What are the applications of Heishunpian in combination therapy?
Black Prepared Aconite Root (Hei Shun Pian) is generally used in combinations for the following purposes: reducing toxicity while enhancing therapeutic effects, warming yang to dispel cold, promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, expelling wind to relieve pain, and reinforcing qi to support yang. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Reducing Toxicity and Enhancing Efficacy: Combined with ginger, licorice, and white honey, ginger detoxifies, licorice moderates the herb's potency, and honey moistens dryness, thereby reducing the toxicity of aconitine while preserving its function of warming meridians and relieving pain. It is used for severe cases of bi syndrome caused by cold-dampness.
2. Warming Yang and Dispersing Cold: Combined with dried ginger, cinnamon bark, and asarum, this enhances the effect of restoring yang to rescue from collapse. It is indicated for yang collapse syndrome presenting with cold extremities and a barely perceptible pulse, or abdominal pain and diarrhea caused by spleen-kidney yang deficiency (abdominal pain).
3. Activating Blood and Unblocking Meridians: Combined with chuanxiong, angelica root, and safflower, this synergistically promotes blood circulation and resolves blood stasis, improving dysmenorrhea, joint swelling and pain, or traumatic injuries caused by cold-induced blood stasis, and facilitating qi and blood circulation.
4. Expelling Wind and Relieving Pain: Combined with notopterygium, dehuo, and gentiana, this enhances the effects of dispelling wind-damp, and is used for shoulder and back pain, joint stiffness, or limb numbness caused by wind-cold-damp bi syndrome.
5. Reinforcing Qi and Supporting Yang: Combined with astragalus, codonopsis, and atractylodes, this integrates qi reinforcement with warming yang, improving symptoms such as cold intolerance and fatigue caused by yang deficiency with qi deficiency, postpartum cold syndrome, or chronic diarrhea.
It is recommended to strictly follow medical guidance and syndrome differentiation when using Black Prepared Aconite Root. The herb must be decocted together with other herbs for more than two hours to ensure degradation of toxic components. It must not be used alone or in excessive doses. It is contraindicated for pregnant women, patients with heart disease, and those with impaired liver or kidney function.