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Wuji San (see above)
Shiquan Dabu Tang (Complete Ten Tonifying Decoction) treats syndromes of deficiency in both Qi and Blood.
Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Fuling (Poria), Zhi Gancao (Prepared Licorice Root), Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Huangqi (Astragali Radix, prepared), Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) (each 1 qian), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma) (0.5 qian), taken with Dazao (Jujubae Fructus).
(Sun Xindian, grandson of Sun Simiao) Commentary: He Xi Feng (Crane's Knee Wind) refers to a condition where the lower legs are thin while the knees are swollen. In the initial stage, symptoms such as fever and headache may appear; it is appropriate to use Wuji San added with Songjie (Pinus node), or formulas such as Dafangfeng Tang (Great Wind-Expelling Decoction) or Sanqi Yin (Three-Qi Drink). Alternatively, one may administer Huoluo Dan (Meridian-Activating Pill) at intervals, or use Bawei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill) or Liuwei Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill) added with Lurong (Deer Antler Velvet) and Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) for tonification and regulation.
The *Classic* states: "The knee is the mansion of the sinews; if flexion and extension are impossible, the sinews are exhausted." Xue Ji stated: This is mostly caused by wind pathogens invading the Three Yin meridians due to deficiency. The treatment method should focus on warming and tonifying the Liver and Kidney. If ineffective, warming the Spleen is necessary. Additionally, two external treatment methods must be known. One is the Mustard Seed Poultice method, used for initial swelling without redness and difficulty in movement. Before ulceration occurs, old mustard seeds are ground into fine powder and mixed with ginger juice and scallion sap for topical application. After one fu period (approx. two hours), blisters will form at the affected site; when the blisters dry and the skin peels off, the condition heals spontaneously. The other is the Lei Zhen (Thunder Needle) method, used for severe, unceasing pain caused by the stagnation of wind, cold, and dampness in the sinews. Use 5 qian of Qiai (Artemisia argyi from Qichun), 0.5 qian of Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos), and 0.3 fen of Shexiang (Moschus), grind them evenly together, and pack them into paper tubes. Place four or five layers of cloth over the painful area, and apply the heated tube to quench the area dozens of times until the sinews regain mobility. However, these two methods are contraindicated once pus has formed.
Yu Jiayan said: "He Xi Feng is essentially Bi syndrome (obstruction) of wind, cold, and dampness in the knee. As the knee bone enlarges daily and the muscles above and below waste away, one should not directly treat the knee first. Instead, one must first nourish Qi and Blood so that the muscles become moistened and flourishing, and only then treat the knee." This is largely similar to treating Pian Ku (hemiplegia/paralysis of one side); it involves irrigating the parts that have not yet wasted away, allowing Qi and Blood to circulate and recover their nourishment. If this principle is not understood, and one merely uses wind-dispelling herbs like Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) and Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), the condition will rarely fail to deteriorate further. Therefore, those who treat He Xi Feng and rush to attack the Bi obstruction will inevitably cause the foot to become flaccid and unusable.