Clerodendron 6

Clerodendron 6 is an expansion of two herb formulas for the hot-type and damp-heat type of inflammatory disorders. One formula is Xi Tong Wan, made of the two herbs siegesbekia and clerodendron; these are the main herbs used for treating any arthralgia condition that involves heat (it is usually a wind-damp-heat combination). By contrast, almost all traditional arthralgia formulas address wind-cold-damp syndromes (see Chiang-huo 13). The other formula is Erxian San, made of two herbs, phellodendron and red atractylodes, used also for damp-heat, with phellodendron mainly treating heat and atractylodes addressing dampness. This combination is recommended for skin diseases (especially eczema) as well as arthritis; this pair does not involve dispelling wind, and thus is appropriate for ailments that are primarily due to internal factors (external factors may have been involved initially, but are no longer a primary influence). Clerodendron 6 is completed with two additional ingredients, coix and earthworm. Coix is commonly used for clearing dampness and heat and earthworm is used for heat and internal wind; both are used for treatment of arthralgia. The resulting six herb formula is designed to help patients who get red inflamed joints or who more generally experience dampness accumulation (swellings) and inflammation. The ingredients of the formula also help alleviate hypertension: clerodendron and earthworm are especially known for this effect. See also, Achyranthes Tablets.