Dispelling Wind

"Dispelling Wind" (known as Qufeng in Mandarin) is a therapeutic principle and a category of herbal formulations in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), rather than a specific biological molecule, receptor, or enzyme. In TCM theory, "Wind" is a pathogenic factor characterized by rapid onset, movement, and change, often linked to symptoms like wandering pain, tremors, itching, and spasms (World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, 2007). Formulas with this designation are commonly used to treat inflammatory and neurological conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, allergic rhinitis, and certain types of dermatitis. While modern research has investigated various "Dispelling Wind" herbs for their ability to inhibit pro-inflammatory mediators and modulate immune responses, the term does not correspond to a single canonical protein or therapeutic target (Xie et al., 2013). Because it represents a broad functional classification for polyherbal mixtures or a treatment philosophy, it lacks the defined molecular structure required for modern drug discovery. Consequently, "Dispelling Wind" is considered an incorrect entry for a molecular target database and should be viewed as a pharmacological category in ethnopharmacology.

Other names

QufengExpelling WindEliminating WindDispelling Wind FormulaQufeng Tang

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), 'Dispelling Wind' involves using medicinal substances to eliminate the pathogenic factor 'Wind' from the body. Modern pharmacological studies of 'Dispelling Wind' formulas suggest they may exert effects by modulating inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6) and inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway, although the concept itself describes a therapeutic effect rather than a molecular interaction.