Wind disorders in Chinese medicine generally encompass any ailments where there are symptoms of tremors, dizziness or convulsions. The severity and the prognosis of wind disorders can vary widely, but the underlying factors are often the same. Wind disorders may manifest as seizures, Parkinson’s, vertigo, headaches or Multiple Sclerosis. This formula works to acutely stop the wind and anchor the spirit addressing tremors and stress, difficulty sleeping; it clears heat, which often increases the wind (which can often be seen acutely in many patients with seizures); it resolves phlegm which may be due to digestive disharmony and can block the the mind presenting in foggy thinking; nourishes and moves the yin and blood which helps nourish the tendons (potentially helping with spasticity) and strengthens the overall vitality of the body.
Treatment method: anchor wind, clear heat, and resolve phlegm while nourishing the yin and cooling and moving the blood.
The chief herbs of the formula; Tian Ma, Gou Teng and Shi Jue Ming all work together to extinguish the wind and anchor the liver yang. All three herbs have a long history of being used to clear wind (often presenting as seizures, convulsions, tremors, dizziness).
Mai Men Dong, Sheng di Huang and Nu Zhen Zi are all cooling and nourishing, they tonify the yin and blood and clear heat, nourish the kidneys, liver and heart. Kidney and liver yin or blood deficiencies that lead to pathogenic heat or yang rising patterns are often the source of wind in the body. By nourishing and cooling these organs we can address the underlying pathologies. Dan Shen and Bai Shao both tonify and move the blood. Dan Shen strongly affects the blood in the chest and calms the mind, while Bai Shao nourishes the blood and relaxes the sinews.
Zhi Zi and Huang Lian work together to clear heat through all three jiaos. By clearing the underlying pathogenic heat we can help prevent heat harassing the heart and stoking the wind. These herbs work both acutely (many seizures are accompanied by a sensation of heat rising) and chronically to prevent wind. Tian Zhu Huang and Fu Shen address damp and phlegm accumulation which can also lead to wind, and phlegm misting the mind and Xiang fu works to spread the liver qi.
Clinically I have used and recommended Remy’s Revenge for a fairly wide range of patterns and presentations.
Neurological disharmony: the most obvious presentation of wind and why this formula was created. We’ve had incredible feedback about this tincture for epilepsy, MS, Parkinson’s, ADHD and Autism. Many people quickly see a decrease in severity and frequency of seizures, and an increase in attention. Some find that they have more energy and sleep better. I have also had amazing feedback from parents about their children connecting more and getting positive feedback from teachers “for the first time ever”.
Anxiety: this formula is great for the liver yang rising patterns (just double check their meds). I have used this to help some patients with really persistent anxiety or OCD. Sometimes this will also have a presentation of heat rising which is why the heat clearing and yin nourishing works settle the spirit.
Insomnia: while Rest and Relax is the formula I am most likely to turn to for insomnia, Remy’s Revenge can be really effective for those really difficult cases. Shi Jue Ming really anchors the spirit. I will often pick this formula if my patient is waking often at night and dreams a lot.
Headaches and migraines: again, the anchoring aspect of this formula paired with the herbs to clear stagnation and move the blood, makes it a good pick for some patients presenting with headaches or migraines. The way I look at it, we are trying to direct energy away from the head.
*** all the notes below are taken directly from Chinese Medicinal Herbology and Pharmacology, written John Chen and Tina Chen, the leading Chinese herbal pharmacologists.
