Wēi Líng Xiān (威灵仙), known in English as Chinese clematis root (Clematis chinensis), is a warm, acrid and salty Chinese herb from the Expel wind-damp category. It enters the Bladder channel. Its main action: strongly expels Wind-Damp, unblocks channels, relieves pain.
| Pinyin | Wēi Líng Xiān (Wei Ling Xian) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 威灵仙 |
| English | Chinese clematis root |
| Botanical name | Clematis chinensis |
| Category | Expel wind-damp |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Acrid, Salty |
| Channels | Bladder |
| Dosage | 6–9g |
| Cautions | Blood or qi deficiency without Wind-Damp; pregnancy |
Actions
- Strongly expels Wind-Damp, unblocks channels, relieves pain
- Softens and dissolves fish bones lodged in throat
Indications
- Wind-Cold-Damp Bi with severe pain and spasms
- Fish bones in throat
How to remember Wēi Líng Xiān
Expel wind-damp herbs are mostly bitter, and most enter the Liver and Kidney channels.
- Learn by heart
- Warm: Expel wind-damp herbs vary in nature
- Acrid: unusual for Expel wind-damp herbs (most are bitter)
- Salty: unusual for Expel wind-damp herbs (most are bitter)
- Bladder channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Other Expel wind-damp herbs
- Dú Huó
- Qiāng Huó
- Fáng Jǐ
- Mù Guā
- Sāng Jì Shēng
- Wǔ Jiā Pí
- Luò Shí Téng
- Xī Xiān Cǎo
- Qín Jiāo
- Hǎi Tóng Pí
- Sāng Zhī
- Gǒu Jǐ
- Bái Huā Shé
- Cǎo Wū
- Hǎi Fēng Téng
- Chuān Wū
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Wēi Líng Xiān?
Wēi Líng Xiān is warm and acrid and salty.
Which channels does Wēi Líng Xiān enter?
Wēi Líng Xiān enters the Bladder channel.
What are the actions of Wēi Líng Xiān?
Strongly expels Wind-Damp, unblocks channels, relieves pain; Softens and dissolves fish bones lodged in throat.
What is Wēi Líng Xiān used for?
Wind-Cold-Damp Bi with severe pain and spasms; fish bones in throat.
Practise Wēi Líng Xiān and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.