Five Tigers Wind-Dispelling Powder

Five Tigers Wind-Dispelling Powder: Usage and Dosage

Here's a breakdown of the traditional formulation and how it's typically prepared:

Ingredients:

• Cicada Slough (Periostracum Cicadae): 1 liang (approx. 41.5 grams)
• Arisaema Rhizome (Rhizoma Arisaematis): 2 qian (approx. 8.3 grams)
• Gastrodia Rhizome (Rhizoma Gastrodiae): 2 qian (approx. 8.3 grams)
• Whole Scorpion (Scorpio, with tail): 7 pieces
• Prepared Silkworm (Bombyx Batryticatus, stir-fried): 7 pieces

Preparation and Administration: This formula is traditionally taken as a decoction, meaning the ingredients are simmered in water.

1. Decoct the listed herbs in water.
2. Before consumption, mix 2 liang (approx. 83 ml) of Chinese Yellow Wine (Huangjiu) into the decoction.
3. Additionally, prior to each dose, stir in 5 fen (approx. 2.075 grams) of Cinnabar powder (Cinnabaris Pulvis).
4. The treatment is considered effective if sweating occurs from the "five centers" – your palms, soles, and the center of your chest – after each dose. However, regardless of sweating, a second dose should be taken on the following day.
5. Continue this regimen for 3 consecutive days (3 doses total).
6. On the second day after completing the 3 doses, moxibustion (艾灸) is traditionally applied to the wound site (presumably the entry point for the tetanus pathogen).

Important Safety Warning: This traditional formula contains ingredients such as Arisaema Rhizome and Whole Scorpion, which require careful preparation and dosage due to their inherent toxicity. Furthermore, Cinnabar powder (朱砂面) is primarily mercury sulfide and is considered highly toxic and potentially dangerous if not used under strict professional guidance. Its use can lead to severe adverse effects. This formula is NOT for self-medication. Please consult a qualified and experienced Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner before considering its use.

Five Tigers Wind-Dispelling Powder: Functions and Indications

Functions: This formula is traditionally understood in TCM to possess the power to dispel "wind-phlegm" – a pathogenic combination in TCM thought to cause symptoms like stiffness, tremors, and spasms – and to effectively calm spasms and convulsions.

Main Indications: It is primarily indicated for Tetanus, especially when presenting with severe symptoms such as lockjaw (trismus) and opisthotonos (a severe spasm where the back arches and the head and heels bend backward).

The components within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas like Five Tigers Wind-Dispelling Powder are chosen for their synergistic effects, often targeting specific pathogenic patterns. For instance, Gastrodia Rhizome is recognized for its ability to quell internal wind and alleviate spasms, a property often explored in neurological conditions. PMID: 26038847 Similarly, scorpion and silkworm are often used in TCM for their purported effects on convulsions and tremors. The meticulous preparation and precise dosage are critical in TCM, especially when dealing with potent ingredients. PMID: 27581691 Given the complexity and potential toxicity of some ingredients, the safety profile and the importance of professional oversight in herbal medicine cannot be overstated. PMID: 29088647