Herbs 1 Group 3 Flashcards
What is 麻黄?
Má Huáng Ephedrae Herba (Ephedra stem)
What are the properties of Má Huáng?
acrid, slightly bitter, warm
What channels does Má Huáng enter?
lung, bladder
How does Bensky classify Má Huáng?
herbs that release the exterior
What are the Actions & indications of Má Huáng according to Bensky?
- Induces sweating and releases the exterior
- Disseminates and facilitates the lung qi, calms wheezing, and stops coughing
- Promotes urination and reduces edema
- Warms and disperses cold pathogens
What does the Ben Cao Jing say about Má Huáng?
“It governs wind strike, cold damage, headache, warm malaria, releasing exterior, inducing sweat, removing evil and heat qi, stopping cough reversal”
Why should you be careful proscribing Má Huáng?
If someone takes too much, it will make them deficient
What does Yoshimasu Todo say about Má Huáng?
“Ma Huang mainly treats panting, coughing, and water qi. Inclusively, [it] treats aversion to wind, aversion to cold, absence of sweat, body aches, joint pain, and whole body yellow swelling.”
What is the relationship between the skin and the lungs, as it pertains to Má Huáng (according to Yumoto Kyushin)
"Skin and the lungs, working as one, are the organs of eliminating gas and water toxin. When this function of skin stops due to any reason, the lungs have to compensate such deficit"
For what two disease patterns is Ma Huang Tang appropriate?
Tai Yang & Yang Ming
What is The Meaning of Zhang Zhongjing’s “Promotion of Sweating”?
Narrow sense: inducing sweat and releasing exterior pathogen
Broader sense: directing the therapeutic effect to the body’s surface
1) normalizing the function of the skin and pores
2) opening the nasal passages
3) optimizing air exchange
4) redistributing fluids to and within the body surface
What actually happens: the lung function is restored
What are the Constitutional Characteristics for the Use of Ma Huang?
a. Build: thick, heavy
b. Absence of sweat: feels good when sweating
c. Insensitivity to stimulation
d. Absence of palpitations and high blood pressure
What is in Ma Huang Tang?
Ma Huang
Xing Ren
Gui Zhi
Gan Cao
What is 葛根?
Gé Gēn
Puerariae Radix
kudzu root
What are the Properties of Gé Gēn?
sweet, acrid, cool
How does Bensky Classify Gé Gēn?
herbs that release the exteriror
What Channels are entered by Gé Gēn?
spleen & stomach
What are the Actions & indications of Gé Gēn?
o Discharges exterior and releases the muscles o Relieves heat and generates fluids o Vents and discharges measles o Raises the yang and stops diarrhea o Treats symptoms of hypertension
What does Yoshimasu Todo say about Gé Gēn?
“Ge Gen mainly treats stiffness in [the] nape and back. Inclusively, [it] treats panting with sweating.”
How is Gé Gēn mentioned in the Shang Han Lun (14)?
“In tai yang disease, [the patient has] stiffness in the nape and back, but [there is] sweating and aversion
to wind, Gui Zhi Jia Ge Gen Tang governs.”
What is Gé Gēn Tang?
Gui Zhi Tang
+Gé Gēn
+Ma Huang
What is the Main ability of Gé Gēn and what does it Mainly treat?
Main ability: raises the fluids and releases the muscles
Mainly treats: stiffness in the nape and back
Secondarily treats: exterior disease, diarrhea
What are the Clinical applications of Gé Gēn?
a. Cold/flu/allergy/sinus condition
b. Neck/upper back/low back pain (Ge Gen Tang, Gui Zhi Jia Ge Gen Tang)
c. Diarrhea (Ge Gen Huang Qin Huang Lian Tang)
What is 杏仁?
Xìng Rén
Armeniacae Semen
apricot seed or kernel
What are the Properties of Xìng Rén?
bitter, slightly warm, slightly toxic
How does Bensky Classify Xìng Rén?
herbs that relieve coughing and wheezing
What are the Actions & indications of Xìng Rén?
o Stops cough and calms wheezing
o Moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels
What does Yoshimasu Todo say about Xìng Rén?