Herbs:
Gou Teng (Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis)
Sweet and Cool and enters the Liver and Pericardium
First discussed in 500 AD by Tao Hong-Jing
Chinese Therapeutic Actions:
Extinguishes wind and alleviates spasms (liver wind, liver yang rising)
Clears heat and pacifies liver yang (rising liver yang, hypertension, dizziness and vertigo)
Chemical Composition:
Rhynchophylline, isorhynchophylline, corynoxeine, isocorynoxeine, corynantheine, dihydrocorynatheine, hirsutine, hirsuteine, hyperin, trifolin
Pharmacological Effects:
Antihypertensive, CNS suppressant, anti seizure, uterine suppressant
Tian Ma (Rhizoma Gastrodiae)
Sweet and neutral and enters the Liver
First discussed in Shen Nong Ben Cao (2nd Century)
Chinese Therapeutic Actions:
Extinguishes wind and stops spasms and tremors (seizures, stroke, facial paralysis)
Pacifies the Liver and anchor the Yang (headache, dizziness, vertigo, hypertension)
Relieves Bi Zheng (painful obstructive syndrome) and alleviates pain
Chemical Composition:
Gastrodin, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, daucosterol, succinic acid, vanillin, vanillyl alcohol
Pharmacological Effects:
Sedative, Anti Seizure and anticonvulsant, positive cardiovascular effect
Shi Jue Ming
Salty and Cold and enters the Liver
First discussed in Shen Nong Ben Cao (2nd Century)
Chinese Therapeutic Actions:
Pacifies the Liver and anchors Yang (chief manifestations of dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, headache, migraine or flushed face)
Clears the Liver and brightens the eyes (red eyes, dry eyes, blurred vision)
Clears Stomach fire, stops pain and bleeding (neutralizes acid, treats acid reflux, heartburn, bleeding ulcers and stomach pains)
Chemical Composition:
Calcium carbonate, small amounts of magnesium, iron, silica, phosphate and 17 different amino acids
Mai Men Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis)
Sweet, slightly bitter and cool, enters the spleen, stomach and heart
First discussed in Shen Nong Ben Cao (2nd Century)
Chinese Therapeutic Actions:
Nourishes Yin and moistens the lungs (chronic dry cough from lung deficiency, sore throat, loss of voice)
Nourishes the Stomach and Generates Fluids (thirst and dry mouth)
Clears Heat and eliminating irritability
Moistens the intestines
Chemical Composition: Ophiopogonin A,B,C,D; ruscogenin, Beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, ophioside, kaempferol-3-glucoside, kaempferol-3-galactoglucoside
Pharmacological Effects:
Antiarrhythmic, cardiovascular (increased cardiac output in frog heart specimens), antibiotic
Nu Zhen Zi (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi)
Sweet, Bitter and cool, enters the liver and kidney
First discussed in Shen Nong Ben Cao (2nd Century)
Chinese Therapeutic Actions:
Tonifies the Liver and Kidney (liver and kidney yin and jing deficiencies), often presenting as gray hair, dizziness, loose teeth, soreness and weakness in knees and low back, constipation, yin deficient heat, menopause
Clears heat and brighten the eyes
Chemical Composition: Oleanic acid, nuzhenide, ligustriside, olenropein, betulin, lupeol, salidroside, ursolic acid, palmitic acid, rutin, quercetin
Pharmacological Actions: Immunostimulant, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemia, hematological (stimulates blood production in mice), anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antibiotic
Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba)
Bitter, sour and cool, enters the liver and spleen
First discussed in Shen Nong Ben Cao (2nd Century)
Chinese Therapeutic Actions:
Nourishes blood and preserves yin (liver blood deficiency, blood deficiency, anemia, gynecological disorders (irregular menstruation, gestational and postpartum disorders), liver wind rising with yin and blood deficiencies, painful obstructive syndrome
Nourishes the liver to calm liver yang and liver wind
Softens the liver and relieves pain (breast distention, PMS, diarrhea, abdominal pain)
Chemical Composition:
Pharmacological Actions: CNS Suppressant, gastrointestinal (inhibitory in smooth muscle of intestines and uterus), antibiotic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, cardiovascular action (to relax blood vessels)
Zhi Zi (Fructis Gardeniae)
Bitter and cold, goes to the heart, lungs, stomach and san jiao
First discussed in Shen Nong Ben Cao (2nd Century)
Chinese Therapeutic actions:
Sedate fire and relieves irritability
Drains damp-heat downwards
Clears heat, cools blood and stops bleeding
Reduces swelling and relieves pain
Chemical Composition: Gardenoside, geniposide, jeminoidin, gentiobioside, shanzhiside, genipin, geniposidic acid
Pharmacological effects:
Analgesic and sedative, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, cholagogic, CNS suppressant, antibiotic
Huang Lian (Rhizoma Coptidis)
Bitter and cold, goes to the Heart, liver, stomach and large intestine
First discussed in Shen Nong Ben Cao (2nd Century)
Chinese Therapeutic Actions:
Clears heat and dies dampness (damp heat in intestine, diarrhea, dysentery), stomach heat
Sedates fire, liver fire, heart fire and fire toxins
Chemical Composition: Berberine, coptisine, palmatine, jatrorrhizine, epiberberine, wirenine, columbamine, magnoflorine
Pharmacological Actions: Antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular (dilation of blood vessels, antiarrhythmic actions), antipyretic, cholagogic, antiulcer, also has local anaesthetic and antidiarrheal effects
Sheng Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae)
Sweet, bitter and cold, enters the Heart, Liver and Kidney
First discussed in Shen Nong Ben Cao (2nd Century)
Chinese Therapeutic Actions
Clears Heat and cools the blood
Nourishes the yin and promotes generation of body fluids
Chemical Composition: Catalpol, 6-alpha-acetylcatapol, aucubin, melittoside, rehmanniosides A,B,C,D; rehmaglutins A,B,C,D; glutinoside, rehmannans A,B,C; stachyose, D-mannitol
Pharmacological Actions: Anti-inflammatory, endocrine (increases plasma levels of adrenocortical hormone); demonstrated cardiotonic, antihypertensive, hemostatic, hepatoprotective, diuretic and antibiotic effects
Xiang Fu (Rhizoma Cyperi)
Acrid, slightly bitter, slightly sweet, neutral and enters the liver and san jiao
Originaly seen in Ming Yi Za Zhu by Tao Hong-Jing in 500 A.D.
