Jingu Tongxiao Pill: An Analgesic Chinese Patent Medicine
Jingu Tongxiao Wan (Sinew-Bone Pain-Relief Pill) is a Chinese patent medicine; as its name suggests, it treats sinew and bone pain. Its ingredients include salvia root (danshen), Clematis chinensis root (weilingxian), Spatholobus stem (jixueteng), cyperus (xiangfu, vinegar-processed), Lindera root (wuyao), gentiana macrophylla stem (qinjiao), rehmannia root (dihuang), white peony root (baishao), cinnamon twig (guizhi), Sichuan Achyranthes (chuanniuxi), and licorice (gancao). The product is a brown concentrated pill, slightly aromatic and slightly bitter.
According to traditional TCM theory, Jingu Tongxiao Wan invigorates blood and moves qi, warms the channels and unblocks the vessels, reduces swelling, and relieves pain. It is indicated for osteoarthritis due to cold congelation and blood stasis—knee pain, swelling, and restricted movement—and may also be used for pain from fracture or cancer bone metastasis belonging to the cold-congealing, blood-stasis pattern. Its contraindication is rheumatic heat impediment with red, swollen joints, because the herbs in the formula have a yang-warming effect; using them in a heat pattern backfires. If the condition is rheumatic heat impediment, consider the patent medicine Simiao Wan instead.
In this formula, salvia, Spatholobus, and Achyranthes all activate blood and resolve stasis; Spatholobus and Achyranthes are also common analgesics. Cyperus and Lindera move qi and stop pain; cinnamon twig and Lindera also warm yang, free the channels, and stop pain. Clematis and Qinjiao are commonly used analgesics in orthopedics and traumatology. White peony plus licorice form Shaoyao Gancao Tang, also called the "Staff-Discarding Decoction"—a classic formula for leg cramp pain. Combined this way, the formula addresses both root and manifestation of joint pain and swelling due to cold congelation and blood stasis.
Jingu Tongxiao Wan is an OTC (over-the-counter) medicine produced by several manufacturers and sold in many offline and online pharmacies; patients may buy it themselves locally or online.