CHAPTER 1: Herbs that Release the Exterior Flashcards
Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Warm, acrid herbs dispel WIND-COLD
Used for EXTERIOR disorders when- FEVER is MILD, CHILLS are SEVERE, & other signs/symptoms of WIND-COLD are present (HEADACHE, BODY & NECK PAINS, & ABSENCE of THIRST)
How many Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior are in Bensky?
17
What are the Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior in Bensky?
Má Huáng 麻黃 (ephedra stem) (pg.3)
Guì Zhī 桂枝 (cinnamon twig) (pg.8)
Zî Sū Yè 紫苏叶 (perilla leaf) (pg.12)
Jīng Jiè 荊芥 (schizonepeta stem/bud) (pg.14)
Fáng Fēng 防风 (saposhnikova rt/siler) (pg.16)
Qiāng Huó 羌活 (notopterygium root) (pg.19)
Gáo Běn 藁本 (Chinese lovage/ligusticum rt)(pg.22)
Bái Zhǐ 白芷 (Dahurian Angelica rt) (pg.24)
Xì Xīn 细辛 (asarum, Chinese wild ginger) (pg.27)
Shēng Jiāng 生姜 (fresh ginger rhizome) (pg.30)
Cōng Bái 葱白(scallion/spring onion) (pg.34)
Xiāng Rú 香薷(mosla/aromatic madder) (pg.36)
Cāng Ěr Zǐ 苍耳子 (xanthium/cocklebur fruit) (pg.39)
Cāng Ěr Cǎo 苍耳草 (xanthium/cockleburr) (pg.41)
Xīn Yí Huā 辛夷花 (Xīn Yí) (magnolia flower) (pg.42)
É Bù Shí Cǎo 鹅不食草 (small centipeda herb)(44)
Xī Hé Liǔ 西河柽 (tamarisk stems & leaves) (pg.45)
This warm, acrid release exterior herb is a very STRONG DIAPHORETIC (promote sweat) & DIURETIC (promote urination). It is used for WIND-COLD- with chills, fever and NO SWEAT. It Descends & disperses LUNG QI to STOP COUGH & WHEEZING.
Bensky K.C. Says: Induces sweating, calms wheezing, promotes urination
Má Huáng 麻黃 (ephedra stem) pg.3
PHARMACEUTICAL NAME: Ephedrae Herba
PROPERTIES: acrid, slightly bitter, warm
CHANNELS ENTERED: Lung, Bladder
DOSAGE: 2-9g
ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS: Induces sweating & releases exterior; disseminates & facilitates Lung qi, calms wheezing & stops coughing; promotes urination & reduces edema; warms & disperses cold pathogens.
CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: Strong to induce sweating & opening lungs so small dose. Adjust dose for those who are debilitated, those with spontaneous sweating from exterior deficiency, those w/ night sweats from yin deficiency or wheezing from failure of Kidneys to accept qi.
BULLET: strong diaphoretic & diuretic ; stop cough & wheezing; Ma Huang Tang
This warm, acrid release exterior herb harmonizes the ying & wei, treats pain, unblocks yang qi in the chest, treats the heart & palpitations, releases the muscle layer & warms the middle.It is better for exterior cold esp. w/ DEFICIENCY. It unblocks and warms the channels and collaterals.
Bensky K.C. says: light & warm, releases the muscle layer, unblocks yang qi, warms the middle
Guì Zhī 桂枝 (cinnamon twig)
PHARMACEUTICAL NAME: Cinnamomi Ramulus
PROPERTIES: acrid, sweet, warm
CHANNELS ENTERED: Heart, Lung, Bladder
DOSAGE: 3-9g
ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS: Releases exterior & assists yang; warms & unblocks channels & collaterals; warms yang & transforms thin mucus; assists Heart yang & unblocks yang qi of chest; warms channels, vessels, & collaterals.
CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: Contraindicated for warm-heat pathogen disease, yin deficiency w/ heat signs, &heat in blood w/ vomiting. During pregnancy or cases of excessive menstruation, only does 6g or less. Discouraged where signs pathogenic heat.
