Effects and Functions of Chao Wu: Dispels wind and dampness, alleviates cold and pain, resolves phlegm and promotes qi descent, warms the kidneys and strengthens yang, detoxifies and heals sores. Treats wind-cold-damp arthralgia, stroke paralysis, tetanus, cephalalgia, cold pain in the epigastrium and abdomen, phlegm accumulation, qi stagnation, cold dysentery, sore throat, boils, carbuncles, and scrofula.
1. Classic of Herbal Medicine: Treats stroke, aversion to wind, induces sweating, removes cold-damp arthralgia, coughing with shortness of breath, and eliminates accumulated cold-heat.
2. The Supplement to the Divine Farmer's Classic: Dissolves phlegm in the chest, alleviates indigestion from cold food, treats cold-induced abdominal diseases, relieves umbilical pain, shoulder blade pain preventing bending or stretching, eye pain prohibiting prolonged vision, and induces abortion. Treats rheumatism, scrotal itching in men due to kidney dampness, alternating chills and fever with joint pain and lumbar soreness preventing walking, and abscesses with pus accumulation.
3. Materia Medica: Treats aversion to wind and cold, cold phlegm obstructing the heart, intestinal and abdominal colic, abdominal masses, and enhances yang energy. Relieves toothache and strengthens willpower. Addresses male kidney deficiency with scrotal sweating, and treats wind-heat dampness-induced pain.
5. Compendium of Materia Medica: Treats headaches, throat obstruction, abscesses, boils, and toxic sores. Primarily addresses severe wind-induced paralysis.
6. Dongyi Baojian: Treats rheumatic paralysis and pain, induces sweating for tetanus.
7. Supplement to Compendium of Materia Medica: Dispels wind and activates blood circulation; roots are used in medicinal wine.
8. Guizhou Folk Medicine Collection: Treats paralysis syndromes. Also essential for trauma medicine.
Dosage & Administration: Internal use: Decocted as soup, 0.5–2 qian; or incorporated into pills/powders. External use: Raw, ground into paste for topical application or ground with vinegar/wine for rubbing.
Contraindications & Precautions: 1.Contraindicated for the weak, pregnant women, those with yin deficiency and excessive fire, or those with heat-related pain. Use raw form with caution.
2. Collected Notes on Materia Medica: "Mangcao (Artemisia argyi) serves as its adjuvant. It is contraindicated with Trichosanthes kirilowii, Fritillaria thunbergii, Bletilla striata, and Bletilla striata (one text includes Pinellia ternata). It is incompatible with Lepidium apetalum."
3. Treatise on the Properties of Medicinal Substances: "Polygala tenuifolia serves as its adjuvant. Contraindicated with drum juice."
4. Compendium of Materia Medica: "It fears malt sugar and black beans. Cold water can neutralize its toxicity."
5. Comprehensive Discourse on Materia Medica: "Those with inherently deficient constitutions, prior history of yin deficiency with internal heat leading to hemoptysis, the elderly, debilitated individuals, and postpartum women should strictly avoid it."