Qi Regulators Flashcards
Chen Pi (pericarpium citri reticulatae)
“old peel/tangerine peel”
LU, SP, ST
acrid, bitter, warm/aromatic
*promotes flow of qi, dries damp
“chen pi chest bi”
-lu/sp/st/damp/phlegm
- regulates qi, harmonize MJ, relieves diaphragm, (lu/sp/st problems/qi stag/xu or shi)
i. sp/st stagnant qi
ii. promotes movement of qi but also directs qi downwards mildly
2. dries damp and transforms phlegm
- used with tonifying herbs to reduce stagnation to prevent cloying nature of tonics –aids in digestion!
*extremely important herb, good for children and adults, less strong for descending qi more for harmonizing sp/st of shi or xu (depending on combo)
better for cold phlegm but could combine it to work for heat phlegm
ben cao gang mu: “treats 100 diseases”
c/i: bitter and drying herb–caution for shi heat, dry coughs due to qi/yin xu. long term use can injure qi
Ju Hong (exocarpium citri rubrum)
“red tangerine peel”
addendum: not CA herb
acrid, bitter, warm
lu/st
-more aromatic and drying than chen pi
less fx of regulating qi in MJ, more useful for cough, copious phlegm or food stag w/o heat signs. used primarily for vomit belch and phlegm damp cough
-red outer peel of tangering, not same family as chen pi. bigger and more expensive
*more lung focus, stronger than chen pi
Qing Pi (citri reticulatae ciride pericarpium)
“blue green peel / immature/green/unripe tangerine peel)
LV, GB, ST
acrid, bitter/warm
*strongest for Lv qi stagnation/moving the Lv/soothe lv
*may raise BP
directs qi downward, dredges the lv (smoothes lv), breaks up qi stagnation and clumping, harmonizes the st (younger, moves qi better!* comp to chen pi)
- spreads lv qi, breaks up stagnant qi for patterns of constrained lv qi (bulging disorders, distention in breast/chest/hypochondriac)
2. stagnation and dissipating clumps
i. severe food stagnation
ii. MASSES when stagnant qi progresses to blood stasis (ie breast cancer)
3-10g
c/ci: qi xu ***fiercely consumes qi
(cu qing pi) = vinegar fried to increase fx of stopping pain - sour enters lv.
(jiu chao qing pi) = wine fried enhances acrid dispersing, combined for blood stasis moving qualities
Zhi Shi (citri aurantii immaturus)
“citrus fruit, orange true” / unripe bitter orange”
sp, st, LI (YM)
acrid, bitter, sl cold
*promotes flow of qi, unblocks plugs
ascends and descends
“governs below”
- breaks up stagnant qi, reduces accumulations
i. focal distention
ii. food stag
iii. unblocks bowels for constipation due to heat, tenesmus, abd pain - transforms phlegm and expels focal distention: fullness in chest and epigastrium due to turbid phlegm obstructing and plugging qi dynamic
i. chest bi /chest obstruction
ii. after febrile dz when body feels warm still - used with qi tonics for prolapse (ascending fx)
- modern usage to raise blood pressure (injection) (ascending fx)
dose: 3-10 g - 15g
c/ci: pregnancy (descends strongly)
Zhi Ke (aka Zhi Qiao)
(fr. aurantii)
“orange shell / bitter orange” (ripened)
sp/st
bitter, acrid, sl cold
*promotes flow of qi, unblocks plugs
*more for uj/mj, more st focused
“governs heights”
- promotes flow of qi: for qi stag leading to problems like cough, distention, constipation
-similar to zhi shi but weaker–more for UJ/MJ and upper body distention
-regulates qi to ease the chest and reducing painful distention in the abdomen
dose: 3-9g
c/ci: care during pregnancy
Xiang Fu (Rz. Cyperii)
1 breast distention
“attached fragrance / cypress/ nutgrass rhizome”
lv, SJ
acrid, sl bitter, sl sweet, neutral
-menstruation
-spread lv qi
*promotes flow of qi in liver and st channels, regulates menstruation, alleviates pain
- spreads and regulates liver qi:; for constrained lv qi patterns with hypochondriac pain and epigastric distention, as well as disharmony bw liver and spleen
i. moves qi stops pain: flanks, st pain from lv overacting, st pain due to cold, hernia
2. regulates menstruation and alleviates pain: facilitate flow of lv qi in gynecological disorders (dysmenorrhea/irreg)
i. important herb for gynecology
-due to lv qi stag, breast distention, abd pain, emotional disturbances
-* some say it promotes qi flow in all 12 channels, and that it “moves qi within blood”
