV, KI

Cautions & 
 • Most of these herbs are warm, acrid and aromatic.
Contraindications: They can easily cause dryness.

Main Action: • Treats bi syndrome

Herbs that Dispel Wind-Dampness

EXPEL WIND-COLD-DAMP UNBLOCK THE CHANNELS TONIFY LV/KI YIN

• dú huó
• mù guā
• sāng jì shēng

• wēi líng xiān

• cán shā
• wǔ jiā pí
• hǎi tóng pí
• qín jiāo

• hǔ gǔ
 • sāng zhī

• xī xiān cǎo

• bái huā shé


dú huó
angelicae pubescentis radix
独
Temp: warm

Taste: bitter, acrid

Channels: KI, UB

Dosage: 3-9 grams

活
1. expels wind-cold-damp to treat bi syndrome

• esp. for lower body (lower back and legs)

• can be very drying in nature

2. releases the exterior

• for exterior wind-cold attack with dampness

3. treats shao-yin headache and toothache

Qiang Huo treats bi in the upper body; Du Huo treats bi in the lower body.

wēi líng xiān

clematidis radix
威
Temp: warm

Taste: acrid, salty

Channels: UB

Dosage: 6-9 grams

灵
1. expels wind-cold-damp to treat bi syndrome

• esp. for painful obstruction where wind predominates

仙
• can be swallowed as powder with warm wine

2. softens fish bones

• for fish bones lodged in the throat

3. transforms phlegm

• for focal distention and accumulation in 


the middle-jiao
hǎi tóng pí
erythrinae cortex
海海
Temp: neutral

Taste: bitter, acrid

Channels: LV, SP, KI

Dosage: 6-15 grams

桐
1. expels wind-cold-damp to treat bi syndrome

• esp. for lower back and knees

⽪皮
• can be used for heat or cold conditions

2. promotes urination to treat edema

• for superficial edema under the skin

3. kills parasites

• for fungal infections, scabies (rash caused by 


mites burrowing into skin), and other skin lesions

• used externally for roundworm, pinworm, tapeworm, hookworm

hǔ gǔ
tigris os
⻁虎
Temp: warm

Taste: acrid, (sweet), salty

Channels: LV, KI

Dosage: 3-6 grams (best used as herbal wine)

⻣骨
1. expels wind-cold-damp to treat bi syndrome

• seeks out wind

2. tonifies Liver and Kidney yin to strengthen 


tendon and bone

• for wei syndrome (atrophy), osteoporosis

Can be applied externally to joints.

mù guā
chaenomelis fructus
⽊木
Temp: warm

Taste: sour

Channels: LV, SP

Dosage: 6-12 grams

⽠瓜
1. relaxes tendons and unblocks channels to 

treat bi syndrome

• esp. for spasm and cramping pain (e.g. TMJ, abdominal

cramps, leg cramps)

2. transforms middle-jiao dampness

Although Mu Gua is sour, it is not astringent in nature. It is only marked sour because it strongly 

enters the Liver channel

cán shā
bombycis faeces
蚕
Temp: warm

Taste: sweet, acrid

Channels: LV, SP, ST

Dosage: 4.5-9 grams (put in tea bag or gauze)

沙
1. relaxes tendons and unblocks channels to 

treat bi syndrome

• also expels wind-cold-dampness

• also for itchy rashes and skin lesion due to wind-dampness

• not as strong as Mu Gua

2. transforms middle-jiao dampness

• stronger than Mu Gua

To use externally: dry fry Can Sha until warm, place in cloth bag while still warm, moisten cloth 

bag with rice wine and apply to joints or abdomen.
qín jiāo
gentianae macrophyllae radix
秦
Temp: slightly cold

Taste: bitter, acrid

Channels: GB, LV, ST

Dosage: 3-9 grams

艽
1. relaxes tendons and unblocks channels to 

treat bi syndrome

• especially for frozen shoulder and pain in extremities

2. clears deficiency heat

3. resolves dampness, treats jaundice

• esp. for yang jaundice (damp-heat)

