Impatiens-type Penetrate-Bone Herb Classic Formulas

Primary Actions

Dispels Wind-Damp and relieves Bi syndrome — rheumatic joint and muscle pain, especially cold-damp type with stiffness and heaviness
Warms channels and disperses Cold — cold-obstructed pain in the joints, lumbar region, and extremities
Relaxes sinews and relieves spasm — muscle cramps and sinew contracture from Cold-Damp obstruction
External use for joint pain and injuries — decoction wash or poultice for arthritic swelling and traumatic injuries

Tou Gu Cao Wan or decoction formulations — combined with Wei Ling Xian (威灵仙), Du Huo (独活), Fang Feng (防风), and Gui Zhi (桂枝) for Wind-Cold-Damp Bi syndrome with cold-predominant joint pain; used as the Tou Gu Cao drug in regional formulas where the Impatiens-derived variant is the available source

SPECIES DISAMBIGUATION: The pinyin 'Feng Xian Tou Gu Cao' (凤仙透骨草) indicates the Impatiens-derived variant of Tou Gu Cao — 'Feng Xian' (凤仙) is Impatiens balsamina L. (garden balsam/touch-me-not; Balsaminaceae), used as a regional source of Tou Gu Cao in northern and eastern China; the XLSX source assigns the official Latin Herba Speranskiae Tuberculatae (which strictly refers to Speranskia tuberculata) to both this herb (#84) and the primary Tou Gu Cao drug (#85) — the two plants share the TCM indication for Wind-Damp Bi syndrome but differ in botanical source; Impatiens balsamina is also the source of Ji Xing Zi (急性子, seeds) and Feng Xian Hua (凤仙花, flowers), two separate TCM drugs
Shan Dong Zhong Cao Yao Shou Ce (山东中草药手册): documents Feng Xian Tou Gu Cao specifically as the Impatiens balsamina-derived penetrate-bone herb used in Shandong folk medicine for rheumatic pain, arthritic joints, and menstrual irregularities