6-12g
c/ci: drying, sl bitter can be too drying for qi xu/bl xu and blood heat in menses (early menses)
Mu Xiang (rx auklandiae lappae)
“fragrant wood”
sp, st, gb, LI (sj)
acrid, bitter/warm
*promotes flow of qi, stops pain, strengthens sp, eliminates food stag. good for xu patients with mj weakness
- moves qi, stops pain - for sp and st stagnant qi
- regulates lv/gb qi, and DH in lv/gb
- adjusts and regulates stag qi in intestines–DYSENTERY
- strengthens Sp, prevents stagnation (used w tonic herbs)
3-10g
c/ci:aromatic, pungent, drying and warming (yang) take care with yin xu, depleted fluids, yin xu heat
Wu Yao (rx linderae)
“black medicine / lindera root”
UB, KD, lu, sp (lv)
acrid, bitter, warm
*smoothes flow of qi, disperses cold, alleviates pain
- moves qi, dispels cold, stops pain. constraint due to cold and qi stagnation (hernia, fullness)
2. warms kd, dispels coldness for kd yang xu, xu cold of UB causing frequent urination or enuresis
dose: 3-10g
c.ci: qi xu, int heat, blood xu, very acrid, warm, drying, can easily disperse qi and deplete blood
Chen Xiang (aquilaria lignum resinatum)
“sinking fragrance / aloeswood” *this is a sap
sp, st, kd
acrid, bitter, warm
*warms sp and kd, directs rebel qi down, assists kd in grasping qi
“qi regulator that helps to grasp qi”
-guides qi downward
- moves qi, stops pain for cold accumulation w qi stasis causing feeling of pressure in epigastric or abd region
- warms MJ, descends rebellious Qi (vomit from excess or deficiency type cold)
3. warms kd, grasps qi for wheeze/asthma from kd xu, cold lower body, phlegm shi above, xu below causing wheezing
dose: 1-1.5g pwd–add at end of decoction
c/ci: yin xu heat, sunken qi or fire from yin xu
Tan Xiang (santali albi)
“fragrant sandalwood”
sp, st, lu
acrid, aromatic, warm
*unblocks qi stag in chest, stops pain, settles belching/nausea
-unbinds st
-chest Bi- CAD
-guides up and out
- moves qi, stops pain for pain associated with stagnant qi in the chest and abdomen
i. unblocks cold obstruction, qi stag in chest causing belch/nausea/vomit
ii. stasis for chest bi, modern usage for CAD
dose: 1-3g or in pills, small dose bc it’s aromatic
c.ci: yin xu with heat
Chuan Lian Zi (fr. toosendan)
“sichuan advice seed”
aka Jing Ling Zi “golden bell seed”
lv, st, si, ub
bitter, cold, sl toxic
*cools heat, regulates qi, stops pain, kills parasites
- moves lv qi, pain due to lv qi stag, relieves constraint, helps with heat conditions as it guides out heat through the Si and Ub
i. lv qi stag w disharmony bw lv and st
2. kills parasites - roundworms and tapeworms
i. scalp fungus (tinea) and scalp dermatosis
*cold herb so good for heat signs but also good for cold types if formulated correctly
dose: 3-10g
c/ci: sp/st cold xu patterns. overdose can cause n/v, blurry vision, heart arrythmias
Xie Bai (bulbus allii)
“white chive / chinese garlic/ garlic chives”
lu, st, li
acrid, bitter, warm *slippery
*reaches into areas of congealed constraint to unbind, drain, benefit orifices. often for chest bi with cold phlegm
*cold damp chest bi
1. unblocks yang qi, disperses turbid phlegm: for cold-damp painful obstruction of chest due to cold–prevents dissemination and flow of yang qi
- moves qi and reduces stagnation, esp downwards
i. damp stag in ints - dysenteric disorders
dose: 5-10g
c/ci: st qi xu with poor appetite
often used with tan xiang
Fo Shou (fr citri sarcodactylis)
lv, lu, sp, st
acrid, bitter, warm
*relieves constraint, regulates qi, transforms phlegm, harmonizes mj
- spreads and regulates the liver qi: lv qi constraint leading to chest/hypochondriac pain herb strongly promotes movement of qi but ability to alleviate pain is weak
- harmonize st, strengthen sp
3. dries damp, dissolves phlegm
can also use flower (fo shou hua)
dose: 3-10g
c/ci: yin xu with heat/fire
Da Fu Pi (pericarpium areca)
“big abdomen peel / areca husk”
aka Bing Lang Pi (husk of the fruit bing lang)
sp, st, li, si
acrid, sl warm
*directs qi down, reduce obstruction ‘without form’ and edema
- drives qi downward and eases the middle: for dampness or other obstructions in middle
2. promotes urination, reduce edema - leg qi
dose: 3-10g
c/ci: qi xu patients (too draining)
