Herbs that Warm the Interior and Expel Cold

Question 1

Zhi Fu Zi

Answer 1

acrid, hot, toxic
HT, KD, SP
3-15; boil for 30-60 minutes before adding other herbs to the decoction
1. Revives the yang and rescues from rebellion (devestated yang disorders where the yang qi is extremely weak and the cold yin is abundant. Assists HT yang to unblock the vessels and thereby improves circulation and tonifies the KD yang to augment the fire and avoid loss of primal yang)
2. Warms fire and assists the yang (any problem associated with weakness or deficiency of HT, SP, or KD yang. Widely used herb, especially when the pattern involves interior cold with insufficient yang.
3. Disperses cold, warms the channels and alleviates pain (wind cold damp bi, especially when cold predominates.)

Question 2

Zhi Chuan Wu

Answer 2

acrid, bitter, hot, very toxic
LV, SP
1.5-4.5 (boil for 30-60 minutes before adding other herbs to the decoction)
1. Dispels wind, disperses cold, stops pain (wind-cold damp. Can be applied topically)
2. Reduces swellings, induces ulcerations and dispels putrefaction (used externally for yin flat abscesses. Used when the hard abscesses do not soften and ulcerate, as they normally do when beginning to heal, or when ulceration does not lead to healing)

Question 3

Zhi Cao Wu

Answer 3

acrid, bitter, hot, very toxic
LV, SP, KD
1.5-3
1. Disperses cold, scours out wind, overcomes dampness and stops pain (almost exclusively used topically)

Question 4

Gan Jiang

Answer 4

acrid, hot
HT, LU, SP, ST
3-9
1. Warms the middle and expels cold (warming of the SP and ST both in conditions of excess dt externally contracted cold as well as cold from deficiency dt insufficiency of the yang qi. Also dispels wind and dampness that seep into the lower burner)
2. Rescues devistated yang and expels interior cold (devistated yang with such signs as very weak pulse and cold limbs)
3. Warms the LU and transforms thin mucus (because this herb warms the SP and dries dampness while simultaneously scattering cold in the LU, it is used for LU cold with expectoration of thin, watery, or white sputum)
4. Warms the channels and stops bleeding (cold from deficiency that may present with haemorrage of various types, especially uterine bleeding. It is used in treating haemorrage only if the bleeding is chronic and pale in color. Use Pao Jiang.)

Question 5

Rou Gui

Answer 5

acrid, sweet, hot
HT, KD, LV, SP
1.5-4.5; should be added near the end of the decocting process. For powders and pills use 1-2g per dose
1. Fortifies the KD and SP yang, warms the HT yang, and fortifies the yang (for a wide variety of problems dt an insufficeincy of KD yang and waning of the gate of vitality or waning of SP and KD yang. Also wheezing dt failure of KD to grasp the qi. Also warming the HT yang- especially when deficiency of HT yang is the etiology of chest bi)
2. Disperses deep cold, warms the channels, unblocks the channels and vessels and alleviates pain (dep cold causing qi stagnation or blood stasis. Also cold in the blood, cold damp bi, yin type boils, non healing sores. It enters the blood aspect and is often used in small amounts to enhance the blood moving actions of other substances.
3. Leads the fire back to its source (the principle herb for treating the upward floating of deficient yang. Ie false heat and true cold or heat above, cold below.
4. Encourages the generation of qi and blood (qi and blood tonics)

Question 6

Wu Zhu Yu

Answer 6

acrid, bitter, hot, sl toxic
LV, SP, ST
1.5-4.5
1. Warms the middle, disperses cold, promotes the movement of qi, and alleviates pain (LV and ST channel d/o dt congealing of cold or phlegm. Also for cold bulging d/o in the area transversed by the LV channel and dysmenorrhea)
2. Redirects rebellious qi downward and stops vomiting (acid regurgitation with vomiting. Depending on the other herbs with which it is combined, it can be used for either cold or hot d/o)
3. Warms the SP, stops diarrhea, and expels cold-dampness (diarrhea dt cold from deficiency of the SP and KD)
4. Leads fire downward (sores of the mouth and tongue. Grind into a powder, mixed with vinegar, and placed on the center of the soles of the feet)

Question 7

Hua Jiao

Answer 7

acrid, hot, sl toxic
KD, SP, St
3-6
1. Warms the MB, disperses cold, and alleviates pain (SP or ST cold from deficiency)
2. Kills parasites and alleviates abdominal pain (auxiliary herb of abdominal pain dt roundworms)

Question 8

Gao Liang Jiang

Answer 8

acrid, hot
SP, ST
3-9
1. Warms the middle and alleviates pain (epigastric and abdominal pain dt cold in the MB)

Question 9

Ding Xiang

Answer 9

acrid, warm
KD, SP, ST
1-3
1. Warms the MB, directs rebellious qi downward (ST cold and for SP or ST cold from deficiency)
2. Warms KD and aids the yang (impotence or clear vaginal discharge dt yang deficiency of the KD. Usually accompanied by weakness in the legs)

Question 10

Xiao Hui Xiang

Answer 10

acrid, warm
LV, KD, SP, ST
3-9
1. Disperses cold, warms LV and KD, and stops pain (used to warm and encourage movement in the LV channel or the Lower Burner as in cold bulging disorders or any kind of lower abdominal pain dt cold
2. Regulates the qi and harmonizes the ST (ST cold)

Question 11

Bi Cheng Qie (Dou Chi Jiang)

Answer 11

acrid, warm
SP, ST, KD, BL
1.5-5 
1. Warms the middle and stops pain
2. Dispels cold qi from the BL (urinary dysfunction or turbid urine dt cold from deficiency of the lower burner)

Question 12

Bi Ba

Answer 12

acrid, hot
ST, LI
1.5-4.5 
1. Warms the middle, disperses cold from the ST and Intestines, and alleviates pain (cold congealing and leading to qi stagnation in the epigastrium and abdomen)
2. Applied as a powder for tooth ache

Question 13

Hu Jiao

Answer 13

acrid, hot
LI, ST
1.5-3
1. Warms the middle and disperses cold (ST cold)