Move blood
Yan Hu Suo
延胡索
Corydalis rhizome
Corydalis yanhusuo
The pain herb. Moves qi and blood. Not a home analgesic.
Not for self-dosing. This page is not a formula, not a strength, and not a substitute for a licensed herbalist or physician.
Category
Warm · Acrid, Bitter
Meridians entered
Traditional uses
Texts say it moves blood and qi in the chest and abdomen and is used for many kinds of pain. It contains alkaloids with real pharmacology. That is a reason for caution, not a reason to extract it in a kitchen.
Common pairings
- Chuan Xiong 川芎
Both move pain. Corydalis is more specifically the “stop pain” herb in school.
- Xiang Fu 香附
Qi constraint with pain, especially cycle pain in teaching cases.
Cautions
Not for self-dosing. Care in pregnancy, with liver disease, and with other sedating or pain drugs. Not for long-term unsupervised use.
Points with a similar aim
Celestial Gathering
Center of the shoulder blade for that deep scapular ache.
Use caution
Middle of the Crook
Middle of the back-knee crease. Command point for the back.
Use caution
Support the Mountain
Mid-calf point for cramp and the back of the leg.
Use caution
Jumping Circle
Side of the buttock, the hip point for lateral leg pain.
Use caution
Yang Mound Spring
Outer leg below the knee, the sinew influential point.
Use caution