Zelan Tang to Invigorate Blood, Reduce Swelling and Stop Pain

Zelan Tang comes from Yixue Xinwu (Medical Mind Awakening). Its composition is: Herba Lycopi (Zelan) 3 qian (9 g), Cortex Moutan (Mudanpi) and Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae (Niuxi), each 2 qian (6 g), Semen Persicae (Taoren, skin and tip removed, crushed) 10 pieces, Flos Carthami (Honghua) 5 fen (1.5 g), Radix Angelicae Sinensis Tail (Dangguiwei) 5 qian (15 g), Radix et Rhizoma Notoginseng (Sanqi) 1 qian (3 g), Radix Paeoniae Rubra (Chishao) 1 qian 5 fen (4.5 g).

The above herbs together make one dose; decoct in water, remove the dregs, and take with hot wine twice daily. This formula dispels stasis and unblocks the collaterals; it is mainly used for sprains, falls and impact injury with internal accumulation of blood stasis, pain like a knife stab, and inability to turn over.

This is a formula for pain caused by traumatic injury. In it, Peach Kernel, Safflower, Angelica Tail, Notoginseng, Red Peony and Achyranthes invigorate blood and stop pain; Red Peony and Moutan cool blood and reduce swelling; Lycopinvigorates blood and also promotes urination to reduce swelling. For severe pain, Wei Lingxian, Yuanhu, oil-pine node and Lu Xiansheng can be added to enhance the pain-relieving effect; for marked hematoma, Salvia and Chuanxiong can be appropriately added to strengthen blood-activating and detumescence; for dry bound stools, raw Rhubarb can be added. External and internal treatment can also be combined, applying some pain-relieving plaster externally.