“Xing Ren mainly treats stagnant water between [the] chest. Therefore, it treats panting and coughs.
Inclusively, [it] treats shortness of breath, knotted chest, heart pain, and bodily edema.”
What is the Main ability of Xìng Rén and what does it Mainly treat?
Main ability: descends the qi from the chest
Mainly treats: stagnant water in the chest
What are the Clinical applications of Xìng Rén?
a. Panting/cough/dyspnea
b. Fullness/pain in the chest
c. edema
What is 細辛?
Xì Xīn
Asari Herba
(asarum) Chinese wild ginger
What are the Properties of Xì Xīn?
acrid, warm
How does Bensky Classify Xì Xīn?
herbs that release the exterior
What are the Actions & indications of Xì Xīn?
o Disperses cold and releases the exterior
o Dispels wind, disperses cold, and relieves pain
o Warms the lung and transforms thin mucous
o Unblocking and facilitating orifices
What does Yoshimasu Todo say about Xì Xīn?
“Xi Xin mainly treats long-term stagnant water-rheum. Therefore it treats water qi below the heart and
cough fullness, [and] in some cases, upward counterflow, or hypochondriac pain.”
What is the Main ability of Xì Xīn and what does it Mainly treat?
Main ability: warms and disperses stagnant water rheum
Mainly treats: stagnant water rheum
What are the Clinical applications of Xì Xīn?
- cough/asthma/allergy
- cold (core/extremities)
What is 五味子?
Wǔ Wèi Zǐ (five flavor berry/seed)
Schisandrae fructus
schisandra fruit
What are the Properties of Wǔ Wèi Zǐ?
sour, sweet, warm
How does Bensky Classify Wǔ Wèi Zǐ?
herbs that stabilize and bind
What are the Actions & indications of Wǔ Wèi Zǐ?
o Contains leakage of lung qi and stops coughs
o Tonifies the kidneys, binds up the essence, and stops diarrhea
o Inhibits sweating and generates fluids
o Quiets the spirit while calming and containing the heart qi
What does Yoshimasu Todo say about Wǔ Wèi Zǐ?
“Wu Wei Zi mainly treats cough and veiling.”
What does Jingui Yaolue (12) say about Wǔ Wèi Zǐ?
“… reversal cold in the extremities, qi surging from lower abdomen to chest and throat, impediment in
the extremities, patient’s face looks hot as if drunken,…, urination difficulty, recurrent veiling sensation
at times, [then], give Fu Ling Gui Zhi Wu Wei Gan Tang to treat its qi counterflow.”
What is the Main ability of Wǔ Wèi Zǐ and what does it Mainly treat?
Main ability: gathers scattered qi
Mainly treats: cough and veiling
What is 薏苡仁?
Yì Yǐ Rén
Coicis Semen (coix seeds)
Job’s tears
What are the Properties of Yì Yǐ Rén?
sweet, bland, slightly cold
How does Bensky Classify Yì Yǐ Rén?
herbs that drain dampness
What are the Actions & indications of Yì Yǐ Rén?
o Facilitates the resolution of dampness and strengthens the spleen
o Facilitates the resolution of dampness and eliminates painful obstruction
o Clears heat and expels pus
o Clears damp heat
What does the Ben Cao Jing say about Yì Yǐ Rén?
It governs …, old wind damp bi (impediment), …”
What does Xu Da Chun say about Yì Yǐ Rén?
“[It] removes damp heat in the yang ming. …, Yi Yi is a medicine of yang ming.”
What does Tang Zong Hai say about Yì Yǐ Rén?
“Yi ren grows on the top of stems, which means it transforms and directs the qi
downwards. It draws the lung yang to reach to the bottom.”
What does Yoshimasu Todo say about Yì Yǐ Rén?
“Yi Yi Ren mainly treats swelling.”
What is the Main ability of Yì Yǐ Rén and what does it Mainly treat?
Main ability: percolates dampness
Mainly treats: swelling
Clinical applications:
- abscesses/sore: lung (Wei Jing Tang), intestine (Yi Yi Fu Zi Bai Jiang San)
- warts