BULLET: harmonize ying & wei; treat pain; unblock yang qi in chest; heart & palpitations; releases muscle layer; warms middle; GUI ZHI TANG
This warm, acrid release exterior herb promotes the movement of Qi, helps with poor appetite, treats restless fetus/calms the fetus (prevents miscarriage), treats morning sickness as well as seafood poisoning, and harmonizes the middle. The acrid warmth disperses & discharges LU Qi & harmonizes the middle jiao. It also aromatically awakens the SP, promoting the mov’ement of qi & reviving the SP–transforming dampness that obstructs the SP & ST.
Bensky K.C. Says: It’s acrid warmth disperses & discharges, & its aroma harmonizes the middle; it promotes qi movement & revives the Spleen.
Zî Sū Yè 紫苏叶 (perilla leaf) (pg. 12)
PHARMACEUTICAL NAME: Perillae Folium
PROPERTIES: acrid, aromatic, warm
CHANNELS ENTERED: Lung, Spleen
DOSAGE: 5-9g
ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS: Releases exterior & disperses cold; Promotes movement of qi & expands chest; use during pregnancy; resolves seafood poisoning.
CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: Contraindicated for warm pathogen diseases, or qi & exterior deficiency.
BULLET: promote movement of I; poor appetite; restless fetus; morning sickness; harmonizes middle; seafood poisoning
This warm, acrid release exterior herb vents rashes, alleviates itching & stops bleeding. It is a mild herb that is slightly warm, but not drying, aromatic & acrid, but not excessively. IMPORTANT to note- it treats BOTH WIND/COLD & WIND/HEAT. As well as vents Wind/Heat from the blood through the skin (i.e. skin rashes).
Bensky K.C. Says: Harmonious in nature: aromatic & acrid, but not excessively so; slightly warm, but not drying; its light, ascending qualities allow it to be used for both wind-heat & wind-cold, while also venting wind-heat from the blood.
Jīng Jiè 荊芥 (schizonepeta stem/bud) (pg.14)
PHARMACEUTICAL NAME: Schizonepetae Herba
PROPERTIES: acrid, slightly warm
CHANNELS ENTERED: Lung, Liver
DOSAGE: 4.5-9g
ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS: Releases exterior & dispels wind; vents rashes & alleviates itching; stops bleeding.
CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: Contraindicated where deficiency of exterior, fully-erupted measles or open sores, or absence of pathogenic wind of any kind
.
BULLET: vent rash; alleviate itching; stop bleeding, W-H & W-C!
This warm, acrid release exterior herb treats all wind disorders or types of wind. It also treats Liver/Spleen disharmonies and is especially strong for WIND (ex: tremors).
Bensky K.C. Says: Moderate, slightly warm, and less drying than most wind-expelling herbs; used for all wind disorders; treats dampness, and also diarrhea and pain in the bowels.
Fáng Fēng 防风 (saposhnikova/ledebouriella rt/siler)(pg.16)
PHARMACEUTICAL NAME: Saposhnikoviae Radix
PROPERTIES: acrid, sweet, slightly warm
CHANNELS ENTERED: Bladder, Liver, Spleen
DOSAGE: 4.5-9g
ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS: Releases exterior & expels wind; expels wind-dampness & alleviates pain; expels wind & relieves spasms.
CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: Contraindicated in cases exuberant fire from yin deficiency, spasms from blood deficiency, or in absence of pathogenic wind, dampness, or cold.
BULLET: all wind disorders/types wind; Liver/Spleen disharmony; strong for wind (ex: tremors)
This warm, acrid release exterior herb guides to the Du channel, the top of the head/vertex/back of head/upper back, treats wind-cold-damp & occipital headaches. It’s good for pain, can be added to other formulas as an envoy, and is also good for damp, body aches (even flu like feelings) as well as residual dampness.
Bensky K.C. says: With a clear, strong aroma it travels through the Qi level; light in weight, it reaches to the vertex and upper body, travels through the limbs, and expels superficial dampness.
