Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang

🩺Cause & mechanism

• 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.
• Expel wind-cold-dampness on the one hand and boost the liver and kidney and supplement qi and blood on the other hand.