Notopterygium root, also known as Qiang Huo, comes with a long history of medicinal application. First found in the "Shen Nong's Herbal Classic', notopterygium was listed under the item Angelica Root (Du Huo). That's to say, these two Chinese herbs were considered to be the same thing then. And this belief didn't change until the Yao Xing Ben Cao (Materia Medica of Medicinal Properties) was published in Tang Dynasty. Medicinally this root herb is one of the main raw materials for the manufacture of Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine for joint pain relief and Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment.

Considered as a relative of the angelica species, Notopterygium is native to East Asia. Medicinally it mainly refers to the dried roots and rhizome of Notopterygium incisum Tncisum Ting ex H.Chang or Notopterygium forbesii Boiss. These two plants with medicinal roots are members in the family Umbelliferae. Hence, other names of these medicinal plants with rhizomes include Rhizoma seu Radix Notopterygii, Notopterygium Rhizome and Root, Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii, incised notopterygium rhizome, and more. In China Notopterygium incisum is mainly produced in Sichuan, Yunnan, Qinghai, and Gansu and Notopterygium forbesii is basically produced in Sichuan, Qinghai, Shaanxi, and Henan. It is usually harvested in spring and autumn. It needs to remove fibrous roots and soil before the drying and slicing. It is normally used raw.

NOTOPTERYGIUM ROOT BENEFITS
In terms of dispelling wind and eliminating dampness, there are many qualified Chinese herbs. Therefore, comparing notopterygium with its peers with similar healing properties would help us to understand this medicinal plant better.

Both notopterygium root and Angelica Root (Du Huo) can clear wind-damp and improve joint pain and stiffness. But they have their own strengths and weaknesses respectively. The former is with stronger nature and flavor, which makes it possess better antipyretic effect through sweating and ascending potency. For that reason, it is an ideal herb for spinal diseases and pain in the upper body and the back of the head. In comparison, angelica root is with descending potency, which endows it with a better healing power on rheumatism of lower body and joint pain in foot, lower back, leg, and shin. As a result, they are often used in pair medicinally since they are highly complementary.

Notopterygium

NOTOPTERYGIUM INCISUM RECIPES ON HERBAL REMEDIES
Zhong Guo Yao Dian (Chinese pharmacopoeia) believes that it is acrid and bitter in flavor and warm in nature. It covers meridians of bladder and kidney. Main functions are expelling wind, dispelling cold, removing dampness, and relieving pain. Basic notopterygium uses and indications include headache in wind-cold type common cold, rheumatism, and aching pain in shoulder and back. Recommended dosage is from 3 to 9 grams.

1. Qiang Huo Fu Zi Tang from Yi Xue Xin Wu (Medical Revelations). It is combined with Fu Zi (Aconite), Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger Root), and Zhi Gan Cao (Honey Fried Licorice Root) to treat brain attacked by foreign cold pathogen, brain pain radiating to teeth, cold limbs, and cooling air from mouth and nose.

2. Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang from Ci Shi Nan Zhi (Hard-Won Knowledge). It is formulated with Fang Feng, Xi Xin (Herba Asari), Chuan Xiong (lovage root), etc. to cure wind-cold type external infection accompanied with dampness, chills, fever, no sweat, headache, stiff neck, and sharp joint pain in limbs.

3. Qiang Huo Sheng Shi Tang from Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (Clarifying Doubts about Injury from Internal and External Causes). It is used together with angelica root, Gao Ben (Rhizoma Ligustici), Fang Feng, etc. to heal exterior wind-damp, headache and painful stiff nape, sour heavy lower back, and whole body joint pain.