Yan Hu Suo (Cu Chao), 1lb

Primary Actions and Uses

• Invigorates the blood and promotes the movement of qi: For blood stasis and qi stagnation with pain in the chest, abdomen, or limbs.
• Alleviates pain: Effective for menstrual cramps, traumatic injury, headaches, epigastric pain, and musculoskeletal pain due to blood stasis.

Processing Note – Cu Chao Method

• The cu chao method involves stir-frying the herb with vinegar until dry.
• Vinegar processing directs the herb more strongly to the liver channel and enhances its ability to move blood and relieve pain.
• Compared to the unprocessed form, vinegar-fried Corydalis has a more pronounced analgesic effect and reduced dispersing tendency, making it more targeted for pain from stasis.

Context and Traditional Notes

• Acrid, bitter, and warm; enters the Heart, Liver, and Spleen channels. Classified in TCM as an herb that invigorates the blood.
• Often combined with other blood-invigorating and qi-moving herbs for stronger pain-relief formulas.
• Can be used for a wide range of pain patterns when blood stasis and qi stagnation are contributing factors.