Chinese Therapeutic Actions:
Spreads the liver, regulates the qi (liver qi stagnation, hypochondriac pain, liver/stomach disharmony, hernial pain)
Regulates menstruation, Relieves pain (irregular menstruation, breast distention, dysmenorrhea)
Chemical Composition: Cyperene, alpha-cyperone, beta-cyperone, beta-selinene, patchoulenone, limonene, beta-pinene, p-cymene, camphene, cyperol, isocyperol, cyperolone, cyperotundone, sugenolacetate, alpha-rotunol, beta-rotunol
Pharmacological Effects: Sedative, uterine relaxant, analgesic, antipyretic, cardiovascular (demonstrated inotropic and negative chronotropic effects in frogs, rabbits and cats), antibiotic
Tian Zhu Huang (Concretio Silicea Bambusae)
Sweet and cold goes to the gallbladder, heart and liver
Originally discussed in the Ri Hua Zi Ben Cao by Ri Hua-Zi in 713 A.D.
Chinese Therapeutic Actions:
Clears heat, dissolves phlegm, cools the heart and stops convulsions (convulsions due to heat, stroke from phlegm accumulation, infantile convulsions)
Chemical Composition: Silica, potassium hydroxide
Pharmacological Actions: Analgesic, cardiovascular (negative inotropic and chronotropic effects in frog heart specimens)
Fu Ling (Poria)
Sweet, bland and neutral and goes to heart, spleen and kidney
First discussed in Shen Nong Ben Cao (2nd Century)
Chinese Therapeutic Actions:
Promotes urination and resolves dampness (edema, phlegm accumulation)
Strengthens the spleen (loose stools, irritable bowel syndrome)
Calms the spirit (insomnia with palpitations)
Chemical Composition: Pachymose, pachyman, pachymaran, tumulosic acid, poriaic acid A,B,C.
Pharmacological Effects: Diuretic, antineoplastic, sedative, antibiotic
Dan Shen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae)
Bitter and cool travels to the heart, pericardium and liver
First discussed in Shen Nong Ben Cao (2nd Century)
Chinese Therapeutic Actions:
Activates blood circulation, dispels blood stasis (gynecological, chest, epigastric and abdominal pain, traumatic injuries)
Cools the blood, reduces swellng of sores and abscesses
Nourishes blood, calms the shen
Chemical Composition: Tanshinone, hydroxytanshionone, methyltanishinonate, przewatanshinquinone A, miltirone, dihydrotanshinone I, tanshino Al, tanshinol B, tanshinol C, nortanshinone, 1,2,15,16-tetrahydrotanshiquinone, isotanshinone
Pharmacological Effects: Cardiovascular (negative chronotropic and inotropic effects and reduction of blood pressure), antiplatelet, anticoagulant and thrombolytic, antibiotic, hepatoprotective, antineoplastic, CND suppressant
Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae)
Sweet, neutral goes to the spleen, stomach, lung and heart
First discussed in Shen Nong Ben Cao (2nd Century)
Chinese Therapeutic Actions:
Tonifies spleen, benefits qi
Moistens the lung, stops cough
Relieves pain
Clears heat, eliminates toxins
Treats poisoning
Chemical Composition:Triterpenoids, flavinoids