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According to the “Bencao Zheng” (Compendium of Materia Medica), Atractylodes (Cāngzhú) is described as: “Its nature is warm and dispersing, thus it can induce sweating, regulate the stomach, and promote appetite… However, only the Maoshan variety is small and firm, with a sweet and mellow taste, having many benefits and surpassing other types.” It is praised as a pure Yang herb, known as “the superior medicine for dispelling wind-dampness and the divine product for calming the spleen and stomach.” This article shares several combinations involving Atractylodes, commonly used for infusions or soups, which not only help to eliminate dampness and strengthen the spleen but also assist with wind-damp conditions.
First Combination: Atractylodes and Dried Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi)
Some individuals have a relatively weak spleen and stomach, leading to poor digestion of food. They may feel bloated after eating even a little, sometimes experiencing acid reflux and diarrhea, feeling weak overall. This is due to dampness obstructing the spleen, resulting in weak spleen and stomach function. In this case, Atractylodes can be combined with Dried Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi); Atractylodes dispels dampness while Chen Pi promotes Qi flow. Together, they can help digest food in the stomach and reduce the generation of dampness.
Second Combination: Atractylodes and Poria (Fu Ling)
If you often feel uncomfortable, with heavy limbs that are hard to lift, feeling as if you are wearing wet clothes, and sometimes noticing pits when pressing on your limbs, along with facial edema in the morning, this is likely due to spleen deficiency and the accumulation of dampness, leading to overflow onto the skin. In this case, Atractylodes can be combined with Poria (Fu Ling); Atractylodes can dry dampness while Poria can promote urination, working together to disperse internal dampness.
Third Combination: Atractylodes and Angelica Pubescens (Du Huo)
Excessive internal dampness can invade our joints and bones, and when combined with cold, it can lead to cold-dampness, causing joint pain and a sensation of wind in the bones, which worsens in cold weather. If you cannot touch cold water, it can become severe. In this case, Atractylodes can be combined with Angelica Pubescens (Du Huo); Atractylodes dispels dampness while Du Huo dispels wind, disperses cold, and alleviates dampness, relieving numbness and pain in the joints and muscles.
Fourth Combination: Atractylodes and Phellodendron (Huang Bai)
As mentioned above, the combination of internal dampness and cold can form wind-dampness. However, some individuals may have a stronger heat pathogen in their body, which when combined with dampness can lead to damp-heat. If this damp-heat descends, it can cause itching and unpleasant odors in the lower body, particularly in the thighs and perineum. If damp-heat enters the joints and bones of the lower limbs, it can lead to gout. In this case, Atractylodes can first dispel dampness, combined with Phellodendron (Huang Bai) to clear heat and dry dampness, alleviating internal damp-heat.
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