Wilford's cranesbill

Aching, stiff joints that worsen in damp weather with numbness of the limbs, in a patient who also tends to loose stools, where a gentle, neutral herb is wanted that will not heat or cool

Acute watery or mucousy diarrhea with abdominal cramping in a hot climate, where an astringent, heat-clearing herb is needed

Overview. Lao guan cao is the dried summer-cut aerial parts of Geranium wilfordii, a small hairy cranesbill of hillsides and field edges across northern and central China, Korea, Japan and the Russian Far East, named for its long beaked fruit. The Pharmacopoeia also admits Geranium carolinianum and the storksbill Erodium stephanianum under the same drug name. It is a tannin-rich, neutral herb of the wind-damp class, used for arthritic pain and hot diarrhea, and differs in use from the American cranesbill and herb Robert though it shares their astringency.

Clinical Notes. For wind-damp bi with stiff, aching, numb joints, lao guan cao combines well with wei ling xian, sang zhi, hai feng teng and du huo, and with hong hua and dang gui where stasis and blood deficiency contribute; a medicinal wine or a topical liniment of the herb is traditional for chronic cases.

Chinese Medicine Profile. Temperature: neutral. Taste: acrid, bitter. Channels: Liver, Kidney, Spleen. Actions: Dispels wind-dampness and unblocks the channels and collaterals; Relaxes the sinews and eases stiff, painful, numb joints; Clears heat, resolves toxin and stops diarrhea and dysentery; Astringes weeping skin and wounds when applied externally.