Qiāng Huó 羌活 (notopterygium root) (p.19)
PHARMACEUTICAL NAME: Notopterygii Rhizoma seu Radix
PROPERTIES: acrid, bitter, aromatic, warm
CHANNELS ENTERED: Bladder, Kidney
DOSAGE: 3-9g
ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS: Releases exterior & disperses cold; unblocks painful obstruction & alleviates pain; guides qi to greater yang channel & Governing vessel.
CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: Contraindicated for blood-deficient painful obstruction.
BULLET: Guide to Du; top of head-vertex-back of head-upper back; occipital headache; wind-cold-damp
This warm, acrid release exterior herb is used to treat VERTEX HEADACHE. It expels wind & cold, alleviates pain, particularly vertex headaches and lower back pain. It has a strong upward, ascending energetic It can also treat diarrhea (ascending), move blood stasis (b/c warming quality), break up phlegm stasis (like gynecological masses or uterine fibroids), and warms and dries dampness (aromatically disperse). .
Bensky K.C. Says: Powerful ascending nature reaches the vertex where it treats headaches involving the teeth; relieves abdominal pain and diarrhea from cold-dampness, or gynecological swelling and masses.
Gáo Běn 藁本 (Chinese lovage/ligusticum rt) (p.22)
PHARMACEUTICAL NAME: Ligustici Rhizoma
PROPERTIES: acrid, warm
CHANNELS ENTERED: Bladder, Governing vessel
DOSAGE: 3-9g
ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS: Discharges exterior conditions & disperses cold; dispels wind, overcomes dampness, & alleviates pain.
CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: Contraindicated for headaches from blood deficiency or in hot disorders.
BULLET: VERTEX headache
This warm, acrid release exterior herb is #1 for treating NASAL CONGESTION, esp. w/ pain. It is also one of the #1 headache herbs, esp. FRONTAL HEADACHES (frequently for W-C). It opens the nose, dries damp, expels pus, and can be added to any formula for frontal headache (w/ modification). Catch this, it can also be used for toothaches
Bensky K.C. Says: Aromatic, warm, releases the exterior, opens the orifices (esp. the nose), dries dampness; frequently used for Wind-Cold frontal headaches. .
Bái Zhǐ 白芷 (Dahurian Angelica rt) (p.24)
PHARMACEUTICAL NAME: Angelicae dahuricae Radix
PROPERTIES: acrid, warm
CHANNELS ENTERED: Lung, Stomach, Spleen
DOSAGE: 3-9g
ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS: Expels wind, eliminates dampness, unblocks nasal passages, &alleviates pain; reduces swelling & expels pus; expels dampness & alleviates discharge.
CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: Contraindicated for problems due to yin deficiency or heat in blood. Once sore has ulcerated, use of this herb should be tapered off.
BULLET: #1 NASAL CONGESTION; FRONTAL headache; treat vaginal discharge
Because of it’s toxicity, one must use caution with this warm, acrid herb that releases the exterior. In small doses, it is used to transform phlegm & stop cough, treat excessive watery sputum & open the nose when there is a frontal headache & nasal congestion (esp. when combo w/ Bai Zhi)
Bensky K.C. Says: Powerfully aromatic, warm and piercing, disperses cold from both the greater yang and lesser yin, opens the orifices, relieves pain and reaches the head, lungs, bones, and joints to disperse wind, cold, dampness, and phlegm.
Bones- b/c Kidneys
Joints- b/c warming nature going into channels
Overdose or too short boiling has toxic results.
Xì Xīn 细辛 (asarum, Chinese wild ginger) (p.27)
PHARMACEUTICAL NAME: Asari Radix et Rhizoma
PROPERTIES: acrid, warm
CHANNELS ENTERED: Lung, Heart, Kidney
DOSAGE: 1-3g
ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS: Disperses cold & releases exterior; dispels wind, disperses cold, & relieves pain; warms Lungs & transforms thin mucus; unblocking & facilitating the orifices.
CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: Contraindicated where profuse sweating from qi deficiency, or headaches or cough due to yin deficiency.
