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Qiang Huo

Key Characteristics:

Releases the exterior and disperses cold: for exterior cold patterns with such symptoms as chills, fever, headache, body aches and pains. Most commonly used when accompanied by dampness with joint pain, a general feeling of heaviness, sleepiness, or when there is pain in the occipital region as in Jiu Wei Qiang Hu Tang.
Unblocks painful obstruction and alleviates pain: for wind-cold-damp painful obstruction, especially in the upper limbs and back, as in Juan Bi Tang.
Guides qi to the greater yang channel and Governing vessel: to direct other herbs in a prescription to the areas served by these two channels.

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Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San

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Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang

Combinations:

Jing Jie, Fang Feng: occipital headache.
Chuan Xiong: headache and generalized body aches associated with common cold or bi syndrome.
Fang Feng: pain due to externally contracted wind-damp.
Du Huo: wind-dampness at any level.

Formulas:

Notes:

Qiang Huo has a powerful dispersing quality and can raise and discharge wind, cold, or damp pathogens to the exterior. It is stronger than Fang Feng or Jing Jie for dispersing cold or damp.
Has an affinity for the occiput. For headaches, or stress or tension headaches affecting the occiput and the back of the neck.
Has an ascending and dispersing nature.