Qingxuan Zhitong Pills for Treating Stroke Sequelae
"Qingxuan Zhitong Wan" (Clear-Wind Stroke-Treating Pills) is a Chinese patent medicine for stroke sequelae. Its composition includes: Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma), Jiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus), Quanxie (Scorpio), Dilong (Pheretima), Zhenzhu (Margarita), Juemingzi (Cassiae Semen), Shuiniujiao Nongsuofen (concentrated Bubali Cornu powder), Niuhuang (Bovis Calculus), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Chishao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Moyao (Myrrha, vinegar-processed), Xuejie (Draconis Sanguis), Tieshi Weilingxian (Clematidis Radix et Rhizoma), Baifuzi (Typhonii Rhizoma, alum-processed), Jiu Qishe (Agkistrodon, wine-processed), Fabanxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum), Anxixiang (Benzoinum), Bingpian (Borneolum), Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, rootlet removed), Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Chao Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, stir-fried), Fuling (Poria), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Gusuiabu (Drynariae Rhizoma), Sangjisheng (Taxilli Herba), Chenxiang (Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum), Cu Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma, vinegar-processed), Yujin (Curcumae Radix), Zhiqiao (Aurantii Fructus, stir-fried), Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Huaimi (Sophorae Flos), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma), and Shanzha (Crataegi Fructus), among others.
Qingxuan Zhitong Wan has a complex composition and is a typical large-compound formula. Its 39 herbs act on stroke sequelae from various angles. According to traditional TCM theory, its actions are to clear heat and resolve phlegm, pacify the liver and extinguish wind, unblock collaterals and open the orifices, stop spasms and calm the spirit. It is indicated for head and eye dizziness, neck stiffness and head fullness, oppressive heat in the chest, fright and vexation, copious phlegm-saliva, slurred speech, numbness of the limbs, facial deviation, and hemiplegia due to internal stirring of liver wind. Modernly it is used for hypertension, carotid plaque, cerebral infarction, and stroke sequelae presenting with the above symptoms. This product can unblock the cerebral arteries, improve cerebral circulation, and has a certain restorative effect on impaired nervous system function.
In this formula, Niuhuang, Huanglian, Huangqin, Shuiniujiao (Bubali Cornu), Bingpian, and Huaimi belong to heat-clearing toxin-resolving herbs; Renshen, Huangqi, Baizhu, Fuling, and Zexie belong to spleen-fortifying, dampness-draining herbs; Tianma, Zhenzhu, Juemingzi, Quanxie, Jiangcan, and Dilong dispel wind and unblock collaterals; Danshen, Chuanxiong, Chishao, Niuxi, Moyao, Xuejie, Gegen, and Yujin activate blood and resolve stasis; Weilingxian, Baifuzi, Jiu Qishe, Fabanxia, and Anxixiang dispel phlegm and unblock collaterals; Maidong, Xuanshen, and Dihuang enrich yin and nourish fluids; Gusuiabu and Sangjisheng supplement liver and kidney; Shanzha fortifies the spleen and lowers blood pressure; Zhiqiao moves qi.
Such a comprehensive prescribing strategy easily gives the impression of randomly throwing together miscellaneous herbs. But for complex, intractable neurological diseases, this kind of large-compound, "miscellaneous" formula can precisely exert effects that small formulas cannot. This formula may be used for various brain diseases, and even for psychiatric conditions; it also has a certain improving effect on depression and anxiety presenting with headache, dizziness, irritability, and memory decline.
This formula is included in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China and is produced by several Chinese patent medicine manufacturers; it can be bought at offline or online pharmacies, so patients are not advised to make it themselves.