BULLET: transforming phlegm & stop cough; excessive watery sputum; opens nose (frontal headache/nasal congestion); small dosage- toxic- use caution
***
FORMULA:
Xiao Qing Long Tong-
(Minor Bluegreen Dragon Decoction) (p.21-24)
–used for excessive drippy phlegm or watery sputum.
This warm, acrid release exterior herb is dispersing in nature (disperses cold phlegm in the Lung). It is particularly good for nausea & vomiting, benefiting the stomach. It can also be used as an antidote for toxicity, for overdoses, or to reduce the toxicity of other herbs (by combining in a formula or by preparing the herb with it). For adjusting the ying and wei Qi for sweating without improvement (ex: gui zhi tang).
Bensky K.C. Says: Dispersing in nature, benefits the stomach, alleviates nausea, stops coughing, transforms phlegm.
Shēng Jiāng 生姜 (fresh ginger rhizome) (p.30)
PHARMACEUTICAL NAME: Zingiberis Rhizoma recens
TRANSLATION: “Fresh Ginger”
PROPERTIES: acrid, slightly warm
CHANNELS ENTERED: Lung, Spleen, Stomach
DOSAGE: 3-9g
KEY CHARACTERISTICS: dispersing in nature; benefits Stomach; alleviates nausea; stops coughing; transforms phlegm
CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: Contra when spontaneous sweating from exterior def, heat from yin def, or any pattern w/ abundant heat.
BULLET: Disperses cold phlegm in LU; good for nausea & vomiting; antidote for/reduce toxicity other herbs (ex: Ban Xia); resolves phlegm
This warm, acrid release exterior herb is a kitchen herb often used in food therapy. It releases the exterior and induces sweating as a preventative or to treat mild, early stage wind-cold. It also unblocks the yang (i.e.uses yang energy of the body, in this case wei qi, to push the pathogen out), and can be used as a poultice for abscesses and sores
Bensky K.C. Says: Lightweight, releases the exterior, unblocks the yang.
Cōng Bái 葱白(scallion/spring onion)(p.34)
PHARMACEUTICAL NAME: Allii fistulosi Bulbus
TRANSLATION: “Scallions White”
PROPERTIES: acrid, warm
CHANNELS ENTERED: Lung, Stomach
DOSAGE: 3-9g
KEY CHARACTERISTICS: lightweight, releases exterior & induces sweating; disperses cold & unblocks yang qi; resolves toxicity & disperses clumps.
CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: Contra w/ profuse sweating due to exterior deficiency
BULLET: Mild, early stage wind-cold; unblock yang; poultice for sores
***
In FORMULA:
Cong Chi Tang
(Scallion and Prepared Soybean Decoction) (p. 5-6)
Which warm, acrid release exterior herb is famous for treating summer heat and promotes urination? It is acrid and slightly warm (to assist yang to throw off pathogenic wind that has trapped yang heat internally) plus AROMATIC (important quality in rel to summer heat). This herb is good for body aches, digestion, and diarrhea- esp. dampness in summer when food is turbid or the climactic factors of humidity and heat combine to make a person ill.
Bensky K.C. Says: Acrid and warm, it assists the yang qi to throw off pathogenic wind, which has trapped the yang qi internally; especially appropriate during the hot summer months; also harmonizes the Spleen and transforms dampness.
Xiāng Rú 香薷(mosla/aromatic madder)(p.36)
PHARMACEUTICAL NAME: Moslae Herba
TRANSLATION: “Fragrant _____”
PROPERTIES: acrid, aromatic, slightly warm
CHANNELS ENTERED: Lung, Stomach
DOSAGE: 3-9g
KEY CHARACTERISTICS: acrid & warm, assists yang qi throw off pathogenic wind, which has trapped yang qi internally; esp appropriate during hot summer months; harmonizes SP & transforms dampness
CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: Contra w/ profuse sweating from exterior deficiency
BULLET: summer heat; promote urination (diuretic-Ma Huang stronger)
***
FORMULA: Xiang Ru San
(Mosla Powder) (p.234-5)