4. moistens Large Intestine to relieve 


constipation

sāng zhī
mori ramulus
桑
Temp: neutral

Taste: bitter, acrid

Channels: LV

Dosage: 9-15 grams (up to 30g in high doses)

枝
1. relaxes tendons and unblocks channels to 

treat bi syndrome

• mild

• esp. for upper extremities

2. promotes urination to treat edema

• esp. when accompanied by joint pain

3. lowers high blood pressure

xī xiān cǎo
siegesbeckiae herba
稀
Temp: cold

Taste: bitter

Channels: KI, LV

Dosage: 9-15 grams

莶
1. relaxes tendons and unblocks channels to 

treat bi syndrome

草
• used in post-stroke conditions

2. clears heat and subdues Liver yang rising

• for headache, dizziness, tinnitus

3. lowers high blood pressure

4. treats damp-heat related skin problems

• used internally and externally for damp-heat sores, 


wind-damp rash, and itching

bái huā shé

agkistrodon
⽩白
Temp: warm

Taste: sweet, salty, toxic

Channels: LV

Dosage: 3-9 grams in decoction; 1-1.5 grams in pills (best used in tincture or wine)
化
1. strongly unblocks channels

• “seeks out” or “tracks down” wind

蛇
2. expels wind-cold-dampness

• for spasm, tremor, seizures, facial paralysis

• also for rash due to wind

3. treats leprosy

Bai Hua She means “white flower [pattern] snake.” It is also called Qi She after Qi River in Hubei province.
sāng jì shēng
taxilli herba
桑
Temp: neutral

Taste: bitter, sweet

Channels: KI, LV

Dosage: 9-15 grams

寄
1. tonifies Liver and Kidney yin to strengthen 
 ⽣生
tendon and bone

2. tonifies blood

• benefits skin; for dry, scaly skin due to blood deficiency

• calms restless fetus to prevent miscarriage

• promotes lactation

3. lowers high blood pressure and cholesterol

Sang Ji Sheng is a parasite that grows on aged mulberry trees.

wǔ jiā pí
acanthopanacis cortex
五
Temp: warm

Taste: acrid, sweet

Channels: KI, LV

Dosage: 4.5-9 grams

加
1. tonifies Liver and Kidney yin to strengthen 
 ⽪皮
tendon and bone

• esp. for five-delay syndrome in children, and elderly patients

2. promotes urination to treat edema

• esp. for edema under the skin

Acanthopanacis Cortex is the old latin name. It is also called Eleutherococci Gracilistyli Cortex.

Wu Jia Pi sounds like “would you pee.” It makes you pee.

Summary
du huo
expels wind-cold-damp

angelicae pubescentis radix • for lower body

wei ling xian

expels wind-cold-damp
• softens hardness and fish bones (salty)
clematidis radix • for pain

hai tong pi
expels wind-cold-damp
• kills parasites (worms and fungus)
erythrinae cortex • for dampness

hu gu
expels wind-cold-damp
• tonifies LV/KI yin, treats atrophy
tigris os

mu gua
unblocks channels to treat bi
• transforms m-j dampness
chaenomelis fructus • sour because it enters LV channel

can sha
unblocks channels to treat bi
• transforms m-j dampness
bombycis faeces

qin jiao
unblocks channels to treat bi
• clears def. heat

gentianae macrophyllae radix • esp. frozen shoulder • relieves jaundice

sang zhi
unblocks channels to treat bi
• lowers high blood pressure
mori ramulus • upper body

xi xian cao
unblocks channels to treat bi
• lowers high blood pressure

siegesbeckiae herba • post-stroke • treats skin problems

bai hua she

strongly unblocks channels to treat bi

agkistrodon • snakity snek

🐍🐍🐍

sang ji sheng
tonifies LV/KI yin to strengthen tendon and • calms fetus

taxilli herba bone

• lowers high blood pressure and cholesterol

wu jia pi
tonifies LV/KI yin to strengthen tendon and • promotes urination to treat edema
acanthopanacis cortex bone

• five delay in children