🌿 Folk Prescriptions

The TCM classification of cervical spondylosis provides basis for syndrome differentiation and treatment. From modern medical perspective, patients with the same type—root-type, vertebral artery type, or spinal cord type—may differ in etiology, symptoms, and pulse patterns, thus belonging to different TCM types, requiring different therapeutic principles and herbal prescriptions.
1. Traumatic Type: Regulate Qi, activate blood, relax tendons, relieve pain. Formula: Turmeric 10g, Licorice 10g, Qianghuo 15g, Stemona bark 12g, Angelica sinensis 15g, Red Peony Root 12g, Atractylodes 12g, Stretching Grass 15g, Ligusticum 12g, Cinnamon twig 10g. Decoct and take orally. Add Frankincense and Myrrh for severe pain; add Polygonum multiflorum and Lycium fruit for long-term illness with weakness. If post-trauma cold exposure or chronic injury with wind-cold, use Ma Gui Warming Meridian Decoction: Red Peony Root 12g, Ephedra 10g, Cinnamon twig 12g, Safflower 6g, White芷 15g, Fine Sinew 3g, Peach Kernel 12g, Licorice 10g. Decoct and take orally.
2. Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Syndrome with Meridian Obstruction: Expel wind, remove dampness, warm meridians, activate circulation. Formula: Qianghuo 10g, Du Huo 15g, Hao Ben 10g, Fang Feng 15g, Licorice 10g, Ligusticum 12g, Fructus Viticis 10g. Decoct and take orally. If numbness in both hands predominates, indicating Qi deficiency, use Ginseng Qi-tonifying Decoction: Astragalus 20g, Fried Licorice 10g,升Ma 10g, Schisandra 15g, Bupleurum 12g, Raw Licorice 10g, Ginseng 5g, White Peony Root 12g. Decoct and take orally.
3. Liver-Kidney Deficiency with Qi-Blood Deficiency: Tonify Liver and Kidney, invigorate Qi and activate blood. Formula: Du Huo 15g, Taxillus chinensis 15g, Gentiana macrophylla 10g, Fang Feng 15g, Fine Sinew 3g, Angelica sinensis 15g, White Peony Root 12g, Ligusticum 15g, Rehmannia glutinosa 15g, Eucommia ulmoides 12g, Achyranthes root 15g, Codonopsis pilosula 20g, Poria 12g, Fried Licorice 10g, Cinnamon twig 15g. Decoct and take orally. If limb weakness is severe, use Modified Si Wu Tang: Angelica sinensis 15g, Prepared Rehmannia 12g, White Peony Root 10g, Ligusticum 12g, Schisandra 10g, Ophiopogon 12g, Codonopsis pilosula 20g, Coptis 10g, Coptis chinensis 15g, Anemarrhena 10g, Eucommia ulmoides 12g, Achyranthes root 15g, Coix seed 12g, Astragalus 20g. Decoct and take orally.
4. Phlegm-Damp Obstruction with Meridian Stagnation: Regulate Qi, transform phlegm, unblock meridians. Formula: Pinellia ternata (processed) 6g, Tangerine peel 10g, Poria 12g, Fried Licorice 10g. Decoct and take orally. If patient has Qi deficiency, add Codonopsis pilosula, White Peony Root, Astragalus; if limb numbness and heaviness, add Fang Feng, Jing Jie, Gastrodia, Gentiana macrophylla; if hand-foot numbness accompanied by eye sensitivity, blurred vision, difficulty opening eyes, use Shen Xiao Huang Qi Tang: Fructus Viticis 10g, Tangerine peel 10g, Ginseng 5g, Fried Licorice 10g, White Peony Root 15g, Astragalus 20g. Decoct and take orally.
5. External Fumigation and Washing Formula: Formula: Du Huo, Gentiana macrophylla, Fang Feng, Mugwort, Bone-piercing Herb, Liu Ji Nu, Su Mu, Red Peony Root, Safflower, Shell of Tortoise, Herba Clematidis, Prunus mume, Chaenomeles, each 9g. Decoct and use hot for fumigation and washing affected area.<Cervical Spondylosis>