Cool Herbs That Release the Exterior

Question 1

Symptoms of External Attack of Wind Heat?

Answer 1

• Fever and chills (fever more severe; mild chills) • Sore throat
• Cough with phlegm (thick, yellow, scanty)
• Rash
• Eye problems

Question 2

List some Cool Acrid Herbs that 
 Release the Exterior?

Answer 2

• bò hé
• niú bàng zǐ
• chán tuì
• sāng yè
• jú huā
• dàn dòu chǐ
• mù zéi
• gé gèn
• shēng má
• chǎi hǔ
• màn jīng zǐ

Question 3

Bò Hé ***

Answer 3

Mint

Temp: cool
Taste: acrid, aromatic
Channels: LU, LV
Dosage: 3-6 grams (add last 5 minutes)

1. expels wind-heat invasion
• brightens eyes and benefits the throat
2. vents skin rash
• for early stage rash, measles
3. gently moves Liver qi

Question 4

Sāng Yè ***

Answer 4

White Mulberry Leaf

Temp: cold
Taste: sweet, bitter
Channels: LU, LV
Dosage: 4.5-9 grams

1. expels wind-heat invasion
   • moistens Lung; for dry cough with thick, yellow phlegm
2. calms Liver and brightens eyes
   • for eye problems due to excess Liver heat, 
 wind-heat, or yin deficiency
3. cools blood and stops bleeding • mild; for vomiting of blood

Question 5

Jú Huā

Answer 5

chrysanthemum flower

Temp: slightly cold
Taste: sweet, bitter
Channels: LU, LV
Dosage: 4.5-15 grams

1. expels wind-heat invasion
2. calms Liver and brightens eyes
   for eye problems due to Liver heat, wind-heat, or yin deficiency 3. subdues Liver yang rising
   • for headache, dizziness, deafness
3. clears toxicity to treat sores and swellings

Question 6

Gé Gèn ***

Answer 6

Kudzu Root

Temp: cool
Taste: sweet, acrid
Channels: SP, ST
Dosage: 9-21 grams

1. releases the exterior and muscle layer
   for fever, headache, rigid neck and upper back 2. generates body fluids
   for thirst and irritability
2. raises yang to stop diarrhea
3. vents and discharges measles
4. treats symptoms of hypertension
   for headache, dizziness, tinnitus, or parathesias accompanying hypertension (recently discovered)

Question 7

Chǎi Hǔ ***

Answer 7

Bupleurum Root

Temp: cool
Taste: bitter, acrid
Channels: GB, LV, PC, SJ
Dosage: 3-9 grams

1. releases the exterior to resolve shao-yang disorder
   * for alternating fever and chills, bitter taste in the mouth, flank pain
2. moves Liver qi
3. raises yang qi
   • raises Spleen qi to counter prolapse
   * raises Liver qi (usually considered a side-effect)

Question 8

Shēng Má ***

Answer 8

Black Cohosh

Temp: slightly cold
Taste: sweet, acrid
Channels: LI, LU, SP, ST
Dosage: 3-9 grams

1. clears wind-heat to vent rash
   • for headache due to wind-heat and early-stage measles
2. clears heat and resolves toxicity
   • for toothache, swollen and painful gums, bleeding gums, canker sores
3. raises Spleen yang
   • raises yang to counter prolapse; raises clear qi of the middle jiao
   * for uterine or rectal prolapse; urinary or rectal bleeding; vaginal discharge or profuse menses, sometime accompanied by a bearing down or dragging sensation in the lower body

Question 9

Niú Bàng Zǐ **

Answer 9

Burdock Fruit

Temp: cold
Taste: acrid, bitter
Channels: LU, ST
Dosage: 6-12 grams (crush before decocting)

1. expels wind-heat invasion • benefits the throat
2. clears heat toxicity and vents rashes
   • for painful swelling, redness, sores • for early stage rash, measles
3. moistens Large Intestine to relieve
   constipation
   • for constipation due to heat
   • sometimes regarded as a side effect

Question 10

Chán Tuì **

Answer 10

Cicade Skin

Temp: slightly cold
Taste: sweet, salty
Channels: LU, LV
Dosage: 3-9 grams

1. expels wind-heat invasion
   • esp. for voice loss, hoarseness and sore throat
   • vents rashes and stops itch
   • brightens eyes
   for itchy, red eyes due to wind-heat invasion
2. extinguishes wind and stops spasm
   • for spasm and convulsion in febrile disease

Historically, Chan Tui has been used to promote labor or expel retained placenta. Therefore caution should be used during pregnancy, especially if there is a history of miscarriage.